My dog and a deer!!!

[BradSmith]

I let my dog out this morning and he went nuts barking like he does at times. Normaly it's squirrels or coons, but once in a while it's a skunk or a porcupine. So, I go out and check and he's head to head with a big old doe. My apple trees are just starting to drop some of the ones that didn't quite grow right and she was in with her Three Fawns. She was not backing down at all. She was up on her hind legs trying to smack him with her front hooves. He is a good sized dog terrior/briard he looks like Buck from Married with Children. I got to about ten feet away before she saw me, she snorted and stomped her feet and then took of with her little ones.

Bob (that's my dogs name) didn't know what to do. His job is to run off critters but she wasn't having any of that. I have never seen anything like that before. I have seen does smack down a small buck who is trying to mate but I have NEVER seen a Doe put the smackdown on a dog. I wish I had a video camera. I'm wondering if this wasn't his first run in with that big old doe and she just had enough?

It sure was fun to see. Has anyone else ever seen something like this?

 

[Dkrom68]

Stuff like that is so cool to see Brad. Ive also seen them dicipline their young and go after others that way. I sure wouldnt want your dog to get hit with her hoofs though It might do some damage for sure.

 

[pm2006]

THREE fawns?? wow. Cool.

 

[mini_art]

I have seen does fight , but it was dead of winter and they were fighting over a food pile.
I have seen does run off a dog, not kicking at it.
There is nothing like a mama defending their young though. Human or animal.

 

[BradSmith]

Stuff like that is so cool to see Brad. Ive also seen them dicipline their young and go after others that way. I sure wouldnt want your dog to get hit with her hoofs though It might do some damage for sure.

Yah, and I sure can't afford a big vet bill. I'm lucky that I have an old retired vet who I make trades with so he keeps all my critters up to date on shots and stuff for free. But even so, she probably could have taken out an eye. One of my buds was out bailing hay and saw a fawn in front of him. It happens all the time, they freeze up and don't move so they end up getting killed and messing up the hay binder. Well, he went and picked up the fawn to move it and when it kicked out it caught him in the gut and opened him right up. They have very sharp hooves when they are little like that.

I always love hearing the mom bleet for her fawns. I'll walk up and find the fawn but I don't try and pick them up, once in a while I'll pet them on the head but that's it.

I like to cup my hands and make that whhooo sound and then listen while they do it back or give me the stomp stomp stomp. My wife likes to do it too. I'll be upstairs and hear whhooo whhoo whhoo and then stomp stomp stomp. I don't hunt on my little five acres around the house, but they are still a blast to have around.

Check out my Aunt Jean's collection of photos.

The Deer Gallery: Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick, Wildlife Photographers

 

[BradSmith]

THREE fawns?? wow. Cool.

Yah it's cool, this year there have been a bunch. usually it's just two fawns and sometimes only one. They say that it happens (three fawns) more when it's going to be a nice growing season. I don't know if that's an old wives tale or what. But, this has been a great growing season so far. Lots of rain and sun, the garden is rockin and I haven't had to water even once.

It's been hotter than a billy goat in heat, but the breeze has been steady and so has the rain.

 

[Gammi]

Thank you so much for sharing all this. Your Aunt's photos are beautiful too!!!

 

[Dkrom68]

Last year almost all the Does had 3 fawns around here it was a good year for babies. I had to put a Doe out of misery once on the road that got hit by a car and was kicked in the shin. Took me right off my feet and hurt like hell and messed my shin up for sure. They are a powerful animal for sure and not a force to be reckoned with. I get a kick out of the show when animals attack and the guy that gets wooped by the buck. How dumb could one be putting estrus on him DDDDDUDUUUUUUUHHHHHH.

 

[bigblue30]

Bradsmith,

Be carefully if Bob runs after him. Some people in Michigan still think it is OK to stop a dog from chasing a deer. It is not OK, but some still think it is.

DOGS CHASING DEER - The Michigan Sportsman Forums

 

[me who]

Those are great pictures, I like this one.

 

[BradSmith]

Bradsmith,

Be carefully if Bob runs after him. Some people in Michigan still think it is OK to stop a dog from chasing a deer. It is not OK, but some still think it is.

DOGS CHASING DEER - The Michigan Sportsman Forums

Nope, you can't shoot a dog chasing deer, but people do and it's kind of accepted, but only when it gets out of hand.

I have never shot a dog, but I have to say I have been tempted to. Just like it's not right to shoot someone's dog it's not right to let them run wild and chase down deer. dogs will revert back to nature, especially if they are allowed to run in packs. I have my dogs trained not to leave the property so they rule this five acres of land and that is their job. But they don't go onto the neighbors property or the state land. If they did that and got caught running down deer and were shot, I would be really sad, but I don't know if I could blame the person that shot them. Dogs gone wild can really be a problem.

 

[whiskey]

My husband had a deer farm..they were 1/2 red deer 1/2 elk....I have seen the does act more intimidating than the bucks alot...These guys range in the 1000lb catagory...each antler season was the worst..they used to use big pieces of plywood , just to walk among them with the vet to do the TB testing..had to dart them to slow them down..talk about amazing to watch..I used to photgraph them alot...had one hand tamed so good that you could call her into the house if you wanted LOL..she was called mama's baby...they truely are amazing animals.

 

[BradSmith]

My husband had a deer farm..they were 1/2 red deer 1/2 elk....I have seen the does act more intimidating than the bucks alot...These guys range in the 1000lb catagory...each antler season was the worst..they used to use big pieces of plywood , just to walk among them with the vet to do the TB testing..had to dart them to slow them down..talk about amazing to watch..I used to photgraph them alot...had one hand tamed so good that you could call her into the house if you wanted LOL..she was called mama's baby...they truely are amazing animals.

That is so cool. We have a lot of elk around here and they are just unreal. I have never been lucky enough to get a permit (it's a lottery) but I have watched them many times from my blinds and all I can say is wow, what an impressive animal. I have neighbors that are begging me to come and shoot them off their property, the crop damage really gets out of hand. However, there is no way I'm ever going to do it without the proper permit. The DNR will take your guns and even your truck if they catch you, they can also ban you from hunting all together.


That must have been a blast.

 

[whiskey]

We used to take the antlers once a year...Was good to do it, they could tear into another stag during rut...when you have them in fenced areas its good to keep them off...damage could be real bad..yes they are elligant animals..majestic...wonderful to watch! thanks Brad