Here's a cool glimpse into the velvet-shedding stage.
As a wildlife photographer, long days spent lost in the wild are the norm. With a serious passion for whitetail deer, capturing rut behavior with the camera is a ritual I eagerly look forward to each fall.
For all those countless days spent in the field, I had yet to capture a buck during the velvet-shedding stage. That changed in 2017.
I hit my favorite bean field only 10 minutes from my home. The bachelor groups of bucks have been numerous that year, with a few nice 10-point trophies thrown into the mix. On this particular evening, one of the big boys showed himself, but it was this 8-point fella with velvet dangling conspicuously from his tines that got me excited.
Here's some video footage I shot. As you're about to see, he had a few friends in tow:
It was definitely a memorable highlight for me, and I finally accomplished a longtime goal of mine.
Here's one of those 10-points. He was the last buck I spotted before making my way back to the truck. An omen for good days ahead I'd say.
Did you enjoy this post? CLICK HERE to view more articles by Justin Hoffman. You can also check out his Photography Site Justin Hoffman Outdoors, as well as follow him on Facebook Justin Hoffman Outdoors, Instagram hoffmanoutdoors, Twitter @HoffmanOutdoors, or subscribe to his YouTube channel Justin Hoffman.
NEXT: THE STORY OF 'OLD BUCK,' MY FAVORITE DEER IN THE WILD
WATCH
