A Mule Deer Morning
Colorado CJ
Registered Users Posts: 155 Major grins
Howdy all, this is my first post here. Hope to make many more.
I went on another hike this morning in the mountains, no real trail, just back country hiking. Pretty early in the hike I saw a small herd of mule deer. I already had my camera out and my tele lens on, so I started to slowly climb the side of the mountain towards the deer. I worked my way around a small knoll so that I could come up on them from a different direction than they expected (I made a little noise climbing through the snow, so didn't want to go straight at them, around the edge of the rocks, the deer were right there, maybe 30 feet in front of me.
18 Dec 2011 1 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Well, that did it, they all became alert and were ready to run, so I squatted down to wait a while for them to settle.
18 Dec 2011 2 by coloradocj, on Flickr
One smaller doe was pretty brave early on (or just curious) and started to make her way towards me, a step at a time.
18 Dec 2011 3 by coloradocj, on Flickr
I stood up and started to come around the rock, there was a huge buck right there and he wasn't all too happy. His head was lowered, staring at me through his antlers. I stood still for a long time while we both stared at each other.
18 Dec 2011 4 by coloradocj, on Flickr
After about 10 minutes, I guess the buck figured I wasn't a threat, and started to move away.
18 Dec 2011 5 by coloradocj, on Flickr
I followed along being careful to stay quiet and not spook the herd further. After a long time, the mule deer became somewhat used to me and started laying down.
18 Dec 2011 6 by coloradocj, on Flickr
So, I slowly made my way a little closer to them and sat down under a large pine. I was about 60 feet from the large buck and 40 feet from one of the does.
18 Dec 2011 7 by coloradocj, on Flickr
18 Dec 2011 9 by coloradocj, on Flickr
About 20 minutes later a squirrel came down the pine chirping at me, mad that I'm sitting under his home.
18 Dec 2011 8 by coloradocj, on Flickr
This is one massive buck.
18 Dec 2011 10 by coloradocj, on Flickr
I've been with the deer for about 2 hours now, so they are getting pretty used to me, allowing me to move around and photo them without them becoming upset. I'm having a great time and am able to get very close to many of the deer.
18 Dec 2011 11 by coloradocj, on Flickr
18 Dec 2011 12 by coloradocj, on Flickr
18 Dec 2011 13 by coloradocj, on Flickr
This guy must have lost at a pretty good fight. Sad to see him this way, but he'll grow another pair of antlers next fall. He didn't seem as proud as the other large buck, kind of sad looking.
18 Dec 2011 14 by coloradocj, on Flickr
18 Dec 2011 15 by coloradocj, on Flickr
All in all, I spent over 2 hours with these mule deer. It was a lot of fun and I'll always remember my time with them. This was one of my better days of hiking and photography.
I went on another hike this morning in the mountains, no real trail, just back country hiking. Pretty early in the hike I saw a small herd of mule deer. I already had my camera out and my tele lens on, so I started to slowly climb the side of the mountain towards the deer. I worked my way around a small knoll so that I could come up on them from a different direction than they expected (I made a little noise climbing through the snow, so didn't want to go straight at them, around the edge of the rocks, the deer were right there, maybe 30 feet in front of me.
18 Dec 2011 1 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Well, that did it, they all became alert and were ready to run, so I squatted down to wait a while for them to settle.
18 Dec 2011 2 by coloradocj, on Flickr
One smaller doe was pretty brave early on (or just curious) and started to make her way towards me, a step at a time.
18 Dec 2011 3 by coloradocj, on Flickr
I stood up and started to come around the rock, there was a huge buck right there and he wasn't all too happy. His head was lowered, staring at me through his antlers. I stood still for a long time while we both stared at each other.
18 Dec 2011 4 by coloradocj, on Flickr
After about 10 minutes, I guess the buck figured I wasn't a threat, and started to move away.
18 Dec 2011 5 by coloradocj, on Flickr
I followed along being careful to stay quiet and not spook the herd further. After a long time, the mule deer became somewhat used to me and started laying down.
18 Dec 2011 6 by coloradocj, on Flickr
So, I slowly made my way a little closer to them and sat down under a large pine. I was about 60 feet from the large buck and 40 feet from one of the does.
18 Dec 2011 7 by coloradocj, on Flickr
18 Dec 2011 9 by coloradocj, on Flickr
About 20 minutes later a squirrel came down the pine chirping at me, mad that I'm sitting under his home.
18 Dec 2011 8 by coloradocj, on Flickr
This is one massive buck.
18 Dec 2011 10 by coloradocj, on Flickr
I've been with the deer for about 2 hours now, so they are getting pretty used to me, allowing me to move around and photo them without them becoming upset. I'm having a great time and am able to get very close to many of the deer.
18 Dec 2011 11 by coloradocj, on Flickr
18 Dec 2011 12 by coloradocj, on Flickr
18 Dec 2011 13 by coloradocj, on Flickr
This guy must have lost at a pretty good fight. Sad to see him this way, but he'll grow another pair of antlers next fall. He didn't seem as proud as the other large buck, kind of sad looking.
18 Dec 2011 14 by coloradocj, on Flickr
18 Dec 2011 15 by coloradocj, on Flickr
All in all, I spent over 2 hours with these mule deer. It was a lot of fun and I'll always remember my time with them. This was one of my better days of hiking and photography.
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Comments
The uni-antler buck seemed like he was moping around to me
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How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Dennis Kaczor Photography
Are those in/out holes in the ears of the large buck? As in a missed shot? Or are both ears tagged in some way?
That non-typical is a beauty.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
http://500px.com/Shockey
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http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
As for the squirrel, I'm kind of partial to them ever since I rescued a baby squirrel from a hawk attach and raised him when I was younger. I released him a year or so later and he'd always come down out of the trees to me when I called.
As for the squirrel, I'm kind of partial to them ever since I rescued a baby squirrel from a hawk attack and raised him when I was younger. I released him a year or so later and he'd always come down out of the trees to me when I called.
Yeah, they are tags from the Colorado Department of Wildlife. A few years ago about 500 mule deer were tagged in a study of the CWD (Colorado Wasting Disease), a disease that affects deer and elk populations in Colorado and Wyoming. This mulie must have been one of them.
The disease was actually released accidentally in a herd of deer at a Colorado University study site and has spread over the years to the whole mountain region. It is similar to mad cow on how it affects infected deer populations.
This guy must have been healthy though, as it would have been put down if it was found to have the CWD.
Here's a 100% crop shot of the buck. You can clearly see the tag number.
18 Dec 2011 100% crop 2 by Colorado CJ, on Flickr
Spinner
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No I wasn't wearing any camo, just my usual brown Carhartt jacket, blue jeans and brown stocking cap (basically what I have on in my avitar)
I'm just kind of used to getting close to wildlife, especially deer, and know when and how far I can push getting closer. I've been in herds of 100+ mule deer as they were bedding down many times and could sneek in right among them. Deer are especially curious creatures, so if you don't frighten them, and remain small, they can many times walk right up to you.
For example, one evening I had a large herd of deer bedding down in my front property. I went out and slowly made my way into the herd. I stayed low and took my time. Once I was inside the herd, I squatted down on all fours and soon a few of the deer started towards me, curious as to what I was. Within a few minutes I had two of the deer actually nudging me with their muzzles.
I had a small video camera with me that time. I should see if I can find the tape somewhere.