Whitetail Deer--lots of pictures!

[Charmin]

For the last two years my kids and I have been feeding Whitetail deer outside our yard fence. We usually start putting out deer corn or "cookies"(cattle cake 16% protein) in the fall(October) and feed the deer all winter. We have between 30 to 50 head of deer that come in to eat! My oldest daughter loves to photograph them and she has taken some amazing pictures of bucks fighting and jumping the fence. She is also a deer hunter and brought home a 10 point trophy last fall.
The buck with the drop down horn has a knot on his head that causes his horn to grow funny. He's been back for the last two years(Pics. #1 & 2). We named him "Elliot"(ever see the cartoon "Open Season?) .
The buck(Pic. #6) with the really tall tines has also been back for the last 2 years. We found both of his sheds(horns) last month. His G2's measure 11" & 12" in length!! He lost his left eye this year fighting another buck!

Hope you enjoy looking at our deer herd!!!!
Kind Regards~~sandcreek4

 

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[Muddy Feet]

Very cool pictures. Do you regularly look for antler sheds in the spring? I have a friend who found 35 antlers this year.

 

[Charmin]

Very cool pictures. Do you regularly look for antler sheds in the spring? I have a friend who found 35 antlers this year.

Yes, we always go shed hunting in the spring. By having these deer feeding outside our fence we can watch and see when they start shedding and look accordingly. Some years its late February/early March before they start shedding. But a couple of years ago they started shedding in December, right after the rut. The weather was really bad and I think they shed their horns to conserve energy, or maybe their testosterone levels dropped off faster that year. Its fun to watch these things and see how they act. Even the does fight and I didn't know that until we began feeding them. Check out this picture~~~
sandcreek4

 

[Mental Granny]

Thanks for sharing and again great pics ! And good info ..... ya can learn a lot from someone who's getting as much expouser to deer as you are! I don't think I have ever heard about does fighting, but, it would make sense! Your daughters pics are really great!

 

[Charmin]

Thanks for sharing and again great pics ! And good info ..... ya can learn a lot from someone who's getting as much expouser to deer as you are! I don't think I have ever heard about does fighting, but, it would make sense! Your daughters pics are really great!

Thanks again Mental Granny! Its amazing what you can learn just from watching animals habits. Those does can really make the hair fly!
I think bucks will do that too after they lose their horns and while their horns are still in the "velvet". I guess that's so they won't damage the horns because they're soft until the velvet falls off and the horns get hard.
We're glad you enjoyed these pics! Kind Regards~~sandcreek4

 

[fossis]

That 'deer herd' would make a hunter drool, nice pic's.

Fossis...............

 

[Charmin]

That 'deer herd' would make a hunter drool, nice pic's.

Fossis...............

Thanks Fossis! From one year to the next, there has been a big difference in horn growth with these deer. Good nutrition makes HUGE horns . I have read recently about "Milo" being a good source of protein and we may try that next Fall.
Kind Regards~~~sandcreek4

 

[Mental Granny]

And since your daughter is a hunter, I know ya gotta be eatin some sweet meat I like deer that have eatin out of corn fields more than just where ever love them both but....
I still love taking pics the most!

 

[Charmin]

And since your daughter is a hunter, I know ya gotta be eatin some sweet meat I like deer that have eatin out of corn fields more than just where ever love them both but....
I still love taking pics the most!

Yes, the corn does make the meat taste better--but she doesn't shoot anything on the "feedline". She likes to hunt "ethically" out in the woods and give the deer a chance. We try to keep it fair and balanced!
I think she likes taking pictures as much as hunting though, too!
thanks for all the comments MG~
regards, sandcreek4

 

[Mental Granny]

Oh would not even think that she shot on the feed line! Thats used for just shots on the camera!
I meant when Jeff use to go hunt and when friends have given us meat the ones taken around corn fields were sweeter. Sorry if it sounded bad I did not mean it to sound that way.

 

[Monty]

You can tell that there is some excellent breeding stock there. Those 3 bucks look like they probably all came from the same sire. Monty

 

[Charmin]

Oh would not even think that she shot on the feed line! Thats used for just shots on the camera!
I meant when Jeff use to go hunt and when friends have given us meat the ones taken around corn fields were sweeter. Sorry if it sounded bad I did not mean it to sound that way.

No, Mental Granny--it didn't sound bad( about what you said). I was just trying to make sure that anyone who reads this didn't think we were "baiting" the deer and not giving them a chance--I just didn't want anyone to be offended. Know what I mean?
regards, sandcreek4

You can tell that there is some excellent breeding stock there. Those 3 bucks look like they probably all came from the same sire. Monty

Monty--I think you're right about some of these deer coming from the same sire. Some of these bucks have split brow tines or "basket racks" or other similarities. Here's some more pics. and thanks for your comments!
The one with "spots" on his face seemed to have a skin problem--he was always itching! Do deer get eczema ?
And we saw a buck smelling a "hot" doe(this isn't supposed to be a crude remark)--notice his curled up nose.
Kind regards~~sandcreek4

 

[Mental Granny]

That is still a beautiful herd of deer ! Has she gotton any fawn pics yet?

 

[Charmin]

That is still a beautiful herd of deer ! Has she gotton any fawn pics yet?

She's only gotton one fawn picture. This was from last year and the doe was running across the prairie with the baby right behind her. The does seem to go into hiding when they have the babies and you have to be really quick to catch a glimpse of a fawn. Here ya go~~

 

[Mental Granny]

Aw thanks I haven't been able to see any for awhile!

 

[crazyjarhead]

WOW nice bucks

 

[Charmin]

WOW nice bucks

Thanks crazyjarhead! We're hoping they'll come back next year so she can photograph them somemore!
kind regards~~sandcreek4

 

[TeddyB1967]

Wow, beautiful pics. They are "Calendar Shots"

 

[ivan salis]

I would have to remind myself daily---- must not shoot big buck deers -- nice buncha deer --keep feeding em you'll get some monster shed wall hanger racks

 

[txkickergirl]

I think it needs to be said that what you are doing is a wonderful thing.

Many people love to hunt, I being one of them. Not many understand the concept of giving back though. Sure they will feed through hunting season to draw them in, but what about the rest of the time. Yes it can become expensive, but I have been on a few high game fence ranches that after hunting season the deer are a sad poor looking lot. They stop the feed and with only so many acres to cover and not much food, they suffer, starve, and are a mangy looking lot, it breaks my heart. Feeding year around not only keeps the deer in non game fenced areas, it keeps them prime, and makes excellent breeding stock, especially if you know how to cull them. You already have some really nice bucks to work with, I would say in another 3-5 years that herd could seriously pay for itself if you continue to manage them. Either way what you are doing is a great thing and I wish more folks would follow your example and take what they need to for meat, enjoy the majestic site of the rest, and work to preserve them by feeding them. Just watch out for cats, they tend to show up where the food source is, and they can really mess things up for you.