Whitetail Buck Growing Antlers at Sequoyah Refuge

I spotted this Whitetail Buck on March 30 near the auto tour road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. He stood in the woods with a new set of antlers just starting to show.

Those antlers were only a few inches long, but they already told a spring story.

Whitetail Buck Antler Growth in Early Spring

This buck was in the early stage of growing a new set of antlers. At this point, the antlers were short and still covered in velvet.

Velvet helps feed the growing antlers through a rich blood supply. That soft covering is an important part of the process.

Spring and summer are the main growth periods for a buck’s antlers. By the time fall arrives, those small points can look much different.

I have seen young bucks at different stages of growth, including this related post, Young Buck With Velvet Antlers Near Ouachita National Forest.

This buck stayed in the woods near the refuge road. That gave me a clear look at his head and the small antlers coming in.

Photographing a Buck Near the Auto Tour Road

I photographed this buck from near the auto tour road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. The woods helped frame him and kept the scene natural.

The light was low when I made the photo. I took it at 6:51 A.M., so I needed a higher ISO and a steady approach.

Camera details:

• Camera: Canon EOS R7
• Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
• Date and time: March 30, 2023, 6:51 A.M.
• Aperture: f/7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/250
• ISO: 12800, Auto
• Exposure compensation: 0
• Focal length: 500 mm

The long focal length helped me keep some distance while still showing the antler growth.

I always enjoy seeing wildlife during a seasonal change. This buck was not showing a full rack yet, but that made the moment more interesting to me.

The photo shows a quiet stage in the life of a Whitetail Buck. It is easy to overlook, but it is part of what makes spring wildlife watching so rewarding.