Deer rubbing their antlers on trees is a common behavior, primarily observed in male deer. This activity serves multiple purposes throughout their annual cycle.
Purposes of Antler Rubbing
Bucks rub their antlers on trees for several reasons. A primary purpose is velvet removal. Antlers grow annually, covered by a soft, vascular skin layer called velvet. Once hardened, typically by late summer, this velvet dries and becomes itchy. Rubbing helps deer scrape off this dead tissue, a process often completed within 24 hours.
Another reason for antler rubbing is scent marking and communication. Deer possess scent glands on their forehead and near their eyes (preorbital glands). When a buck rubs a tree, these glands deposit scent onto the stripped bark, leaving a chemical signal for other deer. This scent provides information about the buck’s presence, sex, size, and reproductive status, attracting mates and establishing dominance. These rubs act as visual and olfactory signposts, communicating to other deer in the area.
Rubbing also contributes to antler strengthening and conditioning. The physical act of rubbing and twisting antlers against trees helps to polish and harden them further. This process prepares the antlers for the sparring and fighting that occurs during the breeding season, when bucks compete for access to females.
Seasonal Occurrence of Rubbing
Antler rubbing primarily occurs during late summer and fall, aligning with a buck’s antler development and reproductive cycle. By late summer, antlers begin to mineralize and harden. The velvet covering them dries and peels. This shedding process is accelerated by rubbing against trees and is completed quickly.
Rubbing behavior intensifies as the breeding season, known as the rut, approaches. The rut, from late September through December, sees increased rubbing due to heightened hormonal activity and the need for communication and dominance displays among bucks. This behavior continues throughout the rutting period until bucks shed their hardened antlers, which happens between late December and early March.
Evidence on Trees
Antler rubbing leaves distinct signs on trees, providing clues about deer activity. Rubs appear as stripped bark, gouges, or polished areas on tree trunks and saplings. The exposed wood beneath the bark appears lighter in color. If fresh, sap can be present, and wood shavings can be found at the base of the tree.
The height and size of a rub can indicate the size of the deer that made it. Smaller bucks target smaller trees, while larger bucks can rub trees of various diameters, including those several inches thick. Deer show preferences for certain tree species for rubbing. They favor trees with smooth bark, and aromatic species like pine, cedar, and sassafras, which help retain and disperse their scent more effectively. These visible marks serve as indicators of deer presence and movement patterns within a habitat.