Shooting deer inside a public park.

During this time of year I really like to get out and take pictures of deer wandering around. As you all know I have had some great success taking pictures of these elusive creations. This year would be the most intense so far! This picture was taken at a local park during a walk with my son. We rounded a corner and I noticed someone looking at us. It was a medium size buck sizing us up. He didn't snort or stamp his foot so I felt relatively safe and started firing away with amazing results!


I thought man can this day get any better? We heard and then saw tons of deer running all around us snorting and carrying on. I told my son to be very careful and if a deer starts acting aggressive to get behind a tree to be safe. As a side note for those that don't know deer can be very dangerous! They normally have a calm and scared demeanor. But during this season when they are hungry and scared of hunters and looking for mates they can be quite aggressive!

We continued on despite the crashing all around us. We arrived at the dock over looking the small pond and stood for a few minutes when suddenly we saw a buck chasing two does all around the fields in front of us.   I got my camera ready! I was prepared to take pictures of a chase but had no idea that it would be so spectacular! They came out of the woods and leaped across the pond in a splash of fur and sparkling water!  It was amazing!

So now I have taken some great shots and its time to go, but in the back of my head Im thinking I need to get back out here soon! 

Two days later I would get that chance. It was later in the evening ( summertime hours 4pm ). Everyone is doing their own thing so I decide to head back out to the park and see what I can get. I arrive and immediately Im seeing deer left and right. Im hoping to get another shoot like I did in my prior trip. Then I see her, hanging out in the trees enjoying a snack. I take aim and press the button. Im so excited because she's beautiful and the lighting is great! I love it! 

As much as I loved the shot I really wanted something a little more spectacular! I wanted something like the deer jumping the pond but bigger. Bigger is exactly what I would get...

While I was out a family passed by me accidently startling a small group of deer eating in the bushes. They apologized profusely and offered an olive branch in the form of a suggestion. We saw a huge buck in the woods over there one of them said. I thanked them and quickly headed in the direction pointed out. As I neared the area I slowed my breathing and really started to focus on the sounds around me. Crack, snap I heard the sound and turned toward it and there they were two bucks following each other behind the trees. I tried to focus but I couldn't see the deer for the trees.  I followed them as they headed back in the direction I just came from. As they slowed their walking I realized that there were probably 10 more deer standing in the same general area. I was very excited because this would surely give me more chances of taking great pictures. How right I was! 

Just like in the movies I had my eyes focused on the deer in the back ground ( picture the scene in Jurassic park where the park guy is watching the lose Raptures ) Suddenly I feel eyes watching me and I change my focus and see the biggest wild deer I have ever seen! His neck was as wide as my body and I am not a slim small guy! He was standing in a lower area then me and I was still looking at him eye to eye! I immediately changed the focus of my eyes and my camera. I was now tracking him solely. I was terrified and he wasn't even concerned. I followed him back and forth until finally I decided that I would cut him off to get pictures of him facing me. There was a bend in the path up ahead and I knew that if I beat him to it I would get my shot. I moved quickly but was careful not to startle him. I reached the bend but in my haste didn't realize that he was already there. 

I stood there knowing that if I moved directly in front of him there would be less then 10 feet between us and there was nothing keeping him and his giant horns from showing me why he has survived so long except maybe my quick feet and my tripod... I knew that if I missed the shot that I wouldn't feel like a real photographer. I moved into position. I was now standing face to face with this giant! I had no where to run and nothing to hide behind. He was so close that my telephoto lens was almost to long to take his picture with, but I decided that I didn't want to chance pull out my other lens and scaring him into charging. 

While I stood there I prayed non stop! I prayed that he stay calm, that he know that Im not a threat, that God protect me and that everything around me could feel my peace and well wishes. As if I had asked a question I suddenly got tons of answers. There were wild turkey that had been hanging out watching this whole thing unfold and in an instant they acted as if someone had invited them to a party. They were everywhere and very, very close! There were some that brushed my pant legs as they walked by. For the record I also worry about wild turkey. I have seen them in their aggressive state and knew that I never wanted to tangle with one. So now I have turkey all around me and my version of the king deer in front of me... What was I to do? Take more pictures! I took at least 100 pictures and the whole time I was praying. 

As quickly as the whole situation began it ended. The turkey flew into the trees to get their sleep ( which I had never seen ). The king deer meandered off and didn't look back and I felt like I could breath again! I knew that with the lower light from the setting sun that the pictures weren't going to be perfect. But I also know that this is just the beginning.

For those wondering about the fence in the background, I took these pictures inside of one of the parks in Lansing and it is indeed surrounded by a fence. I cant say what park because these deer might be illegally targeted by hunters... This is a real concern right now because it is hunting season. I was at another park early in the day and actually heard gun fire very, very close. If you are going to go out anytime soon to go hiking or nature watching please wear bright clothing and know where you are. If you see someone with a firearm in a park report them! Don't take chances with your life. 

And now back to Grand Rapids pictures.