-
- Species
- Whitetails
- Big Game
- Small Game
- Birds
- Special Methods
- Bow Hunting
-
- Species
- Bass
- Trout
- More Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Special Methods
- Fly Fishing
Print
Email
Share
Wildlife Photos: How a Buck Sheds Antler Velvet
Wildlife Photos: How a Buck Sheds Antler Velvet
Photo by Charles Alsheimer
Additional Info
It was August, just after dawn in New York's Adirondack Mountains. Wildlife photographer (and whitetail expert) Charles Alsheimer (charlesalsheimer.com) was stalking through a tag alder swamp with his camera when he came across this buck about to begin peeling the velvet from its antlers.
Alsheimer snuck into position and, over the next hour, captured the entire sequence on film. The buck would thrash its head in the bushes until it became exhausted, stop, rest, then start thrashing again. When all the velvet was finally scraped off its antlers the buck sniffed around at the base of the bushes to find and then eat the shed material. Alsheimer calls the sequence "one of the most incredible things I've photographed in my near 40 years as a nature photographer." Click through the slides at left to see the photos.
Advertisement
RELATED PHOTOS
ADVERTISEMENT
Today on Field & Stream
Visit Our Sister Sites at Bonnier Corporation
| Enthusiast | Kiteboarding | QUAD | SKI | Skiing | Scuba Diving | Sport Diver | TransWorld Ride BMX | TransWorld Business | TransWorld Motocross | TransWorld SKATEboarding, | TransWorld SNOWboarding | TransWorld SURF | WakeBoarding | WaterSki | Warren Miller Entertainment | WindSurfing |
|---|---|
| Travel | Caribbean Travel & Life | Destination Weddings & Honeymoon | Islands | Meeting Traveler | Resorts & Great Hotels |
| Lifestyle & Shelter | Florida Travel & Life | Garden Design | Home Ft. Lauderdale | Home Miami |
| Luxury | SNOW | Spa |
| Marine | Boating Life | Cruising World | Fly Fishing in Salt Waters | Power Cruising | Marlin | Motor Boating | Sailing World | Salt Water Sportsman | Sport Fishing | Yachting | NewBoats.com | UsedBoats.com | YachtBroker.com |
| Outdoor | Field & Stream | Outdoor Life | SHOT Business |
| Parenting | Babytalk | Parenting |
| Science | Popular Science | Science Illustrated |
| Saveur | Saveur |
| Working Mother Media | Working Mother |
| Entertainment / Events | World Entertainment Services | World Sports & Marketing |
FieldandStream.com is part of the Bonnier Outdoor Group Network
Copyright © 2009 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Photo Gallery Comments (18)
That is very neat to see!!!
Cool pics.
If I never met Charlie Alsheimer or listened to his teaching, I wouldn't be the deer hunter I am today. This guy is The Man. He knows more about deer vocalizations (there are dozens of types that you've never heard of) than most people know about deer.
That sure is a pretty fella up there rubbing that tree.
Is that blood I see on the antlers?? and in 17 and 18 is he eating his own shed??
Great pics.
Cabo - yes and yes.
Velvet is full of blood, pumping nutrients to build those miraculous antlers in no time.
Given that, not eating it would be a big waste. He put a lot of energy and healthy stuff into making those things, he doesn't want to let that good stuff go.
Not that he knows, he just eats it instinctually. Kinda like eating the placenta.
Thanks Shane. I could understand eating its own velvet I guess I never realized the the velvet was bloody and nutrients and stuff..
This is the type of buck Im after....Why dont they come to Northern Wi.
The Black Widow
They get a lot bigger in WI than they do in NY.
yea i was gonna say that aint wisc full of big whitetails
Very neat to be able to see the whole process.
Kudos to Alsheimer! That is a once in a lifetime opportunity,since most hunters are never in the woods at this time.Thanks for the great pix!
Notice the size of the rub... Don't over look small rubs, mature bucks make them also but there is usually clues (tine marks) left on surrounding sticks and brush. Not all mature bucks always rub on trees the size of your thigh. Very cool commentary. I did not know they ate most of there velvet. Scientists are doing many studies on there velvet, trying to find a way use it in the medical industry.
Interesting, its amazing how fast bucks can rub off their velvet. Right place at the right time equals some cool pictures
That is an awesome sight! To sit an watch the whole process is a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you for shareing it.
wow, i'd like to see another picture of him with a rut-swelled rack!!!
When I lived in Alaska I saw a bull moose with bloody antlers and shreds of velvet hanging. The blood dries and turns brown. That is what gives the antlers their color. Later they bleach white as the blood wears away due to sun and rain. That is why most sheds are white bone unless you find them very fresh. I did not know they ate the velvet but it makes sense. Most animals eat the placenta after giving birth.
Post a Comment
Cabo - yes and yes.
Velvet is full of blood, pumping nutrients to build those miraculous antlers in no time.
Given that, not eating it would be a big waste. He put a lot of energy and healthy stuff into making those things, he doesn't want to let that good stuff go.
Not that he knows, he just eats it instinctually. Kinda like eating the placenta.
Is that blood I see on the antlers?? and in 17 and 18 is he eating his own shed??
This is the type of buck Im after....Why dont they come to Northern Wi.
The Black Widow
Notice the size of the rub... Don't over look small rubs, mature bucks make them also but there is usually clues (tine marks) left on surrounding sticks and brush. Not all mature bucks always rub on trees the size of your thigh. Very cool commentary. I did not know they ate most of there velvet. Scientists are doing many studies on there velvet, trying to find a way use it in the medical industry.
That is very neat to see!!!
Cool pics.
If I never met Charlie Alsheimer or listened to his teaching, I wouldn't be the deer hunter I am today. This guy is The Man. He knows more about deer vocalizations (there are dozens of types that you've never heard of) than most people know about deer.
That sure is a pretty fella up there rubbing that tree.
Great pics.
Thanks Shane. I could understand eating its own velvet I guess I never realized the the velvet was bloody and nutrients and stuff..
They get a lot bigger in WI than they do in NY.
yea i was gonna say that aint wisc full of big whitetails
Very neat to be able to see the whole process.
Kudos to Alsheimer! That is a once in a lifetime opportunity,since most hunters are never in the woods at this time.Thanks for the great pix!
Interesting, its amazing how fast bucks can rub off their velvet. Right place at the right time equals some cool pictures
When I lived in Alaska I saw a bull moose with bloody antlers and shreds of velvet hanging. The blood dries and turns brown. That is what gives the antlers their color. Later they bleach white as the blood wears away due to sun and rain. That is why most sheds are white bone unless you find them very fresh. I did not know they ate the velvet but it makes sense. Most animals eat the placenta after giving birth.
That is an awesome sight! To sit an watch the whole process is a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you for shareing it.
wow, i'd like to see another picture of him with a rut-swelled rack!!!
Post a Comment