Several inches of snow covered the ground as I stalked down a logging trail, a tripod-mounted camera and telephoto lens slung over my shoulder. Deer tracks crisscrossed here and there — some were fresh, others were from previous days.
This was a few weeks ago on a warm and sunny day. I set out shortly after noon and immediately saw the snow beginning to melt in the 40-degree air. Although I relished the mild weather, the wet snow "popped" loudly with each step, alerting any wildlife to my presence.
My goal was getting an image of a whitetail deer bounding across a logging trail. I hoped for a giant buck sporting enormous antlers, but knew any deer would make a fine picture.
This trail was not chosen randomly. As I walked, there was a mix of red and bur oak trees to my left. The oaks were barren of acorns this year, but a bumper crop of catkins (buds) had sprouted on the hazel brush growing in thick clumps beneath the oaks. When acorns are scarce, deer relish the hazel catkins during late fall and winter.
Ahead of me and to my right was a swampy lowland. I knew deer liked bedding in the swamp, hidden by a thick growth of willow, alder and various waist-high marsh grasses.
So I tiptoed along, confident I would encounter at least one deer feeding on the hazel catkins. If all went well, a deer would hear me approaching in the "popping" snow and run across the road, taking cover in the swamp.
I had traveled less than ¼ mile when I spotted a doe staring at me from the hazel. As I swung my tripod off my shoulder she bolted for the cover of the swamp. As quickly as I could I opened the legs of my tripod and set it in front of me. I didn't bother trying to capture an image of the doe in the trees. Instead I aimed directly for the logging trail.
It worked exactly as planned. The doe appeared on the trail about 30 yards ahead of me. And I was ready for her, pressing my finger against the shutter button. The camera whirred. I was able to get four crisp shots of the doe — with her tail raised — as she dashed across the trail. In an instant she was out of sight.
