I was driving the auto tour road at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma when I spotted a beautiful white-tailed buck in Dockery Field. He was about to cross the road and was heading into Goss Field. To get a clear photograph of him, I had to stop the truck and get out, since he was right in front of me. I stayed behind my open door to use it as a partial blind. This impromptu technique worked perfectly and I was able to get this great photo of him standing nearby.
Oklahoma Buck Before Shedding Its Antlers
This special encounter took place on March 2nd. It shouldn’t be much longer before he sheds his antlers. I’m sure a lot of the bucks in this area have already done so by now. In total, I’ve seen three bucks at Sequoyah that still have their antlers at this point.
It’s always an incredible experience to observe wildlife this close in their natural habitat. I feel privileged to catch moments like this on camera and share the beauty of these majestic Oklahoma white-tails. The wildlife at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge never disappoints. I can’t wait to return soon and see what other natural wonders I might discover.
Steve Creek, Wildlife Photographer
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Technical:
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
- Date and Time Taken: March 2, 2022 (7:01 A. M.)
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f7.1
- Shutter speed: 1/500
- ISO: 3200 (Auto)
- Exposure Compensation: 0
- Focal Length: 500 mm