.
Our snow melted for a while this month and it made a nice background for portraits of our resident buck.
.
.
He’s a big fella with a nice size and shape.
.
.
Though his rack is a little squirrelly.
.
.
It’s hard to tell if he’s an 8 or 9 pointer as his angles are all over the place.
.
.
But I love his little white striped feet.
.
.
And his smile of course.
We can all use more of those these days.
😊
.
.
We have a nice big buck who thankfully survived hunting season this year.
.
.
His rack is a little strange, but he’s a big impressive boy.
.
.
When he comes to feed, his harem backs off.
.
.
And he’ll chase off the youngsters until he eats his fill
.
.
In the deer world, size does matter.
😉
.
.
We’ve had some super bright moons this month which makes for better backyard deer photos.
.
.
Until said deer spots you through the window and runs.
.
.
It’s amazing how much they play, running, roughhousing and even kicking each other.
.
.
Maybe it was a full moon influence.
.
.
And no, we don’t live on Tatooine…
It’s just a triple moon reflection on the window.
😉
.
.
Our backyard herd is growing.
.
.
We started with two, then five…
.
.
Now there are ten, sometimes eleven.
.
.
*Note to self- buy more deer grain*
😊
.
.
It’s that time of year!
.
.
Temperatures have dropped and the ground is covered in snow.
.
.
The deer are back…
.
.
And they’re hungry.
.
.
Such beauties.
.
.
We love them.
.
.
❤️
.
.
We have a few nice bucks visiting this fall.
.
.
Sometimes with a companion skunk.
.
.
As long as stinky doesn’t get too close the buck doesn’t seem to mind.
.
.
It’s hunting season so I’m always worried about these guys, even though our property and our neighbors is posted.
.
.
A deer’s home range is usually one square mile and while our neighbor’s properties on both sides are 4 times bigger than ours… that still leaves us about 600 acres short of a safe from bullets zone.
😥
.
.
The skunks beat the fox.
Now the raccoons are beating the skunks.
.
.
It’s first come first serve at River’s critter buffet.
.
.
Though the deer are lucky… as no one else wants their grain.
.
.
Three deer and three raccoons.
.
.
All are welcome.
.
.
But I really enjoy watching these little devils tussle and push each other out of the way for the best spots.
.
.
❤️
.
.
Along with our extremely dry, drought ravished lawn?
.
.
A pair of young bucks.
.
.
They’ve been coming for a nightly nosh since they were born and are now sprouting their first sets of velveted horns.
.
.
Adolescent male deer will stay together until they’re ready to rut.
.
.
Then it’s every deer for himself.
.
.
Our raccoon friend is showing up early most every night now.
.
.
Waddling across the back lawn..
.
.
And chowing down.
.
.
I love to watch him. (Her?)
.
.
The deer aren’t as thrilled…
.
.
But I think they’re getting used to him.
.
.
A name might be in order.
Any ideas?
.
,
The deer are used to sharing the backyard spread with skunks.
.
.
But lately a trash panda is beating the stinky little critters to the buffet.
.
.
I’m thrilled because while we have nightly raccoons…
.
.
They rarely show up before it’s too dark to get a photo.
.
.
And though I’m tickled with the little masked bandits…
.
.
The deer don’t know what to make of him.
.
.
Especially when raccoon #2 waddles in.
.
.
Proving two raccoons is two too many.
🤣
.
River's world..... 