Generally, every patrol out into the back woods results in a deer siting. Typically at least one doe or, more frequently, a couple of does or juveniles are spotted. Sometimes my patrol companion will detect their presence first, but not always. In many cases, the evidence of their passing is all that is available.
Of course, the last few years have seen the deer coming through the front yard in later Spring, stopping to munch on our hostas.
It is much more unusual to see a stag. They are usually alone and much more sensitive to their surroundings. This image is from our game-camera about a hundred yards behind the house, at 1:32am.
Over the last month during our travels in the back woods, we have found multiple instances of over-turned leaves and patches of scratched ground. This usually suggests the passage of hordes of turkeys. We also have come across the turkeys themselves as they shuffle, scamper, and, sometimes, slowly waddle in the woods near us.
Last week, we actually had a herd, maybe twenty birds!, pass through our yard. The bird shown here was caught on one of our game cameras in our back woods.
