The whitetail buck has five glands that function and control their activities in their environment. The whitetail buck's glands go hand in hand with the visual and audible communications throughout the deer herd.
- Forehead Gland: Which many believe that's when a mature buck rubs his horns and basis on a tree to make a sing post it's just for sight purposes. In fact it's don't to secret the forehead gland on the tree to show their status in the herd.
- Tarsal Gland: This gland in located just inside the hocks on the hind quarters of the deer. During the phases of the rut you might see a mature buck rubbing his back legs together and urinating on the tarsal gland to freshen a scrape.
- Preorbital Gland: Which is located on the inside corner of the eye. When an buck is making a scrape a lot of time they will rub the preorbital gland on the leaves and branches as another form of communication within the herd. Some also say it may be a visual way to communicate also.
- Metatarsal Gland: It's located on the bottom outside of the leg . In fact very little is known about this gland. Study shows that it may be used in correspondence with regulating body heat. I believe it's used to perhaps scent mark trials in high grass, as another form of communication.
- Interdigital Gland: This gland is located between the deer's toes. Experts theorize that's its used by deer when danger is in the area and they scatter, they can find one another through the scent trail.
The whitetail world is very complex it seems but when it comes to survival they also use every advantage to survive not only from deer hunters but other dangers in the wild as well.