Sunrise in Disappointment Valley highlighting mule deer (I’m so glad to see the bucks back!) in the greasewood and chamisa (rabbitbrush) and willows and cottonwoods along Disappointment Creek, looking toward Spring Creek Basin. It was a drive-by shot, and I couldn’t actually see what I was shooting on my phone’s screen, but the light was so beautiful highlighting the pretty and handsome does and bucks, I literally pointed and pressed the button.
During the hunting seasons (basically starting the first of September and running across or nearly to (and in some cases past) Thanksgiving in Colorado), the wild antlered critters make scarce. I don’t know the numbers, but the traffic and human population of Disappointment Valley increases wildly (sorry) during that time – and not in a good way for the peace of most of us. And when the peace returns, so do the regular sightings.
One little girl is a little more bold than her sisters and aunties. 🙂
*Collective sigh of relief*
These are the first pix I’ve taken since returning to the basin since the snow has (mostly) melted. The roads range from completely dry in sections to stretches of snow-bordered bogginess. Ponies are foraging mostly far from roads, which is perfectly good and fine. Signs are holding up well!
Fortunately, there were a few lucky deer after this anxiety-ridden last set of hunting seasons. And now that the two-legged predators seem to have (?) left, they’re much more visible, courting their dear does.
Isn’t he a handsome fellow?
(Again, we don’t have nearly that much snow in the area anymore.)
Like all great leaders, Buckeye appreciates diversity in his kingdom. 🙂
This holiday season, let’s remember compassion, tolerance and love for our fellow beings, whether they be human or animal or other … even – especially – different than ourselves. No matter your beliefs, the belief that every being deserves respect is – should be – universal.
Peace doesn’t come from denigrating our differences; it comes from celebrating those differences and acknowledging that all voices – even “silent” ones – have value.
On this night, of all nights, let’s be kind to each other. … Then let’s carry that forward into everything we do, in our interactions with everyone we meet, tomorrow and the next day and week and month and year.
Merry Christmas Eve. 🙂
This handsome fellow was spotted a couple of days after the end of fourth rifle season. Some does were nearby. He wasn’t too interested in posing for pix. … I’m just glad he hid himself away the last couple of months.
Walking back to the road a few days ago from my visit with a band, I spotted these lovelies making their way down the hill. It might not surprise readers to know that I was alerted to their presence by those marvelous ears, which gave me time to sit down on the ground with the hopes of photographing them as they passed and NOT alarming them.
Before long, the clicking of the camera’s shutter gave away my presence. 🙂
Though they were well aware of me, I think I achieved my goal of not alarming them, and they continued on their peaceful way down the hill.
Today is the last day of the second rifle season. … Two seasons to go.
Tenaz and Temple watch mule deer walk uphill across the snowy expanse of Spring Creek Basin from near the main/original water catchment area.
After a very cold morning (minus 5!) and a high only around 25 degrees, all that lovely snow is still pretty pristine … all the way to Utah’s shining La Sal Mountains!
When I was visiting with Sundance’s band recently, he suddenly became very interested in the little pinon-juniper forest nearby, which alerted me to a fairly big group of mule deer does and fawns. By the time I saw them, at least half were slipping silently into the trees. I was happy to get this group portrait of several of the girls looking toward me and the horses, alert but not upset.
Behind me, Sundance was watchful, but his mares had already settled into nap mode under the ever-so-lightly falling snow.
Again.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 