A couple of mighty fine looking bucks came to visit our back acres a week or so ago. We were hoping this one wasn’t going to hop onto the deck.

Tom’s comment got me hunting info on this velvet antler stage of life on the buck.

When antlers are in velvet, they are very vulnerable to being injured. Bucks seem to be very aware that they have this fragile treasure on their head and are very careful in their actions throughout antler genesis. Bruises, cuts, or tears to the velvet can all have an impact on the formation of the antler.

The velvet nourishes the growing antler for about five months. During development, antlers are delicate and extremely sensitive to the touch.

Velvet antler is covered in a hairy, velvet-like “skin” known as velvet and its tines are rounded, because the antler has not calcified or finished developing.

Check out the muscles on that Buck! This tree/bush is filled with berries for the first time since we moved in. We think it is a Saskatoon berry. Whatever it is these Bucks were enjoying the berries.

This week I’m still recovering and I’m off my game, as they say.

The fire I wrote about was at 20% containment as of yesterday. It’s a tough terrain to deal with. Hope all is well in your corner.