Interesting observation about bucks when shedding velvet

[phade]

Me and a friend went out to a parcel to hang some last-second stands at high Noon yesterday. Property has a hilly field, with a small knoll and dip about 1/3 the way up. While walking up the edge with two stands, pole saw, back pack, snips, etc. We saw some antlers breaking the knoll line. We kneeled down, got the binos out and saw it was a dandy 8 (looked like a 3.5 after getting to watch him) in full velvet, minus a small bloody part on his driver's side. The buck dipped below the knoll line casually and we waited to see if he would pop up again.Mind you we're about 25-30 yards out into the field from the woodline. After a bit, we believe he headed off and slowly crested the knoll, only to find the buck staring down a tree top that had fallen over into the edge of the field at the bottom of the dip. There we stood in the wide open about 50 yards from this deer.

 

He proceeded to shed his velvet (I videoed it on my phone) in front of us. I've never seen it happen live, so this was neat, especially for a solid 130 in. 8 point. We were basically stuck int he wide open with no cover to hide behind or even duck down on the back side of the knoll and we had stands and gear on our shoulders. The wind was in our favor, but we should have been had as he clearly looked at us several times at about 50 yards out, but without a single care - his disposition at that moment was much like a buck around the first couple days of November when frustration signposting takes place and they get hyper-focused on beating up a tree, brush, etc. He was brutally beating that tree top. There is no doubt in my mind we should have been busted.

 

When they want that velvet off, they want it off. By the time he started moving away after about 10 minutes, he had 90% of the velvet shredded, and he ate most of the velvet. He had one long strand left on his right side hanging as he walked off.

Edited September 16, 2013 by phade

[Cabin Fever]

Cool! Sounds like ya had an exciting few minutes there watching the show!

[pistolp71]

Very cool. You don't see that everyday that's for sure.