It's that time of year again that bull moose get ready for the fall rut. They have already been in the process of growing back a set of antlers that are covered with a layer of velvet which nourishes the bone as it grows. The first stage is stripping the newly grown velvet off his new set of antlers which he accelerates by rubbing on bendable young trees. As they strip the velvet off it can be quite the messy sight with some remaining blood that is left from the velvet that was feeding the antler as it was growing and now has become itchy as it dries out. It's a time that makes the bull moose more dangerous due to competition for cow (female) moose. It's a beautiful time to photograph them in the fall of the year.