Glad you are back. Missed your pictures. Like to start my day with a few of your pictures. I’m sure you had a wonderful time with your daughter. Just waiting for more photos. RICH
Thanks Rich! We had a great 10 days and I did manage to get a few more photos. She took about 500 of her own back to California! Maybe some day I’ll get caught up!
You’re absolutely right, they really DO have a pretty face – they look so sweet for their size.
That 2nd shot IS a ghost of a shot… she’s haunting the woods!!!
They get their name because of the big ears. Yes, they can blend in very well with their surroundings. Here they are just completing the change of coats for winter, turning a grayer color with a little heavier hair.
The shot was about 20 yards with a 300mm lens and patient, curious does.
A dozen or so years ago Mule deer had very low numbers here, but now they have come back strong and I’m very happy about that. They are by far my favorite.
I love that Mule Deer will on occasion allow approaches that close. You never know when they are watching from very close range! Hope you had good times with family.
I would too. We often have Whitetails in the yard (almost daily) but rarely a Mulie: they usually live at a little higher elevation. I do get to see them a lot though.
You must have been very patient to get this beautiful photo of her. The name “Mule deer” does make sense, with the ears! We have lots of White-tailed deer around here.
In this area Whitetails are just about everywhere, but Mule deer chose specific locations. Part of their very successful survival strategies is to live on sharp, high ridges where there are open south-facing slopes where the sun melts the snow, letting them get to the grasses and heavily forested north-facing slopes where they can go to hide and sleep.
We did lots of things and had a great time! Thanks!
Yes, the deer have great camo, especially their winter suits. These two should do very well too because they live so far away from people and highways.
I’ve never visited Paradise Valley although that has been on my list for awhile. The Mulies would be a plus for me! You bet I do, the does particularly!
Actually, they are a little larger on the average than whitetails. You would love watching them run. One of their gates is a series of jumps with all four feet as though they were on springs. It’s amazing to watch!
Glad you are back. Missed your pictures. Like to start my day with a few of your pictures. I’m sure you had a wonderful time with your daughter. Just waiting for more photos. RICH
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Comment by rich — October 25, 2010 @ 10:16 pm
Thanks Rich! We had a great 10 days and I did manage to get a few more photos. She took about 500 of her own back to California! Maybe some day I’ll get caught up!
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2010 @ 10:38 pm
awww, i think she is smiling at you…and those big “doe” eyes =o)
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Comment by Sandy — October 25, 2010 @ 10:24 pm
Isn’t she pretty? The photos are actually of two different does. They are yearlings, and I think they are probably twins.
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2010 @ 10:39 pm
You’re absolutely right, they really DO have a pretty face – they look so sweet for their size.
That 2nd shot IS a ghost of a shot… she’s haunting the woods!!!
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Comment by Tricia — October 25, 2010 @ 10:38 pm
They can really blend in with their surroundings. She felt very comfortable behind that shrubbery.
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Comment by montucky — October 25, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
Hey Terry!! You’ve been missed!! Great shot – she’s beautiful! Funny, too….
You asked what breed of deer I saw in Lake Curlew – I’m sorry – but I don’t know. Pretty deer – does that help?? ;o)
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Comment by Stacey Dawn — October 26, 2010 @ 12:36 am
Thank you Stacey! Pretty deer, yes! I’m glad you got such a good look at them!
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Comment by montucky — October 26, 2010 @ 9:14 am
MY, what big ears she has! Believe it or not, sometimes the can almost disappear out in the hayfield behind my house, by just turning toward me.
You must have been very close to get this shot.
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Comment by sandy — October 26, 2010 @ 5:42 am
They get their name because of the big ears. Yes, they can blend in very well with their surroundings. Here they are just completing the change of coats for winter, turning a grayer color with a little heavier hair.
The shot was about 20 yards with a 300mm lens and patient, curious does.
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Comment by montucky — October 26, 2010 @ 9:17 am
Hi Montucky, How wonderful is that? Plenty!!!
Have a super day today!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — October 26, 2010 @ 9:02 am
A dozen or so years ago Mule deer had very low numbers here, but now they have come back strong and I’m very happy about that. They are by far my favorite.
