MeatEater, Inc. is an outdoor lifestyle company founded by renowned writer and TV personality Steven Rinella. Host of the Netflix show MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast, Rinella has gained wide popularity with hunters and non-hunters alike through his passion for outdoor adventure and wild foods, as well as his strong commitment to conservation. Founded with the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, MeatEater, Inc. brings together leading influencers in the outdoor space to create premium content experiences and unique apparel and equipment. MeatEater, Inc. is based in Bozeman, MT.

Trail Cam Photo Contest: Best Velvet Buck Pics

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MOULTRIE® logo: green block letters inside a rounded-rectangular green border
Buck with velvet antlers in grassy clearing; overlay: EDGE 2 FL - 8228CAM9, 07/19/25 6:48 PM, 75°F

If you’re like most of us at MeatEater, you’ve been listening to the new Turnpike Troubadour album,The Price of Admission,on repeat this summer. The first track's, opening line, “There’s a mid-July whitetail in velvet, red as your old Chevrolet,” is inspiration enough to get out and check your trail cameras.

Seeing velvet bucks this time of year is kind of like walking by a closed bakery. You can admire all you want, but that’s about it until opening time. Still, it can help you find your target buck now, and you can start building out a hunt plan well before the scramble of the season opener.

Although we’ve still got some waiting to do, we’re sure those trail cam photos are getting you even more stoked for that first morning, and we want to see ‘em!

To enter your best velvet buck shot, upload your photo right here in the comment section.To view the official rules of the contest,click here.

The winning photo will be debated and ultimately chosen by judges Clay Newcomb, Brent Reaves, and Tony Peterson on MeatEater Radio Live on July 31.

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Two brown cellular trail cameras with antennas, front lenses, and motion sensors
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Cellular trail camera with antenna, lens, motion sensor, and [M] logo
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Moultrie Edge 3 cellular trail camera, tan housing with antenna and black "[M]" logo
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Rectangular portable solar panel with dark textured face and silver frame
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Moultrie Mobile
$59.99
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EDGE 2 Pro cellular trail camera with external antenna and front motion sensor
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Moultrie Mobile
$119.99
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First Lite camo trail camera with vertical Moultrie Mobile antenna
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EDGE Series Flex Mount 2 black adjustable wall mount with quick-release cradle
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Moultrie Mobile
$19.99
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EDGE series security box, gray lockable camera housing with antenna and front camera window
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Moultrie Mobile
$34.99
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