GREAPER
Oct-31-2005, 09:05 AM
So yesterday after shooting the sunrise, I hoped to get some decent shots of the whitetail deer that are common in this part of Ohio.
I happen to know of a small island where the deer like to spend the majority of the daylight hours as the island is difficult for humans to access.
In order to get to the island, the deer have to cross the river. Most of them do it in a shallow area on the southwest end.
When I arrived in the area, there were no deer yet, which is perfect. Thats allows me to find a quite spot and wait.
While I was waiting, I took this shot of some Canada Geese hangin around the shallows.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42196306-L.jpg
After being there ten minutes or so, the geese all flew off together. Something had spooked them.
Some distance upstream from me I saw two does crossing the river. I did not have an angle to shoot the as they crossed but did get this shot of one of them after she reached the other bank.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42196515-L.jpg
A few minutes later, two more does crossed on the other side of me. Light was still a little low, but I did manage a couple of decent shots while the mist was still on the river and the sun was behind the trees.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42196876-L.jpg
As the sun came up, two more does made their way into the river. The fall colors were starting to reflect on the river.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42197006-L.jpg
The does made their way across to their island haven and disappeared into the brush.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42197699-L.jpg
I waited there for another fifteen minutes without sighting anything and I was beginning to catch a chill so I decided to move out in search of fall color.
I made my way back to my car and was about to climb in when I spotted a young buck a couple of hundred yards down the road. He saw me as well and walked back into the brush. I slowley made my way down to where he had walked in. I crossed the little hill that parallels the road and found that he hadn't went far.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198288-L.jpg
He kept walking away from the road, stopping to eat here and there, always aware that I was watching and walking away or parrallel to me, but I was carefull not to spook him. Strangley I have found that talking to them in a low, even toned calm voice calms them down a little.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198750-L.jpg
It wasn't long before he came across another young buck the two of them snorted and sniffed at each other for a couple of minutes. They both were ignoring me at this point, but I was in a position where there was some tall weeds and brush between us. I was slowly moving to get in a better position when the decided to test each other a little.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198484-L.jpg
They locked antlers a couple of times, pushing and shoving like a couple of 4th grade bullies.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198158-L.jpg
The younger of the two finally broke it off and headed off into the brush, giving me a last parting look before he was gone.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198873-L.jpg
The slightly larger buck headed back the way he came. I pressume he was on his way to cross the river... I wonder why? I was in no position to follow so that was the end of the encounter. I had some fun watching nature in action. I got a couple of decent shots, and I get to share them with you.
What could be better.
Thanks for looking.
Brian
I happen to know of a small island where the deer like to spend the majority of the daylight hours as the island is difficult for humans to access.
In order to get to the island, the deer have to cross the river. Most of them do it in a shallow area on the southwest end.
When I arrived in the area, there were no deer yet, which is perfect. Thats allows me to find a quite spot and wait.
While I was waiting, I took this shot of some Canada Geese hangin around the shallows.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42196306-L.jpg
After being there ten minutes or so, the geese all flew off together. Something had spooked them.
Some distance upstream from me I saw two does crossing the river. I did not have an angle to shoot the as they crossed but did get this shot of one of them after she reached the other bank.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42196515-L.jpg
A few minutes later, two more does crossed on the other side of me. Light was still a little low, but I did manage a couple of decent shots while the mist was still on the river and the sun was behind the trees.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42196876-L.jpg
As the sun came up, two more does made their way into the river. The fall colors were starting to reflect on the river.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42197006-L.jpg
The does made their way across to their island haven and disappeared into the brush.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42197699-L.jpg
I waited there for another fifteen minutes without sighting anything and I was beginning to catch a chill so I decided to move out in search of fall color.
I made my way back to my car and was about to climb in when I spotted a young buck a couple of hundred yards down the road. He saw me as well and walked back into the brush. I slowley made my way down to where he had walked in. I crossed the little hill that parallels the road and found that he hadn't went far.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198288-L.jpg
He kept walking away from the road, stopping to eat here and there, always aware that I was watching and walking away or parrallel to me, but I was carefull not to spook him. Strangley I have found that talking to them in a low, even toned calm voice calms them down a little.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198750-L.jpg
It wasn't long before he came across another young buck the two of them snorted and sniffed at each other for a couple of minutes. They both were ignoring me at this point, but I was in a position where there was some tall weeds and brush between us. I was slowly moving to get in a better position when the decided to test each other a little.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198484-L.jpg
They locked antlers a couple of times, pushing and shoving like a couple of 4th grade bullies.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198158-L.jpg
The younger of the two finally broke it off and headed off into the brush, giving me a last parting look before he was gone.
http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/42198873-L.jpg
The slightly larger buck headed back the way he came. I pressume he was on his way to cross the river... I wonder why? I was in no position to follow so that was the end of the encounter. I had some fun watching nature in action. I got a couple of decent shots, and I get to share them with you.
What could be better.
Thanks for looking.
Brian