I hope you have a great day too!
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Comment by montucky — October 26, 2010 @ 9:19 am
Glad you’re back! Excellent pair of photos and great capture!
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Comment by Robin — October 26, 2010 @ 9:27 am
Thanks Robin! I can’t resist taking yet another photo of a Mulie.
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Comment by montucky — October 26, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
You might be right about that, though mountain goats are kind of nice as well.
Malcolm
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Comment by knightofswords — October 26, 2010 @ 9:28 am
They sure are, but pretty rare that I get to see one. When I visited Goat Lakes I scanned everywhere but with no luck.
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Comment by montucky — October 26, 2010 @ 6:48 pm
I love that Mule Deer will on occasion allow approaches that close. You never know when they are watching from very close range! Hope you had good times with family.
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Comment by Daveabirding — October 26, 2010 @ 12:02 pm
We did have a great time last week. Thanks Dave!
Deer are interesting in that sometimes they are as wild as can be, yet at other times are content to be quite close.
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Comment by montucky — October 26, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
She’s beautiful! I’d love to see her standing in my yard!
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Comment by Barbara — October 26, 2010 @ 12:17 pm
I would too. We often have Whitetails in the yard (almost daily) but rarely a Mulie: they usually live at a little higher elevation. I do get to see them a lot though.
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Comment by montucky — October 26, 2010 @ 6:52 pm
You must have been very patient to get this beautiful photo of her. The name “Mule deer” does make sense, with the ears! We have lots of White-tailed deer around here.
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Comment by Cait — October 26, 2010 @ 5:38 pm
In this area Whitetails are just about everywhere, but Mule deer chose specific locations. Part of their very successful survival strategies is to live on sharp, high ridges where there are open south-facing slopes where the sun melts the snow, letting them get to the grasses and heavily forested north-facing slopes where they can go to hide and sleep.
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Comment by montucky — October 26, 2010 @ 6:55 pm
Good that they are so easily camouflaged. Glad you had fun with your daughter.
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Comment by Candace — October 26, 2010 @ 11:26 pm
We did lots of things and had a great time! Thanks!
Yes, the deer have great camo, especially their winter suits. These two should do very well too because they live so far away from people and highways.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2010 @ 8:37 am
Love the look on the deer’s face and those big ears! Great shot!
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Comment by Anna — October 27, 2010 @ 12:01 pm
Innocent, curious and alert. Ya gotta love them!
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2010 @ 1:35 pm
The mule deer are everywhere in Paradise Valley. You think they have a pretty face?!
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Comment by iheartfilm — October 27, 2010 @ 12:55 pm
I’ve never visited Paradise Valley although that has been on my list for awhile. The Mulies would be a plus for me! You bet I do, the does particularly!
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2010 @ 1:47 pm
she is pretty. love the “now you see it, now you don’t”. fun!
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Comment by silken — October 27, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
Sometimes they stand out in complete contrast, other times blend in completely. I love both ways.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2010 @ 9:58 pm
They look like they are more delicate than the whitetails. I’ve never seen one…
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Comment by kateri — October 27, 2010 @ 9:10 pm
Actually, they are a little larger on the average than whitetails. You would love watching them run. One of their gates is a series of jumps with all four feet as though they were on springs. It’s amazing to watch!
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2010 @ 9:59 pm
It has such pretty eyes and those eyelashes! And I bet the ears allow it to hear the slightest whisper.
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Comment by Val Erde — October 28, 2010 @ 12:29 pm
Yes, all of their senses are very keen. Still, I’ve been very close to them many times.
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Comment by montucky — October 28, 2010 @ 9:55 pm
I love that idea You had when You took these photos. It was like some trick.
I was also missing Your photo stories from Montana. I am glad that You are back and You had great moments with Your daughter.
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Comment by sartenada — October 28, 2010 @ 11:01 pm
Thank you, Sartenada! We had a wonderful visit with our daughter and every day was full of things to do!
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Comment by montucky — October 28, 2010 @ 11:26 pm