After the remarkable encounter with the White-tailed Buck and the Eastern Phoebe, where I witnessed the phoebe removing a tick from the buck’s chin, I continued driving through the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Oklahoma. You can read more about the earlier parts of this trip here: Starting the New Year at Osage Hills State Park and A New Year’s Eve at Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. The preserve seemed to come alive with White-tailed Deer, and I was thrilled by the number I saw along this section of the preserve. While I knew deer were present, I hadn’t expected to encounter such large numbers, making it an exceptional experience for a wildlife photographer who enjoys capturing these graceful animals.
A Buck with One Antler
Among the many deer, one particular buck caught my attention. He had already shed one side of his antlers, leaving the other still intact. This was particularly exciting because it offered a rare glimpse into the process of antler casting, a natural cycle that highlights the intricate relationship between a buck’s health, hormones, and environment. I decided to observe him for a while, hoping he might shed the remaining antler while I watched. However, bucks typically don’t shed both antlers simultaneously. The process, known as antler casting, often occurs over a span of hours or even days. Unfortunately, this buck disappeared into the nearby trees without dropping his second antler, leaving me with an intriguing but incomplete moment.
Understanding Antler Casting
White-tailed bucks shed their antlers between January and March, depending on several factors, including:
- Age and Health: Older and healthier bucks often shed earlier.
- Geographic Location: Bucks in northern regions tend to shed before those in southern areas.
- Hormone Levels: Testosterone levels play a significant role in when antlers are shed.
- Nutrition and Stress: A well-fed, low-stress buck is likely to shed earlier.
Antler casting is a fascinating process. Observing the one-antlered buck made me reflect on how the distance between shed antlers can vary greatly, from a few yards to several hundred yards, depending on the buck’s movement and activity. While both antlers often drop within a few days, it’s not uncommon for one to fall significantly earlier than the other. For more about this process, check out my earlier posts:
Reflecting on the Abundance of Deer
The abundance of White-tailed Deer at Tallgrass Prairie Preserve took me by surprise. It’s not often that I encounter such high numbers of deer in one area. Compared to other locations I’ve visited, where deer sightings are often sparse and fleeting, this was an extraordinary opportunity to observe and photograph them in abundance. The diversity of bucks, from those still sporting full antlers to those already shedding, provided endless opportunities for photography. As someone who enjoys photographing deer, this part of my visit was a highlight. The combination of observing unique behaviors and the sheer number of deer made this New Year’s Eve outing even more memorable.
The day reinforced why Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is such a special place for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. It reminded me that nature’s surprises often come from simply being present and patient, observing its quiet rhythms and intricate behaviors. I left this section of the preserve feeling inspired and grateful for the chance to document these moments. I’m excited to share more from this visit in future posts.
