Velvet to Antlers: Deer in Transition

As summer slips into fall, the deer in our fields and forests are changing too. If you look closely, you may notice bucks sporting soft, fuzzy coverings on their antlers — this is called velvet, a layer of skin rich with blood vessels that nourishes the growing bone beneath.

By late August and early September, those antlers are nearly done growing. The velvet begins to dry and peel, often leaving bucks rubbing their antlers against trees to shed it. What emerges is the hardened, polished bone that will carry them through the fall rut (mating season).

Why It Matters

Antlers aren’t permanent — they’re grown and shed each year. For bucks, they’re a symbol of health and strength, used in displays and sparring matches to establish dominance. The cycle of growth, velvet, and shedding is one of nature’s most fascinating seasonal rhythms.

More Deer Sightings Ahead

As evenings cool, deer are more active at dawn and dusk. It’s also the time of year when young fawns, born in spring, are growing bolder and beginning to travel with their mothers. All this activity means you may spot more deer near roadsides.

Safety Tips for Drivers

🚘 Be extra alert during early morning and evening drives.

🌲 Slow down near wooded areas or fields where deer may cross.

👀 Remember that deer often travel in groups — if you see one, more may follow.

Whether glimpsed at the edge of a field or silhouetted against the twilight, deer are a reminder of the wild lives moving all around us. As their antlers harden and the velvet falls away, they’re stepping into autumn just as we are — ready for the season ahead.

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📸 Have you spotted velvet antlers or deer near your home?

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