I encountered this White-tailed Deer earlier one morning at the Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area (LLELA). I was busy and preoccupied with photographing a Painted Bunting (a vividly colorful bird) when this doe emerged from the forest in the background. I first saw her through my camera’s viewfinder.
The deer noticed me just a moment later but did not flee. I was hand-holding my camera at the time and had my arms braced against my body for added stability. Standing motionless, with the camera covering my face and my arms held tight against my body I surely presented a strange silhouette. Instead of becoming alarmed, the deer became curious!
She took a couple of steps in my direction and then stopped to have another look. Not satisfied she came closer still in an attempt to puzzle out this strange looking figure in front of her.
Meanwhile, I was doing my best to remain motionless when I felt the cramping in my weight bearing arm begin. The doe moved a couple of steps closer before I did something to give myself away. Maybe I twitched. Maybe I sighed. Whatever it was it sent the deer running headlong for the woods.
From behind the trees I could hear the doe snorting and stomping. I was sure this observation was over, but it was not. The still inquisitive deer came out of the woods again for a quick double-take! Startled, she again snorted and stomped and then dashed back into the trees.
Surely, that was the end of the encounter, right? Wrong. Once more the deer came forward, but by this time I was tiring of the game. I had a schedule to keep and needed to be on my way. Just a couple of steps in my chosen direction was enough to send the doe packing. This time for good!
