When Deer Rutting Begins

by Jenn Smith July 02, 2020

Deer rutting begins in September as bucks prepare for mating season with does. The action of deer rutting is so much more than the damage of trees. Here's what happens when deer rub their antlers against trees:

By late summer, male deer develop dried velvet on their antlers that is unsightly, heavy, and hard on their neck muscles. They will find trees to rub off the unsightly velvet to mark their scent on trees to attract does and to alleviate the tension. This action usually begins in late August-early September.

When deer rub their antlers against trees, they remove the cambium layer of the tree. This layer is used for cell growth and provides nutrients to the tree. When deer rub off the layer, the nutrients to the tree are gone and the tree can no longer grow.

To prevent deer tree damage, forestry professionals will need to act on deer management strategies such as tree wraps around young trees. This is the best tree management tool that can be used to prevent deer damage around trees during the autumn months.