The Crossing

[boneaddict]

Every year for the last 4 years I have caught a buck in this crossing.  I therefore keep a keen look on it every time I am in the neighborhood.   This year was no exception.   A multitude of road hunters had driven by.   I myself had also driven by and looked it over keenly.  On my return trip home once again, I scrutinized it and found this buck and his harem of about 6 doe.  They were on the move, crossed the road and climbed the hill.   I got a few images of him rutting about before he took his ladies out of site.  Typically the lead doe takes the front, but in this case he was chasing them like a cutting horse and pushed them out of sight.  One doe refused and ran back my way.  He took one last look at me (this photo) and then took off.   

[wadu1]

Nice looking buck, very dark forehead on him.

[Fatherof5]

Love the box frame! Great picture!

[boneaddict]

Thank you, and thanks for commenting.   There are two things that really excite me, mass and square frames.   I think those frames just make the buck look even bigger.

[Mfowl]

Awesome buck! I love that road hunters drove on by! Thanks for sharing!

[7mmfan]

He looks like a mean SOB

[C-Money]

Maybe I have been to focused on the antlers in years passed. But....You seem to be catching some of the most amazing facial expressions in this years batch of photos. This deer is amazing, and his face says a lot! Such an even set of antlers on him.

[boneaddict]

Thanks C.  I think offensive line when I look at him. 

[b23]

Thank you, and thanks for commenting.   There are two things that really excite me, mass and square frames.   I think those frames just make the buck look even bigger.

Couldn't agree more.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but to me, mass and when they are square like that always look the best.

You're probably your own worst critic but even the pics you don't think are all that great because of lighting or whatever, I still think they all look awesome! 

[kellama2001]

What a neck on him! He looks like he's at the peak of health! Thanks for sharing, fantastic photo as always! 

[hunt6226]

Sweet Buck for sure!!
Thank you for sharing!!

[NOCK NOCK]

Cool buck. Like how he has good mass at the bases, then kinda slims down fairly quick as it goes up.

Thanks for sharing Doug.

[powderbounder]

Once again Bone. Another top quality pic. One How far away in this pic. Thank you for for taking the time to share with HW.

[boneaddict]

Thank you everyone!

Let me think powder, probably 75yards. I had a doubler on (which is part of the quality issue).
That seems too far. Maybe 60.  I wasn’t paying much attention

[Caseknife]

That buck is beautiful, not the biggest, but definitely getting into his prime, a stud.  You take great shots, Doug, thanks for taking us along on the photo shoot.

[boneaddict]

Thank you!   I’m up in your neck of the woods today.   We’ll see what happens!

[outdooraddict]

bone, after reading about the road hunters and this crossing area, i started to wonder. How often do you see hunters in your picture area, and they have no clue the deer are there, just drive/walk by, overlook them etc.. any good/funny stories about that type of stuff occurring, and secondly what have you seen deer do, to avoid being seen (besides run away), lay on the ground, belly crawl, etc.  i start to wonder how often and how many deer i overlook and go tromping right on by.

[JFowl36]

That is such an awesome looking buck! Great shot!

[mkcj]

He's an awesome buck!

[boneaddict]

bone, after reading about the road hunters and this crossing area, i started to wonder. How often do you see hunters in your picture area, and they have no clue the deer are there, just drive/walk by, overlook them etc.. any good/funny stories about that type of stuff occurring, and secondly what have you seen deer do, to avoid being seen (besides run away), lay on the ground, belly crawl, etc.  i start to wonder how often and how many deer i overlook and go tromping right on by.

First of all, thank you guys.
Outdooraddict…..all the time.     Most just hold tight. I had one last week I spotted him at about 500 yards (his antlers) his does already had me pinned.   I worked my way to within 20 yards of him.  He held.  I backed off as I was too close for photos.  I’m not sure when he picked me up, but he held the whole time.   It got to a point I wanted to throw a rock at him.  Finally after holding still for an hour he stood up. 

One of my biggest bucks layed out flat with legs stretched out in front and his head pinned to the ground. I didn’t even know that was physically possible for a deer.

[Widgeondeke]

Thanks for sharing. I love box racks

[FordGuy]

Beautiful buck right there!  Hoping to find one that resembles him next week for an any buck tag!  keep up the great work!

[OutHouse]

Square is always cool in my book! When I see a buck like this I really want to be able to feel the antlers by grabbing the rear forks below the fork part.

[boneaddict]

Beautiful buck right there!  Hoping to find one that resembles him next week for an any buck tag!  keep up the great work!

How’d you do @FordGuy?

[bearhunter99]

I absolutely love the look on his face!  What a fantastic shot Bone!

I think most people hunt too fast.  My grandfather always told me to take three steps and look, take three steps and look.  He always said they will let you walk right by them but stopping makes them nervous.  It has worked for me numerous times.

[boneaddict]

Thank you!

Your Granddad was spot on!  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked by and turned around and there is a deer standing there. Heck, happened several times in the last couple weeks.