no tarsal staining

For whatever reason the mature bucks on our farm this year don’t have any tarsal staining. They have in years past, but not this year. Anyone know why?

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Any idea of what approximate buck/doe ratio you have? Have you noticed a decline in the number of scrapes? (used by mature bucks).

I read an article a few years back that that cited a relationship between the tarsal staining and competition for does. If the ratio is closer, there is much more aggressive behavior including more frequent urinating in the scrapes. When the ratio is much further apart, bucks don’t have to work as much to protect their territory and find the estrous does. I did a quick google search and couldn’t find it. But they had pictures of mature bucks in manage units that were like 1:5 and the bucks were stain all the way down to their hoofs. In other units that were 1:20+, very small or little stains. Is this 100% correct – don’t know but it does sound logical.

Other factors include rain/waterfall, how often the deer cross waterways/creeks, and other means of “washing” the gland area. I’ve seen deer from the lower WI River bottoms where deer swim daily from island to island and their glands are nearly snow white

For what ever reason the 2 bucks I shot so far this season had more yellow staining , not darker… but they were still plenty stinky… Maybe this is the case.. it just doesn’t show well on the pictures?

Unless you are used to seeing dark staining..

I also read that deer ratio study at one time Randy.

We have a way out of whack high doe to buck ration. We have a ton of does and we do have a lot of young bucks but only 3-4 mature bucks. I thought maybe that had something to do with it but wasn’t sure. I know the bucks don’t have to go far to find a doe.

Unfortunately we are hunters choice in our zone(one deer only, buck or doe) so trying to get the ration back in check will take 10 years

sktrwx2200 wrote:

For what ever reason the 2 bucks I shot so far this season had more yellow staining , not darker… but they were still plenty stinky… Maybe this is the case.. it just doesn’t show well on the pictures?

Unless you are used to seeing dark staining..

I also read that deer ratio study at one time Randy.

I’ll have to harvest one of the big guys so I can check for yellow staining

Those are a couple nice bucks Sticker!