White-tailed Deer

Description:

A mature, White-tailed buck dubbed Leroy aka Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown sans antlers

Habitat:

Prairie grasses near woods and farm fields

Notes:

I met Leroy a year ago during the rut. Last winter I felt blessed that he'd come within 50 or 80 feet of me. This year our relationship has moved up a few notches and he'll come within 6-8 feet of me. Now that he's shed his antlers, he's a bit more skittish of those few (three) that are still in antlers. **Of special note: This year the bucks all started dropping or shedding their antlers starting the first week in January. Last winter many retained them into late February, early March. I'm starting to believe "when" they shed is determined by how cold the outdoor weather is and for how long. Last winter was very warm or mild compared to most winters and this winter has been perhaps a bit colder than usual or compared to the past four that I've lived up here. I've also noticed that the buck's antlers appear to grow back similar to the year before only this year their tines seemed to be quite a bit longer or taller.