Making a scrape ...
Deer are very scent oriented. It's probably their most powerful sensory tool, more so than ears and eyes. This week we observed a young buck come along this edge and rub scent on to branches.
Now this bigger 9-point is rubbing scent from glands near his eyes over the other buck's scent. Soon the tarsus glands on their hocks will begin flowing and they will urinate down their legs, letting the urine flow over the tarsus gland. They will scrape and paw the ground and create a scrape. It's always under a low hanging branch that will have scent as well. It will be interesting to see what other bucks show up along this scrape line.
See more Oklahoma nature photos at www.flickr.com/groups/1941297@N20/
Making a scrape ...
Deer are very scent oriented. It's probably their most powerful sensory tool, more so than ears and eyes. This week we observed a young buck come along this edge and rub scent on to branches.
Now this bigger 9-point is rubbing scent from glands near his eyes over the other buck's scent. Soon the tarsus glands on their hocks will begin flowing and they will urinate down their legs, letting the urine flow over the tarsus gland. They will scrape and paw the ground and create a scrape. It's always under a low hanging branch that will have scent as well. It will be interesting to see what other bucks show up along this scrape line.
See more Oklahoma nature photos at www.flickr.com/groups/1941297@N20/