Behind a canopy of newly leafed branches I set my feet firmly in a supported stance and reached to bend a few obstructing branches out of the way of my camera lens. While I hurriedly arranged the new spring growth out of my path and into my natural blind I caught sight of several deer farther across the field emerging from the tree line and began snapping away at them. I usually take a camera along when I go afield, but usually it is the rare occasion when I forget my camera that I see wildlife up close. Today’s fortune of deer close-ups was truly a blessing and I found my self giving thanks to the Lord for putting the deer here at the same time I stopped to watch.

I was expecting to find turkey here as usual so the excitement of the thought of these deer coming my way thrilled me. While looking through the viewfinder something passed in front of me and blurred the distant image. I was stunned to find three deer passing within yards of me and totally unaware of my presence. The harsh winter months behind them they scampered and walked through the field in carefree abandon. The previous season I watched several deer startle easily and anxiously trot through open areas with senses on edge from hunting pressure on this same field. With the wind in my favor and enough cover to hide behind, I was able (but just barely) to contain my excitement. The closeness with which they passed and watched me was incredible and in a different way was just as exciting as a hunt.

In the course of about an hour and a half I watched about fifteen different deer browse in the field, and quietly watched the approach of other deer. Yearlings played and head butted each another racing toward one other and then chasing the others. As you can see from the photos the moments of their brown eyes searching my silhouette between the bushes and the relaxed carefree playing and grazing was just as exciting as the moment they broke from an alert stance and bolted toward the opposite tree line.

While the field was vacant, I crossed around the far side covering the space between the hedge row where I stood, to the island of trees and brush circling around to the other side of the field for a different view. About twenty minutes later another group of four deer crossed the field from the other direction and slowly made their way through the row crop until they reached the narrow draw where I walked across from the brush. They seemed alert and uneasy and would walk to the place I crossed and sniff one after the other and then come back my way. They did this again and again smelling the place where my scent was left but they did not cross it. The two younger deer jostled each other and chased for a while and then settled down to graze. I was finally spotted by a large deer and when it came closer for a good look I got a great photo of him, but he seemed wise to my presence and left shortly after followed by the others. What a fantastic day I spent watching from the edge of the fields where the deer play.