Photos of one of the deer just now!

What a wonderful photo essay, Jean! Well done!!

How cool is that?

Thanks for the photos. They are so close to you.

Awwww... Thanks, Lawrence! But, I jes' take da pichurs is all... ;o)

Pretty darned cool, Sue! ROFL!

Thanks for LOOKING at the photos, Monica! ;o) They're not scared of Hubby or me in the least! Hubby goes out to his car and rummaged around in his trunk while they were out there... They just looked up for a second and then went right back to eating grass! LOL!

Right on!
Hope for it's sake it learns to fear humans......

Great shot!

Aw...they are so cute, as long as they stay out of the road!

I would tend to agree with you, MrsRoad Runner... Although I have seen them take off like the WIND when light planes fly low overhead (we are at the edge of a small rural airport) or when an ATV approaches... They seem to almost recognize ME, though, as I take care to move very slowly and try not to frighten them... When they see me, they have even taken a few tentative steps TOWARDS me! Several times they've been within 50 feet or so and allowed me to take copious photographs of them for quite some period of time!

Thanks so much, Darlene!

This is one really great aspect of where we live, Sue; the property sits several acres back from the only nearby road and even that road is seldom traveled as it dead ends for most of the year about 2 miles down. During only the summer months, the road department opens what they call "the summer bridge" over the Russian River at the end of the road but, even then, it's not paved and most people don't use it -- only the "yokels".

Wonderful photos! I love pre-sunset lighting.

I just saw a deer today and, this is weird, but I don't think the deer around here have such incredibly BIG EARS! :o)

Cool, have you read the story of "snowball" the deer here in Oregon? It is such a sad story, the poor thing would not be alive if it were not for the family who took snowball in, then the cold government took snowball away......the link to one of the articles below.

http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/story/No-Snowballs-chance-Oregon-couple-loses-pet-deer/9kXtZxYs50mzljLHafpOFQ.cspx

What a beautiful deer! I love seeing deer as long as they aren't jumping in front of the car.

Patricia: NOT so "weird"! I have recently found out that the species of deer that most of the U.S. has are "whitetailed" deer and the species we have here in Northern CA is called "mule deer" just BECAUSE of their large ears! So -- you were right! :o)

Awwww... Thanks, Tinch!

No, Mrs.Road Runner, I haven't read that but I am well aware of the government's policies about keeping wild animals and how, in a very few cases, it appears to be contrary to the well-being of these animals... However, I do believe that, most of the time, the gov't's reasoning behind their policies is sound... I feel for Snowball, though... Poor thing!

I'm with you, Sarah! Having been involved in an accident with a deer one time (I wasn't driving), it's bad for the deer and usually very bad for the vehicle!

Absolutely lovely! ;-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.

Thanks so much, CF & Svetlana!

I, too, have "issues" with many hunters who kill these lovely animals! I am not opposed to hunting in general... The hunters I have known personally were men (yes, all of them were men!) who genuinely liked venison, who used every part of the animal and wasted nothing, who were keenly aware of the ecology of a given area and genuinely feel their role in the greater scheme of things is to keep the deer population within a manageable number so as to keep the population strong, healthy and with sufficient resources to feed them all... Starving to death is a terrible way to die... HOWEVER, I have also heard horror stories of hunters who leave carcasses to rot without any care whatsoever -- having had their "sport" of killing satisfied.

As with anything else, there are always those few who, by their irresponsible actions, give that entire section of the population a bad name...

Lovely picture essay. I'm a hunter, but definitely believe in only hunting (and killing) for meat. And only during the scheduled hunting season. They are beautiful, sweet animals.

Bravo for you, Mary! Would that all hunters felt as you do!

Beautiful!~

Thanks so much for posting this to my group All Photo Essays Here !!