Mating Rituals

During the time that I have spent in the woods, I have seen a number of Moose and even Elk Wallows, where they will "scent" their area. Both the Moose and Elk will "scent", but also urinate in an area to attract the female specie. When the female specie comes into season, upon finding one of these "scent areas" they will normally remain in that area until the male returns. The males can develop several of these areas and will travel back and forth between them. Although, I have seen the signs of "scenting"and the "wallows", I had never seen the males actually scenting.

During my fall trip of 2010, the majority of my trip was during the start of the rutting season. It provided me the opportunity to actually observe the "scenting" procedure of several species of our wildlife. If you are traveling during the rutting season and happen to see an antlered specie with grass or branches snarled in their antlers, it is very likely that they are scenting their area. Most antlered males will have scent glands not only on their necks but some will also have glands below the base of their horns. When rubbing, the scent from these glands are then transferred to a brush or tree that they are marking. Some species will also dig a urination hole in which they will urinate as an attractant to the female. The process of scenting also serves as a defense posture on the males part. Warning other males that the area is within his territory. This is typically when you see the head to head combat occur. I also had the opportunity to witness both Deer and Elk lock up in combat over their area. The antelope play a different game, when an intruder enters their area and Does are present, the dominant male will give chase and run the intruder out of his area.

"Rocky Mountain Bighorn Ram" ~ Black Hills, South Dakota "Scenting The Bushes"

Bull Elk ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

"Marking A Pine Tree"

Mule Deer Buck ~ Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Scenting The Sagebrush

I saw a good number of Antelope or Pronghorn's scenting and marking their territory. The one in this series of pictures allowed me to get in real close and observe him for a couple of hours. Part of that time he was off chasing other males out of the area, but always returned to finish his task as soon as the intruders were a safe distance away. I sat within 20 feet of him while he dug a hole with his front hooves, then promptly urinated in the hole. He was a busy buck and evidently very effective, he had already accumulated a dozen Antelope Does and four Mule Deer Does. Several other times I saw Mule Deer Does hanging out with Buck Antelope and even Bull Elk.

Antelope (Pronghorn) Buck ~ Custer State Park, South Dakota

"Scenting Small Pine Tree"

"Urination Hole"

"Scenting the Grass"