I was hiking at Chaffee Crossing in Fort Smith, Arkansas, walking slow along a game trail. I kept my eyes on the brush and the trees, watching for any movement. Then I saw antlers. A whitetail buck in brush this thick does not have to run to disappear. He just has to stand still.
A 5-Point Whitetail Buck in Brush at Chaffee Crossing
A nice 5-point buck stood in the brush, perfectly still, staring right at me. We made eye contact and both of us froze. I think we surprised each other.
November is the rut, and bucks are on the move this time of year. They are out looking for mates, and that brings them out of the thickest cover. But they do not go far from it. The brush hides a buck from predators, and it hides him from other deer too. He can feed in there without stepping out in the open. Most of the time you only see part of a buck under the tree canopy, an ear, a leg, a bit of antler. This one showed me all of himself.
Hand-Holding Through The Branches
I got my camera up fast and hand-held the shot. I had to compose through tangled branches to get a clear line at him. I clicked the shutter right as he took off running.
Somehow I came away with two frames I like: one of him standing alert, looking straight at me, and one of him bounding away through the brush with his tail up. A second either way and I would have had nothing.
Over In Seconds On The Game Trail
The whole thing lasted seconds. Pure luck put me face to face with that buck. But luck only goes so far. Having my camera in hand and ready turned it into a photo I get to keep.
I photographed another buck near Fort Chaffee, an 8-pointer during the rut, and wrote it up in 8-point November Whitetail Buck During The Rut.
I cannot wait to get back out on those trails and see what turns up next. For now, this buck has a spot in my portfolio, and I am glad of it.