The Tarsal Gland
This is the most common gland amongst hunters and many commercial products have been introduced to simulate this area. Located just inside the hocks on the hind quarters of a deer, the tarsal gland is one of the most visible and pronounced forms of scent communication between deer. All deer of the whitetail family use this form of association but it is most acquitted to the bucks during the rutting phase. Although does and fawns will urinate on their hocks and rub their legs together, the social status is most defined for the male portion of the herd. During the rut bucks will use a technique called rub-urination which entails the deer urinating on his hind quarters and rubbing the inside of his legs together. This darkens the tarsal gland and acts as a signature of dominance when scented by other deer. Bucks will often adhere to this procedure when creating or freshening a scrape. As a buck becomes more engaged in the rut his tarsal gland will become dark, nearly black, in color.
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