black-tailed deer

ssp. columbianus

We have about 30 deer that pretty much stay in our neighborhood year round. That total will soon go up when the newborns start to arrive. This young buck has a good start on his antlers. The black-tailed deer are a subspecies of the mule deer.

This doe was munching the fresh green leaves from a tree outside our garden. This past winter's rains really revitalized the trees and grasses and the deer sure are enjoying them.

During the rut season the larger bucks come down from the higher mountains. Most of the bucks that come to our neighborhood are pretty easy to get closer to because they were born/raised here. It's always a good time to see the ones we recognize and a bad time to wonder if the ones that are...

Every year at about this time the birds love to jump on the backs of our local deer herd to grab the ticks and fleas. I was on our upper deck when these young cowbirds jumped on the back of this young buck we call "Wrong Way" because of his antler.

Got this one while testing my new lens.

This buck is showing his age and getting gray on his face but we're always happy to see him return every October for the mating season (also called the "rut") when the bucks come down from the higher mountains to find their mate. This buck is special to us because his back leg is lame...

This youngster is one of about 25 that roam our neighborhood. They stand outside our back gate and wait for me to throw out the hollyhock stocks as I cut them down so they can eat the seeds and any green leaves. They leave the long stocks for me to pick up but I think it's a great way to recycle.

Black-Tailed Deer @ Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, WA

This big buck is one of four older deer wandering our neighborhood during this rutting season.

Black-tailed deer - doe and nearly grown fawn - hiding in tall grass along Sonoma Overlook Trail. From this morning's hike. There are two sub-species of black-tailed deer, sitkensis and columbianus. I'm not sure which this is. Sitkensis is smaller than Columbianus, but without two to compare ...

This fawn is one of 6 that are now coming out of hiding and beginning to follow their moms around our neighborhood. I love those innocent eyes.

I can't stop taking photos of the deer that live around our neighborhood and this photo represents the reason why.

One of many deer that roam freely in our neighborhood.

October starts the beginning of the rutting season in our area and it's always a treat to see the bucks come down from the higher mountains to search out their mates. This younger buck was found just outside our backyard.

A subspecies of the Mule Deer, this is one of our older juvenile deer that wander around our neighborhood.

After 25 hours door-to-door, I need to get some sleep. But first I unpacked, and with faster wi-fi here at home I thought I'd post a few shots for today. No birds this time. After a couple hours at Dungeness Spit, we drove to Point No Point - supposedly the hottest bird spot in WA state. But...

Walking up a mountain side near Hurricane Ridge, I spotted this docile deer only a few yards away from me enjoying some supple grass.