Bucks in the Rut: Rubs, Scrapes and Licking Branches

I had heard tales of this magnificent buck, but it wasn't until the end of July this year that I was able to find him and photograph him for myself. This mighty warrior would soon shed his velvet and do battle to defend his territory in the upcoming mating season.  It would be wonderful to see him in action!

While birds and bears are my number one passion, I love nature in all its many forms.  I have spent hours wandering the woods watching mama deer with their newborn fawns in the spring and bucks during the rut in the fall.  Below is a video that was made when I was ten years old, and even then I loved being a "Junior Ranger" sharing my nature findings.  This video is about a tree I came across that told the story of a buck that had marked its territory during the rut in mating season.

Junior Ranger Gabriel Talks About the Rut