During the winter, I like to share by summer and fall White-tailed Deer photos.  Here is a small collection of my 2020 favorites chosen from my White-tailed Deer gallery.  

I found this doe and her fawn feeding in a field in early June.  I stayed far away so they could eat and not be afraid.

White-tailed Deer

By August, the first year fawns have lost their "baby face".  Their spots will fade somewhat but will remain until their winter coat grows in. 
White-tailed Deer

Also in August, a buck's antlers are beginning to take shape.

White-tailed Deer

This photo was made in early September.  You can see how much the fawn's coat is changing.

White-tailed Deer

In late August and early September, I am grateful to have a farm location that I have permission to set up in a blind to catch deer leaving the woods to feed in a soy bean field.  They love soy bean leaves.  I was shocked to see this beauty step out.

White-tailed Deer

"Hey ladies, my eyes are down here!"

White-tailed Deer

Oh, I was really blessed this year.  I had two monster bucks in the same area.  When I told the landowner, he said "Don't worry, they will be gone by the time hunting season starts."  To tell you the truth, I only saw them in that spot one more time.

White-tailed Deer

The falling leaves of October signify the mating season is near.  I find it to be the best time to photograph a buck in the wild.  If they are on the scent of a doe or guarding a doe, they usually don't run as soon as they see you.

White-tailed Deer

Of course, that doesn't mean they will stand there forever either.  They are still a wild animal so camera settings need to be accurate all the time.

White-tailed Deer

I saw this same buck last year and he was a nine point.  This year he gained a point.  I can't always tell if I saw a buck before, but this guy's rack is unique in its width and short tines so there aren't many like him.

White-tailed Deer

Here are a couple doe I found bedded down in the early afternoon sun.

White-tailed Deer

This is definitely one of the nicest eight point bucks I found this year.  He was tough to photograph.  He was guarding a doe that was laying down between us.  He was wary of me and stayed up the hill in the thicker stand of trees.  He made one appearance and I got the shot.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

Here is a typical example of how a buck guards his doe.  She goes about her business laying down, eating, or on the move.  Meanwhile, he follows her wherever she goes.

White-tailed Deer

On November 5th, the rut was going strong in western Pennsylvania. I watched a buck follow a doe into thick woods on the side of a slope. The buck was paying attention to the doe but stopped briefly to look at me and I captured this moment when she tried to get his attention. After a few photos they went deeper into the woods and disappeared. 

White-tailed Deer

I watched a ten point follow a doe into an opening near the woods.  She laid down and so did he.  I'm sure you can see her.  Can you find him?

White-tailed Deer

The buck will walk just about anywhere for a doe while relying on natural instinct to keep him hidden from danger.

White-tailed Deer

After a doe walks through an area, the buck will lick either the doe or the ground where she urinated or defecated and inhales for several seconds, sometimes curling his top lip. The Jacob's gland enables him to detect the doe's scent that indicates if she is close or in estrous.

White-tailed Deer

This is the last photo I'll share in the photo essay.  I find many deer like to walk along a ridge which provides a challenge to photograph.  The bright sky sometimes washes out the background.  I was able to recover this one nicely.

White-tailed Deer

Thanks for checking out this photo essay.  If you want to see photos that I left out, you can check them out and more in my White-tailed Deer gallery. 

Take care and Happy New Year.

Dan