Special Thx
ANTLERS!
When I visit Nicole’s spot on the web I often view images of deer that she encounters on her walks. I am fascinated by the numbers that she encounters. It is not often that we encounter wildlife in my area. Maybe a bunny or squirrel here or there, or the occassional deer that hops across the road, but not much is seen while living in the city.
Driving in Mississippi and Alabama there are stretches of road where you really have to keep your eyes open and continuously scan for deer. Driving the Natchez Trace from Jackson to Tupelo we one time counted 52 deer. It is a dangerous stretch of road to travel at night. When travelling with Jem it was part of my job to keep him awake and to keep my eye out for deer. Here’s the thing, I saw a deer I couldn’t blurt “DEER” without him thinking I was getting on to him. Instead of deer, I had to say “ANTLERS,” even if it was a doe. Hey, it worked. You have to be careful, a deer can total your car! On several occassions I have been very fortunate that they can also jump. One time I hit a small deer, probably a doe. I know it was not a direct hit because she kicked my Mercury emblem out of the grill of my car as she jumped out of the way and ran off in the woods. The other time I was driving down highway 78, just outside of Winfield, AL. I saw the biggest deer I have ever seen. I am travelling almost 50 mph as the highway changes from two lanes to four and I see this deer in the road. Crap. Decision time. If I swerve I will spin and lose control. There is nothing behind me so I brake hard and brace for impact, hoping to slow enough and turn so that it is not a direct hit. I KNEW that I was going to hit this deer. There was not enough room to miss! I really don’t know what happened, but I didn’t hit the deer and it did the leaping deer action into the woods. Rather scary though.
Travelling to the local supercenter I frequently notice a herd of deer that gather on what I believe is Phillip Morris fields. I am frustrated with myself every time I pass and see them because I never have my camera. This time, I remembered to grab it just in case. Lucky me 
The guys with the antlers…NOT happy that I stopped for this picture. They ushered everyone else back into the woods.
9 Responses to ANTLERS!
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Flair
Cute shots you got there!
I saw a big one yesterday and wanted to sneak up on him. I would have succeeded, but right that moment the doggies decided to come back and go for a chase, sigh.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Eurasian Hoopoe, Wiedehopf, Upupa epops =-.
There was no sneaking up on this bunch. They knew from the second I stopped and it would have been trespassing. They weren’t thrilled with the sound of the camera either.
I refuse to drive the Natchez Trace as the sun is setting; I’ve known too many people to get slammed by or to slam into a deer. Very dangerous, indeed!
.-= Tense Teacher´s last blog ..And School Hasn’t Even Started Yet =-.
We go thru the national forest and then over to Highway 13 (I think that passes near Winfield) driving to the football games. My sister is constantly on the lookout for deer, especially at night, which according to her is “when they move.”
.-= Bone´s last blog ..In and out of tune =-.
That road is a hot bed for deer! We used to go through the forest b/w Moulton and Jasper…not a road I liked travelling at night.
Those are cool pictures!
I must be in the wrong part of Alabama. I NEVER see deer where we are. I kind of miss it.
.-= Annie´s last blog ..Nuts =-.
Head to Warrior river and the back areas, Lock 17 way! My mother lives in Adger, right on the river. That’s where I hit the deer that knocked out my car emblem.
The sound of the cam bugged them?
That usually doesn’t bother them here. My disturbance are usually the dogs.
Helped me two days ago when a doe stood right in front of me, but she only had eyes and ears for the dogs.
I still managed to screw up the pics though, sigh.
I should make one rule for myself “No pics before at least one coffee and a cereal”
Looking forward to more pics here
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Field Rabbit, Feldhase, Lepus europeaus =-.
As far away as I was, my very presence bothered them. When they heard the lens zoom they headed back to the trees.