Syracuse.com - CNY readers submit impressive whitetail deer photos

[HuntingNY-News]

Two of the photos were from a trail cam; the other, from a hand-held camera. All were taken in the contributor's backyards.

One thing I love about the outdoors beat is that when you ask you often receive from readers. I asked recently for trail cam photos and wildlife photos and two readers responded with eye-opening shots of white-tailed deer.

The first two photos were submitted by Michael P. Busse. He wrote:

This is in my backyard in Manlius( between Watervale and Hennaberry Roads) and are pictures of two of the three 'big bucks' that were around all summer and fall. Seeing these bucks is also one of the major reasons that I bought a crossbow. Our only direct neighbor behind us is at the top of a rather large hill that is full of Apples, scrubs and pines. In my opinion as a 45+ year deer hunter, I quit hunting behind my house maybe 20 years ago as I thought it was getting a bit close to gun hunt. Although from the sounds of all of the shots I heard, I am in a minority!

Enclosed are pictures of two of the three -- an 8 point- and an 11-point buck.

Submitted photoThe 11-pointer.

There also was a 14 point that I never got a picture of except when he was in velvet.

The last picture of the 11 point buck was on the 13th of November, although I saw all them a few more times, they never were in front of the camera. I only saw does when I sat in my chair next to the rock wall in my back yard, but I never saw the bucks again when the 'gun season' started.

Submitted photoThe 9-pointer.

All of these pictures are within 50 yards of my back door. The bucks are oblivious to us and our 'Jack Russell' who thinks it is her job to bark at them every time they 'dare' put a foot into her yard. We have does who will put their noses on the back windows also as if they are checking in on us.

Routinely we have 10 or more in the backyard eating clippings, or in the compost pile picking out pumpkin or squash seeds, apple cores etc. We have had fawns born in our backyard.

The final photo was taken by Jim Mason, of Trumansburg. He wrote:

"I shot this photo of whitetails at rest in a newly cleared brush lot behind my home on the edge of Trumansburg.

"It was taken just a few days before opening of gun season."

Submitted photoTaking it easy.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog