Bucks engage in a distinctive behavior known as tree scraping. This involves rubbing antlers and foreheads against tree bark. It is a common activity serving various purposes within deer populations. This behavior is part of their natural communication system.
Communicating Through Tree Scrapes
Bucks scrape trees to communicate with other deer. They deposit chemical messages, known as pheromones, onto the tree bark. These scents originate from specialized glands on their forehead and near their eyes (frontal and preorbital glands). The secretions contain unique information about the buck’s identity, age, dominance, and reproductive status.
Beyond scent, scraping creates a clear visual signal. Bucks strip bark and break branches, leaving noticeable damage. This visible alteration serves as a territorial marker, signaling area claim. The size of the rubbed tree can indicate the buck’s size and maturity, with larger rubs suggesting a more dominant animal. This combination of visual and olfactory cues forms a complex communication system, akin to a “bulletin board” for deer.
How Bucks Scrape Trees
The physical process involves a buck using both antlers and forehead. The deer lowers its head, rubbing its antlers in an up-and-down motion against the tree trunk. This action often strips bark from the sapling and can break small branches. This forceful rubbing helps remove velvet from antlers and contributes to building neck and shoulder muscles used for dominance displays and fights.
While rubbing antlers, the buck simultaneously presses its forehead against the tree. This action transfers secretions from the forehead glands onto the exposed wood, adding a scent component to the visual mark. Bucks often target small trees or saplings, typically 2 to 4 inches in diameter. The choice of tree species can vary, but bucks may prefer those with lighter-colored wood that makes the rub more visually striking.
When Tree Scraping Occurs
Tree scraping is most frequently observed during late fall, coinciding with pre-rut and rut periods. This intensified activity directly links to the deer’s breeding season, as bucks focus on reproduction and establishing dominance. As testosterone levels rise, bucks increase scraping activity to communicate presence and readiness to mate.
While scraping peaks during the rut, some activity can occur outside this period, though less frequently. Bucks may begin making rubs as soon as antlers harden after shedding velvet, around September. Early scraping might be related to muscle development or initial territorial marking. The most consistent and widespread scraping, particularly that associated with strong scent marking, is concentrated from mid-October through December in many regions.