Mount Nebo velvet bucks gave me another story from my July 27, 2026 visit. I saw several that morning, but many moved through the timber or stayed in poor light. My best chances came after I discovered why so many deer had gathered in one yard.
This visit also produced my photos of White-tailed Deer grooming at Mount Nebo and White-tailed Deer triplets at Mount Nebo. The bucks added another part to the story of that morning.
Mount Nebo Velvet Bucks in Summer
The bucks shown in these photos carried velvet-covered antlers. During summer, blood vessels in the velvet supply the growing antlers.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources notes that bucks often form bachelor groups during the summer antler-growing period. I could not tell whether these bucks traveled together or gathered on their own.
Getting photographs I liked took some work. Trees blocked clear views, and uneven light crossed many of the spots where the bucks walked.
Once I found a better position, I could photograph several bucks near the same yard. Their antlers ranged from short velvet-covered beams to tall racks with several developing points.
Why So Many Deer Gathered
I estimated that close to 20 deer had gathered in one yard. My first thought was that someone might be feeding them.
I checked the current Arkansas State Parks rulebook and searched the park system’s website. I found no statewide park rule that specifically mentions feeding deer or other wildlife. An individual park may still have posted guidance.
A better view showed several small kiddie pools filled with water. I watched deer gather around those pools during a stretch of extreme Arkansas heat.
The water explained why so many deer used that yard. I do not know how many natural water sources were available on top of Mount Nebo that morning.
A Shady Bed Near the Water
One buck had bedded near the pools. I cannot know why it chose that spot, but staying near water made sense on such a hot morning.
Someone had kept those pools filled, and I was glad to see it. That many deer could be hard on a yard, especially the plants.
My hat is off to whoever supplied the water and helped the deer through the heat.