Does and Their Fawns

An evening on a dairy farm, watching fields of hay, oats (soon to be baled for straw) and corn.

Shadows

Matriarch

Heading for the ripening corn

Motherly duties and TLC

Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.

White-tails in Summer

It seems to be much too hot to do this but in the world of White-tailed Deer life goes on; business as usual. I’m sitting in a fence row, my back to a large old Sugar Maple tree. A strip of camouflage burlap draped over a line of parachute cord provides cover. I’m downwind of a huge dairy farm and the powerful aroma of liquid cow manure masks my scent. In this setting, my only predatory weakness is the annoying click of the shutter of my camera. On a quiet evening, with deer in close, it sounds like a chainsaw.

I’m watching a field of cut hay, hoping to see deer and other wildlife; would love to have a close encounter with a fox or coyote.

Young doe approaching a mature doe and her fawn; submissive posture

Yearling buck in velvet

Photos by NB Hunter. 22July2016 © All Rights Reserved.

Summer Meadows…and Deer

Wildlife watching is a global sport and ecotourism a major industry. At the local level, in a region where agriculture, deer and an extensive network of trails and secondary roads dominate the landscape,  deer watching is as much a part of summer as strawberries and sweet corn.

Buck  on the move, swamp to hay field, just before dark; 16July2016

A friend has been seeing does, fawns and bucks on his dairy farm and suggested I set up for photographs. I obliged, telling him it would be a difficult chore, but somebody had to do it. Actually, I was thrilled! It was my first opportunity to  see and photograph triplets, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Triplet number one

Triplets two and three; mother has my scent and is nervous

Family portrait, just before mom ran off into the swamp, kids in tow

This doe and fawn appeared an hour later. Highway mortality, long winters and coyote predation take their toll on fawns. One or two fawns per mature doe is the norm, although sightings of mature does with no fawns at all are not unusual.

“We do not remember days, we remember moments” – Cesare Pavese

Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.

October Fawns

I’ve bumped into a large doe and her twins several times since the first of October. This time of year it is not unusual to find deer feeding throughout the day (and night), building fat reserves for the leaner months ahead. Acorns, apples and succulent herbaceous foliage are staples.

Adult doe and one of her fawns, foraging on apples and herbaceous vegetation

Our white-tail fawns, now about 4 months old, are maturing rapidly. An insulated winter coat has replaced the sleek, spotted, summer attire (although rows of spots are still faintly visible on the back).

One of two fawn twins

The fawns are foot-stomping curious, but alert and ready to bolt if necessary – just like mom.

Fawn evaluating the threat of human scent drifting in the breeze

And, they’ve been weaned – no more free meals!

Adult doe rejecting her fawn’s attempt to nurse.

Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.