Saturday, October 24, 2009

Mating Season for White-tail Deer

A couple of our Camera Critter bloggers from Pennsylvania (Willard and Coy) often talk about the rutting season of the white-tailed deer. They spend time out in the fields looking for and photographing this yearly deer ritual. What are the odds I would be able to watch this occur in my own backyard. Not highly likely I'm sure; but it did occur this past week.
I've become particular of the quality of the photos I post but this is too good not to share.This shot was a long one for my camera so I've cropped it so you can better see the activity. I had looked out my window and saw three bucks passing by - the first this season. I grabbed the camera and quietly stepped out on the deck. These two bucks are between my neighbors house and mine. The third buck is to the right just out of sight in this shot. They didn't battle long and went about grazing on the grass.
The above shot was taken two days later on Tuesday. I took this guys picture through my living room window. He was beside my front porch eyeing the dogwood tree you can barely see on the right. If you look closely or enlarge this one you can see him licking his lips. I'm guessing those little branches were tasty. You'll also notice that three of his eight points have been chipped. I don't believe he was one of the two in the first picture; but perhaps he has been in some rutting activity of his own.
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32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow...this is awesome and informative. They are beautiful animals. Well done my friend :)

Inday said...

That is interesting!

The only time I saw a deer was in a Deer Park in Orange. Then the Council moved them and I never saw them ever again.

I enjoy the pictures and thanks for visiting my blog.

diane b said...

Gosh and all in your yard. How lovely!

rapunzel said...

What wonderful pictures! In the first one, you can even see the shoulder muscles as they battle. Love your blog!

judi/Gmj said...

LOL! voyeur! Great shots.

Melli said...

These are fabulous Carletta! Maybe not the "quality" you'd like -- but deer just don't POSE the way you'd like 'em too either! I soooooo wish I had a window on the back side of my house so I could look down into our field and catch stuff like this! (or at least watch it - even if my camera doesn't get it!)

Thanks for sharing yours!

eileeninmd said...

Wonderful shots of the deer. I love the closeup on the second photo.

Snap said...

Carletta,
Such wonderful shots and in your own back yard! Exciting!

We love Luna said...

My dear friend Carletta,
What a fabulous post!!!
I loved this story and your perfect pictures.I think your garden is very special sweetie!
Happy camera Critters
purrs and love always
Luna

annies home said...

great picture of the deer

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Carletta: Wonderful capture of the sparing bucks.

Carolyn Ford said...

How wonderful to see it so up close and personal! Great capture and I bet you are glad that you happen to see this going on! Great post, Carletta!

Nessa said...

THose were great shots. You do see lots of deer in PA.

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Gel said...

Oh, how very lucky of you to spot bucks! These are priceless! I often see deer in our yard, but usually only does or VERY young bucks. I think I've seen antlers once in several years. These are great shots! I'm sure glad your LR window was in better (clearer) condition than my old bathroom window in our basement for my doe shot. It looks like you were outside shooting- photo through window came out great!

Pat said...

Great capture, Carletta! How lucky to capture those two males in the yard!

George said...

Both of your photos are wonderful. It's great that the deer came to you so you didn't have to go looking for them. Thanks for a wonderful post.

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

What a lovely view you must have from your living room window.

Rose said...

Carletta, how wonderful to be able to see this from your house! I noticed the antlers being chipped or broken off first thing in the last photo.

Lilli & Nevada said...

wow Carletta you captured them so well. Fantastic photos. I think he is sticking his tongue out at you so you have something more to show.

Raven said...

Awesome! How lucky you are to see that. Wonderful photos... The "battle" shot looks more peaceful than it was, I'm sure.

The Pink Geranium or Jan's Place said...

how cool was this to see in your own yard. I loved the deer smacking lips!

Twisted Fencepost said...

Well, I certainly enjoyed the pictures, quality or no.
There are deer on the farm, I know, I've seen "sign". But I never see the deer. Darn it!

storyteller at Small Reflections said...

How MARVELOUS to see such beautiful deer right in your yard. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.
Hugs and blessings,

Gretchen said...

Great shots! My critters are a bit smaller than yours.

Willard said...

Hi Carletta,
I enjoyed your post today and am glad to see that you are having some good experiences photographing the deer.

I certainly don't mind you linking to my blog and in fact appreciate it very much and I'm sure Coy feels the same.

SquirrelQueen said...

Great captures of the deer, I love the last shot. I know what you mean about the quality of photos but sometimes we just have to share these magic moments. Besides, I think they look good.

Judy

Unknown said...

They do look rather frisky. :) Think I'd stay out of their way, lol.

kayerj said...

how interesting to watch this and capture the picture.

Janie said...

Awesome shots, and amazing that you saw so much activity from your own yard!

Janet, said...

Nice picture. One day last week when we were walking I saw two deer rutting in the field below our house. That was the first time I had seen them do that.

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