Latest buck with velvet still intact

[Mungo]

Saw a well built younger male (4 points, I think) still in full velvet yesterday. Seemed extremely late.

What’s the latest people have seen them in full velvet?

 

[Camdig]

While stalking last night saw a few young bucks in velvet also a few clean youngsters.
I think this year we are about a month behind.
On an other note seen a couple Sika calfs which I thought was early.

 

[wytonpjs]

Had a yearling roe buck a couple of weeks ago still in velvet. Friday’s mature 6-pointer was beautifully clean (and broken).

 

[Mungo]

While stalking last night saw a few young bucks in velvet also a few clean youngsters.
I think this year we are about a month behind.
On an other note seen a couple Sika calfs which I thought was early.

I’ve given up trying to figure out sika timings.

We shot a tiny spotty calf in the first week of March. I saw a hind being chased hard by a staggie two weeks ago. Watched them for almost an hour, she was weaving back and forth and he had his nose firmly up her crack. Sadly for him, the moment she stood still, some unkind bugger on the hill above put a bullet through him…

 

[novice]

I had a very poor yearling buck come to the call in July...single spikes still in full velvet.

Fairly sure I started a thread about it on here, but was years ago. Recall the consensus was that some very poor bucks don't seem to generate sufficient testostrone to start the fraying process. I guess a bit like a perruque, but not as extreme.

 

[Camdig]

Clearly has an issue seen him for a month on camera but not been able to catch up with him.

Wee Sika Calf

 

[Mungo]

View attachment 476332

Clearly has an issue seen him for a month on camera but not been able to catch up with him.View attachment 476333

Wee Sika Calf

Where’s the sika? Traquair?

 

[Camdig]

Very close to my location, picture taken from quad bike, Sika dont worry about quad bikes they will stand and watch you go by obviously when out of season!

 

[NickJ]

Saw a well built younger male (4 points, I think) still in full velvet yesterday. Seemed extremely late.

What’s the latest people have seen them in full velvet?

Last Monday and Tuesday I was stalking bucks on the high hill in East Perthshire, about third of the bucks were still in velvet

 

[Dave_45]

I’ve given up trying to figure out sika timings.

We shot a tiny spotty calf in the first week of March. I saw a hind being chased hard by a staggie two weeks ago. Watched them for almost an hour, she was weaving back and forth and he had his nose firmly up her crack. Sadly for him, the moment she stood still, some unkind bugger on the hill above put a bullet through him…

I’m not sure if I’m going to laugh or cry for the poor bugger

At least he doesn’t have to pay csa

 

[sako751sg]

I'll get the odd young lad well into June with velvet still on and see 5 or 6 regular just now still with.

 

[ColinBr]

Still seeing a few in full velvet.
Shot this young lad last week

 

[Dave_45]

I’m not sure if I’m going to laugh or cry for the poor bugger

At least he doesn’t have to pay csa

Seen mature stags rutting in August as well as other weird things You wouldn’t believe

They don’t seem to follow any kind of norms

Just do what they want when they want

 

[Freeforester]

Second one taken by a ten year old daughter of one of our wee group this season (— a juvenile ‘@mouse’ in the making), upland area, though the first one she took was clean. Dad proudly ghillieing for her.

Latest I shot a poorly yearling in velvet was early July. Old clean first (mid/late Feb here), youngsters later, sickly youngsters last of all.

 

[Mickeydredd]

Shot this lad on 6th June last year in Ayrshire. Very small buck but not thin

 

[Mungo]

Shot this lad on 6th June last year in Ayrshire. Very small buck but not thin

He looks very healthy!

 

[Mungo]

I’m not sure if I’m going to laugh or cry for the poor bugger

At least he doesn’t have to pay csa

He did run hard after the shot - must have gone well over 100m. Clearly very excited…

 

[Mickeydredd]

He looks very healthy!

Yes he was, just very small and he had blotches on his lungs that I posted about on a thread on here.

Thread 'Small Roe buck with blotches on lungs'

Jun 4, 2025

I have been watching a small buck on the wildlife camera who appeared strangely still in full velvet.

I shot him yesterday. He was the smallest buck I’ve ever shot, in very good external condition just small, and was in his summer coat.

Upon gralloching, I noticed some blotches on his lungs. Not sure if it was anything significant or not, just wondered what the thoughts of the SD might be. No lesions, lumps or pus-filled bits and otherwise looked okay internally.

• Mickeydredd
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Diseases, Welfare and Biology

 

[wytonpjs]

Cull yearling taken early evening in Wiltshire tonight still in velvet

 

[Rake Aboot]

Every buck round here now is clean
I’d actually hate to shoot a deer that’s right in the midst of breeding, don’t care what class he is .