Does
Does tend to group together during the winter months. In the spring, they will give birth to their babies.
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Keeping does together
A large mule deer buck works the perimeter of the harem keeping the does together.
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She can come in
This buck watches as another doe joins the group of other females.
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More bucks arrive
Several more bucks arrive, eyeing the does. They must jump the barb wire fence and contend with the other males already there for any chance to get near the females.
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Ready to challenge the newcomers
A buck watches as newcomer males try to come near the females. As long as they stay on the opposite side of the fence, they won't be challenged. Once they cross over, other males may challenge them in an antler sparring match.
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Waiting for their chance
When they see a chance, the three newcomers will jump the fence to try and join the group. In the background, a truck drives by on the busy highway. The deer seemed unconcerned with the highway traffic.
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Harem
Bucks sit around the perimeter keeping does in the centeral group. More does were allowed in, but rival males trying to get close to the females were met with challenges from other males. One of the newcomers jumped the fence and was immediately put into a sparring challenge by another buck. Two other bucks stayed on this side of the fence, nonchalantly working their way along the fenceline before ultimately attempting to join the group.
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Rack to rack
One of the three newcomer bucks jumped the fence and was immedialy challenged by another buck. The two went head to head locking their antler racks, pushing and shoving each other back and forth. The sparring match lasted for a short while, then they moved off from each other to rest, then resuming the match for short sessions.
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Guard duty
Two bucks resume their sparring match.
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Trucks rumble by
Behind the deer herd is WYO 351, a major highway that services the Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field natural gas fields east of Big Piney. The highway sees continuous gas-field related traffic at all hours of the day and night. These deer appeared undisturbed by the traffic or noise from big trucks.
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