Posted By: stxranchman
Blood Red velvet eater..... - 09/16/21 01:39 PM
It is rare to get to watch a buck strip the velvet off his antlers. As much time as I have spent watching deer, I have only seen it happen a few times. I have seen bucks that had shreds of velvet all over their antlers but did not watch them strip it off. Also watched those same bucks thrash brush after they walked out. Seen a few start but not finish it also. This buck was one that walked in with bloody antlers then as his 2 running buddies started feed away, he left before he was completely finished. He did do something I had not observed before but knew they did it...that was strip the velvet then eat the strips off the brush or limb or tree they were working. He did it twice in the series of pics I took. It is hard to tell in this series of pics but live, I could see him eating the velvet with his head/mouth movement and licking his lips. Wished he had kept thrashing the bush he was working...but when his buddies left...he left. Had great light and angle on the buck...so I think the pics turned out great. Lower resolution pics so I can post on THF also.