Two Whitetail Doe on Alert at Sundown

I watched from the treeline as a large group of does were chased into a lush clearing by a young buck during what was likely his first rut season. I advanced deeper into the field, using the tall grass to shield me, knowing that I had to take care in my movements to prevent even one deer from fleeing to the safety of the trees. The day had been brilliantly clear and any light that lingered from the afternoon softened as the sun fell behind the stands of bare trees lining the mountains. Visibility began to fail as these two does stopped grazing at once and faced me, scanning the field for any evidence of my presence; the brittle grass crunching beneath my hiking boots, the sound of my wavered breathing in the brisk October air, an unfamiliar scent confirming they were not alone. Despite the weakening light, their almost perfect symmetry created a dramatic image as they relied on one another to find the perceived source of danger.