Shenandoah National Park Gallery

White-tailed Deer

Young white-tailed buck grazing after sunset in Big Meadow in Shenandoah National Park

Soft Light

A young buck grazes after sunset at Big Meadow. At the end of the day, I just chose a spot to sit down in the meadow and watched as the small herd entered the meadow and slowly moved towards and around me. The deer are used to people and hunting isn't allowed in the park, so they weren't the least bit troubled with my presence.

I love the soft light at this time of day.

A white-tailed buck scratches an itch with its mouth at Shenandoah National Park

No Hands Needed

Deer may choose from one of several techniques to scratch an itch. This young buck has chosen to use his mouth to try and reach the offending spot.

A white-tailed doe beds down in Big Meadow at Shenandoah National Park

Bedtime

As the sun dipped behind the surrounding mountains, this doe bedded down in the meadow.

A white-tailed doe grazes in Big Meadow at Shenandoah National Park

Pierced Ears

This doe was one of a small group that moved near me late in the day. She had a distinctive pattern of damage to her ear, so I was able to easily recognize her from the others during the hours that I watched the various herds of deer that came into the meadow.

A doe grazes in the wildflowers at Big Meadow in Shenandoah National Park

Take Me Back

A doe grazes in the wildflowers in front of a forested hill at Big Meadow. I spent many years in eastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, so a scene like this instantly takes me back to hiking in the rolling hills and mountains of the area.

A young buck grazes in Big Meadow in Shenandoah National Park

Mind Your Manners

A young buck knee-deep in the grasses and chewing on some plants, with some of the plants sticking out of his mouth.

Velvet

One of several bucks that came wandering out of the forest at the Big Meadow. Since it was early in the summer, his antlers are still covered in velvet and his rack isn't fully developed. Even so, you can already see that there will be at least five points on each antler. Unfortunately the light wasn't the best as it wasn't late enough in the day, but being surrounded by the bucks as they literally emerged from the forest around me was one of my favorite moments of the day.

Young white-tailed buck pulling leaves off a tree in the Big Meadow at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia

Back Up Strategy

I normally like to keep my distance from the wildlife I photograph, to avoid disturbing them. At the Big Meadow, however, the deer are more accustomed to people than I expected.

I was standing on the trail at the edge of the forest when several bucks emerged around me. This young buck started walking right at me. I kept slowly backing up, but he was walking towards me faster than I could back up. I eventually stopped moving when he got withing a few feet of me, a little dismayed that he was probably used to human handouts and was looking to be fed. I was relieved when he walked right on by me without stopping and headed to this little clump of trees, where he stretched up his neck and started browsing on the leaves.

Eastern Towhee

I was hiking on the South River Trail when I came across this male towhee with his beak stuffed full of bugs of all kinds. It was early June, so he probably had a hungry brood waiting for their next meal. He didn't rest long and I didn't hear any hungry chirps, so I'm not sure how close by his nest was.

	No Hands Needed Deer may choose from one of several techniques to scratch an itch. This young buck has chosen to use his mouth to try and reach the offending spot.
	Bedtime As the sun dipped behind the surrounding mountains, this doe bedded down in the meadow.

	Take Me Back A doe grazes in the wildflowers in front of a forested hill at Big Meadow. I spent many years in eastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, so a scene like this instantly takes me back to hiking in the rolling hills and mountains of the area.
	Mind Your Manners A young buck knee-deep in the grasses and chewing on some plants, with some of the plants sticking out of his mouth.
	Velvet One of several bucks that came wandering out of the forest at the Big Meadow. Since it was early in the summer, his antlers are still covered in velvet and his rack isn't fully developed. Even so, you can already see that there will be at least five points on each antler. Unfortunately the light wasn't the best as it wasn't late enough in the day, but being surrounded by the bucks as they literally emerged from the forest around me was one of my favorite moments of the day.