I stopped along the gravel road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge on an early November morning and watched this buck step out of the brush. His antlers caught my eye immediately. They were a deep, rich chocolate brown, darker than most racks I see in Oklahoma.
I first shared this same encounter in my earlier post, Encountering a Massive White-tailed Buck With Dark Antlers. This follow-up explains why some whitetail bucks have dark antlers like his.
That dark coloring is not a different kind of bone or a separate subspecies. It is a stain, and it comes from a mix of factors that play out differently for every buck.
What Causes Dark Antlers
The chocolate look starts with velvet shedding. When that fuzzy covering comes off in late summer or early fall, blood and tissue dry on the bare antler. If the buck starts rubbing trees before everything is fully dried, that residue can darken the surface right away.
Then comes the rubbing itself. Bucks work their antlers against trees, especially ones with sap or dark bark. Pines and other conifers leave sticky resins that stain the bone. Over time, those pigments build up and turn the antlers a deep brown.
Genetics and mineralization also matter. Some bucks simply grow antlers that take stain more easily. Denser, more mineralized bone can resist staining and stay lighter. Other racks soak up color like a sponge.
Age and behavior play a role too. Older, more dominant bucks make more rubs and hit more trees. That means more staining and more uniform dark coloration across the entire rack. Younger deer might have lighter antlers because they have not rubbed as much yet.
How Weather and Sun Change Antler Color
Antler color is not permanent. As the season goes on, UV light and weather slowly bleach the bone. A buck with very dark antlers in early fall might end up with lighter, more faded tines by late season, especially if he spends a lot of time in open fields.
The opposite is true in dense timber. Bucks that stay under heavy cover keep that chocolate look longer because the sun does not hit them as hard.
What Dark Antlers Tell You in the Field
When I see a buck with a dark rack, I know he has been rubbing a lot and probably lives in habitat with the right trees. It does not mean he is a different subspecies or has some magical trait. It just means his environment and behavior have left a mark.
Individual bucks tend to show similar coloration year to year if they stay in the same area. That makes the chocolate rack a useful visual ID when I am trying to track a specific deer at the refuge.
This buck in the photo stopped on the road edge and looked straight at me. His thick neck told me the rut was close. Bucks are more visible and active during this time, which gives me better chances to study details like antler color. The contrast between his dark rack and the autumn background made the shot stand out.
Photography Notes
I photographed this white-tailed buck on an early November morning at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. He moved through the brush near the gravel drive, noticed me, and paused.
The thick neck suggested the rut was approaching, a time when these bucks are typically more active and visible. The dark chocolate coloring of his antlers contrasted sharply with the green and brown autumn background.
I used my Canon EOS R7 with the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens at 500mm. Aperture was f/7.1, shutter speed 1/800 sec, ISO 5000. I shot from my pickup, using a beanbag on the window frame for support. The overcast morning light kept the exposure even and avoided harsh shadows on his face.
Image Information
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Aperture: f/7.1
- Shutter Speed: 1/800 sec
- ISO: 5000
- Focal Length: 500mm
Have you noticed dark antlers on bucks in your area? I would be interested to hear what trees they are rubbing and whether the coloration holds through the season.
Interesting!