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It’s now officially hunting season.
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So as much as I love seeing our big buck…
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Part of me wishes he would just stay deep under cover.
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Thankfully all our immediate neighbors post no hunting signs like we do.
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So at least our herd has a safe refuge here.
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Stay alert big guy.
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And just come out on Sunday.
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When Big Daddy buck comes for dinner….
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The rest of the family has to share.
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One bowl for Big Daddy…
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One bowl for everybody else.
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It’s good to be King.
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He surely is a handsome devil.
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Strutting out of the woods with his son.
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Always wary of the neighbor’s dogs.
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And the crazy lady with the camera.
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The time of year I worry about him is almost upon us.
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And as much as autumn is my favorite season….
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It brings with it rifles and bullets and trophy hunters.
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And I’ll fear for our beautiful visitors.
Our big fellow made an appearance last night.
Moseying on up the back lawn.
Nibbling along the route.
Fresh grass pickings are slim with everything turning brown from our drought..
Except for over the septic tank.
Even he knows the grass is always greener there.
Our buck finally showed up at a light enough hour for me to get some decent photographs.
Yes you, you handsome devil.
And while I love seeing him….
I fully appreciate his wariness and reticence to visit the nightly buffet.
When you’re that handsome you have to be careful.
His rapidly growing rack will make him a prime target of every yahoo with a rifle in a few months.
And the thought of his beautiful head mounted on someone’s wall makes me physically ill.
But for now, he and his family are safe.
And we enjoy our rare sightings.
Even if his rude wife does keep sticking her tongue out at me.
I was finally able to grab a few pictures of our resident buck.
Which is getting harder to do as the summer wears on.
But this father son shot was pretty sweet.
Junior’s antlers are growing.
And it always makes me wonder what the felt feels like.
Naturally there are woodchuck photos.
And some close ups.
We have one lone chipmunk this year.
And yes, those pesky red squirrel babies are still here.
Using our deck railing as a cafeteria.
As well as a toilet.
Yes, I’m talking to you.
Clearly your mother didn’t tell you not to shit where you eat.
Bad form. Very bad…..
Because our buck is sticking around with his family this year and I’m enjoying his weird head.
We always see him with his impressive rack in the fall….
But rarely in the spring when they start to grow back.
It really is a strange process.
Yes, I’m talking about you.
