Nose-to-Nose Interaction Between Two Whitetail Bucks

My photo for the day captures a rare interaction between two Whitetail Bucks meeting nose to nose in a frost covered field. I photographed this moment at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, where winter conditions often reveal subtle deer behavior that is easy to miss.

Watching Whitetail Bucks Interact in a Winter Field

I have been seeing a total of three Bucks in a field in the southwest corner of the refuge for several of my trips to this refuge. The problem is that they were always in the back of the field, which is a long distance from the auto tour road where I park to photograph them from inside my truck. On January 13th, I decided to go to that location, hoping that they would be closer to the road. I also noticed on my last visit that one of the Bucks had shed one side of its antlers, and I wanted a photo of that Buck.

I now had a plan, and at sunrise, I started driving in that direction. On the way, I spotted a couple of Whitetail Does that I wanted to photograph because they had frost on their backs. This caused a delay, and I thought this might have messed up my plan of seeing the three Bucks. I continued anyway, and when I got to that area, I counted thirteen Bucks in the field. What an awesome surprise! All thirteen were a little closer to the road than the other three had been on my past trips to this spot. The only thing I wished was that these Bucks were closer together so that I could have gotten a photo of all of them together.

These Bucks were leaving the field and heading toward a large group of trees. Along the way, I noticed that a couple of them had recently shed their antlers. Although I could tell the wounds were fresh, they never paused long enough for me to get a clear photo that showed that detail.

A Close Encounter Between Two Bucks

At that point, two of the Bucks stopped and began moving toward each other face to face. At first, I expected the encounter to turn aggressive. Instead, they surprised me by slowly touching noses and holding that position for several seconds. Afterward, they stepped apart and continued off the field, disappearing into the tree line.

Why Two Whitetail Bucks Touched Noses

While the exact purpose of Whitetail Bucks touching noses during the non-breeding season isn’t fully understood, there are several likely explanations:

• Information exchange: One theory is that nose-to-nose contact allows bucks to exchange information about each other’s dominance status, health, and even food sources. Their noses are equipped with Jacobson’s organ, which helps them detect pheromones and other chemical signals. These signals could convey a wealth of information about the other buck, helping them avoid unnecessary confrontations or assess potential competitors.
• Social bonding: Some researchers believe nose-to-nose contact could be a form of social bonding or greeting between bucks. This is especially observed among related individuals or bucks that share the same territory. The gentle nudge and sniff could strengthen social ties and maintain familiarity within the herd.
• Rank order determination: In some cases, nose-to-nose contact might be part of a ritualized dominance display. One buck might nudge the other’s nose higher to assert its superior position, while the submissive buck might lower its head or lick the other’s nose as a sign of respect. This helps establish a hierarchy within the herd and minimize conflict.
• Playful interaction: Beyond serious social interactions, nose-to-nose contact could also be playful behavior, especially among younger bucks. This could be a way for them to learn social skills and explore their relationships with each other.

The actual meaning of nose-to-nose contact likely depends on the context and individual bucks involved. Factors like age, dominance, and familiarity can all influence the purpose of this behavior. While the mystery remains, observing this gentle interaction offers a glimpse into the complex social dynamics of whitetail deer.

Image Information:

• Date: 01/13/24
• Time: 07:35 AM
• Camera: Canon EOS R5
• Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ISO: 6400
• Aperture: 7.1
• Shutter: 1/400
• Exposure Compensation:+0.3
• Focal Length: 500