This buck’s antlers are now just-fully grown and beginning to harden. We know this because in the last frames of the video you can see a strip of hanging velvet. As deer antlers harden and the velvet dries up, bucks will begin to rub them until all of it is removed. They will then be ready for challenges from any rival males.
For the most-part grass and brush have been removed from this part of the GNG for fire prevention and protection, but this buck seems to be finding morsels to eat!…