Young buck antlers in spring velvet caught my eye during a quiet walk near home. I was on the county road that ends at the gate to my property, close to Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas.
Young Buck Antlers in Soft Spring Velvet
The young white-tailed buck was grazing in the grass beside the road. He seemed focused on feeding and did not notice me right away.
That gave me time to watch him without rushing the moment.
His antlers were still short, less than a foot long, and covered in soft velvet. His slim build, young face, and small rack made him look like a buck growing into his first set of antlers.
This was a May morning, and the roadside grass was thick and green. That edge habitat near the forest often gives me good wildlife sightings. Deer use these places to feed, move, and stay close to cover.
Photographing a Curious White-Tailed Buck
I photographed this buck from the road edge while hand-holding the camera. That let me stay mobile and keep a comfortable distance while he grazed in the roadside grass.
I used the long end of the lens at 500 mm. That helped me frame the buck while keeping space between us.
The morning light brought out the warm color in his coat and the green roadside cover around him. The high shutter speed helped while I was hand-holding at 500 mm.
After I made several photos, the buck seemed to get curious. He took a few steps in my direction. We watched each other for a short time from a safe distance.
Then he continued on and crossed the road. He moved toward an area I believe may be part of his regular bedding ground.
Camera Settings:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Location: Near the Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas
- Date and time: May 7, 2022, 7:29 a.m.
- Program mode: Manual
- Aperture: f/7.1
- Shutter speed: 1/3200 second
- ISO: 1250, Auto
- Exposure compensation: 0
- Focal length: 500 mm
- Support: Hand-held
Why This Roadside Buck Encounter Stayed With Me
Encounters like this are why I keep walking that county road. I never know what may step into view near the forest edge.
This young buck gave me a close look at a quiet stage in a deer’s life. His antlers were just getting started, and for a few minutes, I got to watch him go about his morning.
That kind of simple wildlife moment never gets old.