The new growth of antlers, covered in velvet, looks like black stubs of tar. It’s not the most attractive stage to photograph the deer. By August the antlers will be fully grown covered in fuzzy velvet before it shreds. Then the bucks walk around proudly with their new rack, like the majestic animals they are, ready to fight for a chance to mate with the does.
I have not seen the deer at the Hang-Out for eight months. Once the rut began end of August ’14 the herd of males dispersed and have not returned to this spot since. Every month since then I have returned to their den looking for them to no avail. It was like hitting the jackpot finding the herd gathered there again. There is nothing quite like being in the middle of ten or more male deer while my camera goes wild.
