Last month I spent time in the lush bottomlands of Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oklahoma. The highlight was a close look at whitetail antler growth on a buck that’s already building for fall.
Velvet always grabs my attention. It’s one of the clearest signs that the season has shifted.
Wildlife Notes
This buck was in the early stages of his yearly antler regrowth. His antlers were still covered in velvet, and they already showed good length and mass.
Whitetail bucks typically shed antlers in late winter or early spring, then start growing a new set soon after. Day length plays a role in that cycle. Growth can be surprisingly fast, with some estimates putting peak growth near half an inch per day.
Velvet is the fuzzy skin that covers new antlers. It carries blood supply and nutrients to the growing bone. Later in summer, the velvet dries and comes off as the antlers harden.
Nutrition matters a lot during this period. Sequoyah’s fertile river bottom habitat offers a wide range of natural foods through the year. Nearby agricultural fields can also add protein-rich options when those crops are available.
Photography Notes
I made this photo from my truck. I rested the camera on a bean bag on the window, which helped me stay steady and keep movement minimal.
Camera settings
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Focal length: 500mm
- Aperture: f/7.1
- Shutter speed: 1/2000
- ISO: 2500
- Exposure compensation: 0
- Support: Bean bag on truck window
That 1/2000 shutter speed helped freeze small head movements. ISO 2500 was the tradeoff to hold that speed at 500mm.
Closing
It’s fun to watch the change from late winter into early summer. In just a short window, bucks go from worn down to growing a new rack in velvet. Sequoyah NWR is a great place to catch that process in motion, and I’d love to see how this buck looks later in the season.