My Deerest Departed

This is the time of year when the truth becomes known.  Who survived the killing season? I am most sad to say that my big boys are all gone but one. I no longer have the privilege of seeing their beautiful faces or watching their unique interactions with members of the herd.  No longer will I be able to call out their names, talk to them or just stand quietly and watch them eat.  Only one returned and a young yearling never left.  The other seven (plus) are simply gone. The snow stayed on the ground most of December contributing to the difficulty of finding adequate goodies to ingest. They probably had to travel greater distances.  Although we have over 60 acres, it isn't enough. I hear they travel miles to establish new territories or spread their seed so to speak. Bossy's Boy and a yearling from the 'Long Tails' herd were lucky enough to escape from harm.

Bossy's Boy suffered an arrow wound in his right shoulder from the 2009 killing season.

 Bossy's Boy will be 4 years old this June. So far he has survived many killing seasons however his luck changed when he got hit by a car near Christmas. His left hind quarters are severally injured. He was improving steadily until he fell on his right knee so now the limping continues and a large hematoma can be seen. My poor thing showed himself at feed time on Christmas Day. I blogged about it in The Good, The Bad, The Holiday Season.

Bandit with his dark eyes is on the left and proud Bossy's Boy is on the right.

Tanner who's tail has no black in it whatsoever, joined the farm in 2009.  He was two and a half years old in this November photo.

Last year most of the older ones returned...Bandit, Tanner, Ringo and Twin. The other Twin did not and Twin decided not to stay. The little yearlings never returned either which broke my heart. Bossy's Boy will be four years old in June. Two years ago, he left the farm and came back with a new buck, Bandit. They have been best of friends since despite Bandit being the dominant male. Tanner arrived last year and was two and a half years old. Ringo, the same age, was born on the farm however, I do not know from whom. And, my dear little Buttons has either been killed or he is far away in a new territory. His rack was so mature for being only a year and a few months. He was Peanut's twin and so very beautiful.  Beauty's Boy who is so light in color left with Buttons and Bossy's yearling twins, Red and Big Boy have not returned either. 

Brownie's yearling, Buttons who is Peanut's twin was my favorite little buck.

Beauty's Boy is so handsome in his 'fawn' colored coat!

Bossy's yearling twins, Red and Big Boy enjoy a grooming session since Bossy no longer loves on them!

Beauty's Boy and Red were good friends this summer.

Look how mature Big Boy grew to be at only about 17 months.  Bossy always turns out big bucks and is the first to go into estrus.

Speaking of big bucks, Cappy is huge compared to his cousins.  Cappy is the tall button buck on the left.

Probably one of the last times I saw Cappy.  Either he left or he got hit by a car as I saw a young deer on the side of the road in December.

Bandit's Boy is an exact image of his daddy. Look at his defiant expression!

I have several little button bucks that were born this spring.  The dominant one is Bandit's Boy born to Cocoa who was born to my special Brownie July 2008. Cocoa keeps a close watch on him and the two are rarely apart.  He is now learning to herd other deer including his mother who is probably telling him not to do that to her in this photo since he just finished nudging her butt.  So very cute!

This sweet little face continues to make me smile and I can only hope he lives a long healthy life.  All of the deer are beautiful and I pray they each survive.  I will miss my boys dearly but at least I have these images and my memories will live forever.