Mule Deer buck in morning light – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday I found a Mule Deer buck in rut following a doe in the marsh next to the Bear River at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. He is a big buck and has an unusual set of antlers with several non-typical tines on the left antler and one oddly shaped tine on the right side. That tine seemed wider than normal but also had a vertical crack on it.
Handsome Mule Deer on a frosty November morning – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Mule Deer buck followed the doe through the lightly frosted marsh as she walked east on the north side of the Bear River. He didn’t pay much attention to anything but her and didn’t turn to look in my direction often. I like the profile of the buck in this frame.
Marsh and a Mule Deer buck – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And in this frame I like how this shows more of the deer’s habitat than in the previous images and more of the buck’s body. He is one healthy looking Mule Deer.
Box Elder County Mule Deer – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This image shows even more of the habitat with the mountains in the distant background plus the buck was looking in my direction. I like how the warm tones of the buck and vegetation contrast nicely from the cool tones of the water and the mountains in the distance.
Mule Deer doe being followed by a buck – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I felt I also had to share an image of the doe the buck had been following. She paid little attention to the buck as he trailed after her and I am not sure she even glanced in his direction.
I went looking for birds at the refuge but I felt I had to get images of this pair of Mule Deer who seemed to glow in the early light.
Life is good.
Mia
There are more images of this buck from yesterday here.
Very nice captures of magnificent animals, healthy, well muscled buck, with a great rack. Thanks Mia.
Absolutely magnificent.
Lovely images Mia!! It’s fun to see yours and Ron’s post together–I get a true feeling that I’m right there with you 😉 Thanks for sharing your beautiful images and stories…
These are gorgeous shots of teo incredibly handsome, healthy animals! I hope to heck they survive some nut cases desire to experience the “thrill of the kill”. The babies these two coukd produce woukd be amazing….
Lovely set of photos, beautiful how the deer pop from th muted backgrounds 🙂
Nice sequence Mia. My favs are the first two. In the first image I like how the vertical blades of the grass in the foreground lead you to the vertical antlers and in the second image I like how the “cool” grasses in the foreground and the “cool” background colors contrast with the warmth of the light shining on the antlers.
Beautiful photos, beautiful subject and lighting. I really like how that 500 + extender is working for you.
Beautiful images, Mia. Gorgeous Buck.