Hooper walkies

We had such fun. In the first photo, you can see Hooper inspecting a deer scrape. I've seen one here before. There are three spots I find every year.

Justin Hoffman, my photographer e-friend, taught me about deer scrapes. To spread their scent, the males  scrape a spot on the ground, removing the leaves, then urinate on their inner-knee hormone glands (tarsal glands), to spread their scent and mark their territory. Then, they rub their faces on the overhanging branch to similarly place their scent. 
Hooper had to inspect it. 


I've only seen one big buck on the trailcam lately.

In this archive photo, you can see the dark legs, with hormones colouring their legs.

a fine buck, 2015!
Note the colour of the back of his legs.

Here is Justin's video, showing how the buck creates the scrape. He sets up his superduper trailcams in the forest.

Deer are on the move: slow down

a fine buck, 2015!
Do you think it is the same one?
Note the colour of the back of his legs.

I have to post my videos for hubby.
I was making dinner, gazing out the kitchen window, and spotted this buck. I called for JB to come and see. Dinner had to wait a moment or two.

This buck is such a stately beast. Just quietly marching around.
They are in rutting season, and don't hang out together. They will soon.
It is hunting season, too.

More deer tails and Whitetail Savvy <= I posted more about this here.

hunting &
rutting seasons

Justin Hoffman, my photographer friend, taught me about deer scrapes. I took a walk to look. To spread their scent, they make a scrape in the ground, urinate on their inner-knee hormone glands (tarsal glands), to spread their hormones and mark their territory. Then, they rub their faces on the overhanging branch to similarly place their scent.


There is lots of deer food still out there: the grass is green in spots, some leaves are on the lilacs and serviceberry. They are just checking things out, just in case.



 
King of the forest from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Deer selfies! These are momma's twins. I set up this trailcam facing the tree house and backyard shed. I chucked some broken up pumpkin in the trough, but they aren't hungry enough to eat them.
Deer selfie from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Snow, bucks, doe, a deer, a female deer

Before and after!
Note the antler that is missing in the next pair of photos!

Before

 
Mon., Dec. 28th, I managed to mulch some leaves on my new tractor!

After

The next wintry day!


I finally was able to go for a walk. The first shows them marking their territory. The second show a deer bed, where (I think) a doe and her twins hunkered down overnight. The young 'uns stay with mom for about 18 months. They are about 8 months old, now. Still not quite the size of their momma, but close!


 
The males mark their territory, urinating on their tarsal gland in their heel. They are still in rutting season somewhat. Except, the dropping of the antler, above, indicates that the season is nearly over and the hormones will settle down. Once they drop their antlers I have no way to tell who is who, aside from each doe. One has a a single fawn, the other twins.


I walked down to the island in the middle of the wetland. Carefully, since I heard some gun fire across the way. There is one huge blood spot. I'm hoping it was from an antler, but I am not sure. There was quite a pool of blood, right down through the 6" of snowfall.


Trying to follow the trail, I realized I still need boots, as much as snowshoes. The wetland isn't frozen yet, and I decided to turn around rather than following my buck's tracks.


Turns out, he still has his 2nd antler, anyway. The blood is likely from his first drop. I can't tell if this is our dominant male, Tigger, or not. Last I saw Tigger, he was hanging out with a younger buck. They do gather in winter in gender-specific winter yards. I'm having trouble figuring out how to manage the settings, but you get the idea!



This morning, there was a doe at the bird feeder. I cleverly fill it in the morning, and by the afternoon it is empty. She looked disappointed!


Here is an example of the puffed out tarsal gland. The females have their own glands, letting the bucks know when they are in the mood for love! (You see, I've been reading my Whitetail Savvy book!) They showed an image of the same thing. The puffy fur allows more scent to get into the air.

Before (Monday, Dec. 28th)

After (Tuesday, Dec. 29th)

Thankfully, hubby can manage the new snowblower, power turning, and hasn't put his back out. Yet...

Funnily enough, I managed to film the goldfish mirror-imaged in the window.