Buck rub marks a deer's territory

This picture shows a small willow tree that a whitetail buck deer has used to rub his antlers.

During late summer and early autumn male deer push their antlers against, up and down the trunks of tree saplings in an effort to remove velvet from their antlers.

The effect left upon the sapling is called a "buck rub."

Doe do not grow antlers, and therefore do not make the markings.

Look for buck rubs like this one near field edges, ponds or along old logging roads where timber was harvested from a forest. Finding a buck rub is proof that a buck was recently in the area, but it doesn't guarantee that you will see the buck if you sit and wait.

Most often buck rubs are made during the night.

Sometimes a buck will seem to attack the sapling, rubbing so hard and thrashing with his antlers that limbs or even the sapling itself will break off.

Through the Woods is a weekly nature photo column by Aaron Horrell. Find this column at semissourian.com to order a reprint of the photo. Find more work by him at the O'Tenem Gallery.