Today is the last day of deer season in Montana.
This big, healthy buck has been around a bit with his harem of two. He is gorgeous as well as vigilant – he stayed mostly in the trees while the does ventured very near the house.
Moss and lichen off fallen branches as well as directly off the trees attracted the does into the yard and within ten feet of the house.
Hope we see them again.
I had just asked Steve about the best times for hunting and been told that when the moon is full and near full, the animals feed all night so are not out in the open during the day – hunting is not the best near the full moon. Coming in my driveway yesterday, he saw this group sleeping in the grass. Despite the fact, that FedEx roared in with a delivery, the group was still there when we left an hour later.
The poor deer is all wet as it has been raining all morning. We need the rain and things are getting green, green, green. But I wouldn’t want to be wet like that. Karl, who will lay and let the snow cover him up, does not like the rain. She didn’t actually seem bothered by being wet but I’d like to invite them all inside to dry off…not really practical…
Poor dear.
***Just as I hit publish, the sun came out!
Karl was inside when a small herd of white-tailed deer visited yesterday afternoon. They eat the mossy stuff on the downed branches in the yard and woods. If Karl is not out to keep them away, they come right to the house and I will look up from working to see…
I think these were last year’s fawns – still small and hanging together.
Mr. Buck getting a start on this year’s antlers. I’d love to find his shed! I know they shed early in the year and I have not yet found any in my walks in the woods…maybe this year.
Meanwhile, Mr. Karl studiously avoided looking at me AND outside at the deer. Once the deer are acknowledged, he must do something about them and I think he sometimes doesn’t feel like it so he comtemplates his toes instead.
