Stained tarsals

[catman529]

Are tarsal glands on a buck usually stained after the rut has wound down? Just wondering because the yearling nub head I shot had pretty well stained tarsals. I don't know if it indicates immediate rutting behavior or if they are always dark brown when bucks are in hard horn. Just wondering if there's a 2nd rut happening in that part of Maury county or not. Thanks

 

[yamaha200]

I killed a buck Friday morning, he seemed to be cruising. I saw him stumble and fall where I shot him, when I get up to him, he stinks bad, and tarsals were all black. All 3 bucks I killed this yr, and the one my son killed, all were like that. The first one was opening of muzzle loader.

 

[stik]

bucks are "in rut" from the time they shed velvet until they shed antlers. the does determine when is the rut.

 

[BSK]

Some tarsal staining is natural for all bucks. It's just part of the breeding season behavioral process. In essence, most do it due to the time of year. It is an instinctive behavior driven by hormone production. Even some does stain their tarsals by urinating over them.