This older Whitetail Buck in velvet stood in tall grass at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. He caught my attention because his body looked more mature than the younger bucks I had photographed nearby. His antlers were still growing, but his frame told more of the story.
Older Whitetail Buck Showing Early Summer Velvet
This buck looked older mainly because of his body. His antlers were not the main clue.
His neck, chest, and overall frame looked heavier than the younger velvet buck I had seen earlier. My guess was that this buck was at least 3½ years old.
At the end of May, his antlers were still in velvet. I expected him to add more tine growth through June. I would have liked to see him again in the fall.
He was standing in Dockery Field, on the east side of the auto tour road. This spot is west of the Sally Jones Causeway, near the curve in the road.
The tall grass and green timber gave the scene a clean summer look. It also helped show the kind of open field habitat where I often look for deer at Sequoyah.
For a comparison from the same velvet season, see my post, June Buck Photography: Peak Velvet Season at Sequoyah.
Photographing a Velvet Buck from the Auto Tour Road
I photographed this buck from my pickup on the auto tour road. I parked along the side of the road and worked from the open window.
My camera and lens rested on a bean bag draped over the window. That setup gave me a steady rest without needing to leave the vehicle.
The buck stayed in the field long enough for both views. One frame shows him looking toward me. The other gives a side view of his body, antlers, and field cover.
Technical details:
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Lens: Canon EF 500 mm f/4L IS USM
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
- Date taken: May 31, 2020
- Aperture: f/5.6
- Shutter speed: 1/500 sec.
- ISO: 2500
- Exposure Compensation: 0 EV
- Mode: Aperture Priority
- Focal length: 500 mm
Antlers usually get the attention first, especially during velvet season. With this buck, the body shape made me stop and study him longer.
He looked like a deer worth watching through the year. I never know when I will cross paths with the same buck again, so I try to make the most of these quiet encounters.
This was more than a velvet antler photo. It was a late May look at a mature buck using a familiar Sequoyah field.