As is often the case, the whitetail rut was the signature event of the last four to five weeks. Typically, the primary breeding season begins in late October and continues well into November. It is a time when deer are on the move and can appear unexpectedly at any time of the day or night.
In late October I was inspired by a seductive blend of morning sun, fog and colorful foliage. A short walk led me to an opening where a clump of golden-yellow aspen trees caught my attention. I positioned myself for a landscape shot, all the while harboring a greedy thought: in a perfect world, the scene would include one more element: deer. At that instant, a doe burst into view and very nearly ran me over. The chaotic scene was soon followed by another: the soft grunts and quick pace of a rutting buck, following the scent of the doe. He immediately filled the camera frame with a blurry, brown view and rendered me helpless. As luck would have it, he saw me twisting in a knot in a desperate attempt to record the moment, spun around, and ran.
His route was a half circle across an opening, giving me a chance to collect myself and capture my dream for all to see!
Photos by NB Hunter (late October, 2019). © All rights reserved.
Nick's Nature Pics 