A nice Whitetail Buck stands erect shaking his antlers in the overhanging pine bough
After 30 seconds or so of standing erect the buck dropped to all fours and began making a scrape. With the colder weather the pre-rut activity is picking up swiftly. I expect it will be another week or two before many of the does come into estrus.
For those of you who must drive through whitetail habitat; do so carefully. The next few weeks are the most dangerous time of the year for both the deer and the automobiles. I know from experience.
Living in deer country and traveling a lot during the hours of darkness I have collided with more than my share over the past few decades. Just this past Saturday evening as I topped a small rise three deer darted into the path of my car. With no time to stop I braked hard. At impact the deer was thrown into the air falling on the left-hand berm dieing. The results: one dead deer and $900 damage.
Down here its our panthers. And yes, with them it's at night too. But I don't think there's a seasonal pattern. That's interesting how it is with the deer.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating picture. We also have a lot of White-tailed deer in my area too and sometimes they stroll into my yard for a launch, as is shown in a couple of my recent posts.
ReplyDeleteThe wildlife pictures on your blog are great. Glad that I found it.
Nature Tales and Camera Trails
Salty: What a neat shot of the buck with the antlers way up high. I thought they just did low branches. Amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteglad you were okay after hitting that deer! My dad once rolled the family van in trying to veer & stop to avoid a deer. The cop who arrived on the scene told him "next time - hit em!" - it's a lot safer. I'm not sure.....
ReplyDeleteNice photography. I really like the pictures of these animals.
ReplyDeleteI am doing something different on my Gordon, Ohio blog. I set out to photograph and describe every house in the village where I was born.
Gordon, Ohio
Groan.....so sorry for all concerned.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your collision, Salty. I, myself, have had three and can't say I look forward to another. Tonight as I drove home, I was almost traveling at a snail's pace being so careful to watchlout for those crazy deer. Hope you weren't hurt in the accident.
ReplyDeleteI was visiting one of our offices in PA and the topic of deers in the street came up. I asked them about just avoiding them and they told me not to. Basically what the cop told you - hit em. They said that the insurance companies don't really care if you put your car in the ditch trying to avoid a deer. I still think I would have tried to swerve if I came upon one. Sorry there was so much damage to your car.
ReplyDelete~ Wolf Lover Girl