Count em.
With the addition of the cattle panel dog containment system,(CPDCS) the deer have realized that our ten acres are a safer place to hang.
They always used the wooded portions of PFHQ, but were very cautious about approaching the house "yard" due to 2 giant dogs.
The CPDCS has changed their behavior as has the over the fence tossing of organic veggie and fruit leftovers by us.
Toss in a little deer corn and they are regular visitors to the house...although not when the dogs are actually using the CPDCS.
The does are the most frequent diners at the watermelon rind corn cafe, but we did have that velvety buckster above show up recently ... which had me scrambling for my camera, which was inside ... in the air conditioning.
Slipping out into the thick humid air would do two things:
1) Probably spook the deer.
2) Instantly fog the lens.
So these shots were, of necessity, taken through the glass of our French doors.
The adults feel comfortable enough to bring their fawns up to the cafe area instead of keeping them deep in our woods.
If a fawn doesn't make you go warm and fuzzy inside, seek help.
We share this ground, but we are not friends.
That's what the stomp-snort above is saying.
I'm fine with that.
It's best if we don't get too chummy.
Deer season will start soon and their lives will be more complicated when they roam.
Here they are protected, even if we aren't on speaking terms.
(I don't hunt anymore, but I support legal hunting.)
It does tickle me to think about people spending thousands of dollars per year to join a hunt club when I could take a deer easily from the upstairs bedroom window with no screen.
Not going to, mind you, but it does make me smile.
Oh and one more thing ...
Occasionally, ALIENS appear at the cafe.
