White-Tailed Beauty

MAMA WITH HER FAWN. the fawn has lost all of her white spots they have now turned brown and faded. She will be mature enough to mother her own next year.


MAMA ON WATCH. Keeping a watchful eye as her young wanders away from her. Mom is not quite as nervous now that the fawn is now about 4 to 5 months old but she will still bolt alerting her young at the first hint of danger. I was on the other side of the pond in complete camo from head to toe, including camera, lens and tripod, but she still keep checking me out to make sure i wasn't a threat.


WAITING ON A WOMAN. This small rack eight-point buck came in shortly after the Doe and fawn left. The rut is in, and things are starting to get heated up in the woods of South Georgia. But here at Skidaway Island the buck to doe ratio is severely skewed towards the doe's so there isn't much of a rut in this area. As a matter of fact several people have even reported seeing newborns two to three weeks ago. that means the doe's will come into heat very late again.


CROSSING. This yearling doe decided to cross the pond instead of going around it. She crossed about 100 yards down from where I was set-up. I think this might be the one that came up behind me and spooked me lol...because it wasn't very long after she crossed until it happened.



This is a gallery very close to my heart. I have been a deer nut since I was knee high to a grasshopper lol. I have studied these animals for a number of years extensively. This gallery is a small part to make up the whole "The Elusive" Fine Art portfolio. I have been working on this for about a year now and when I have all the images that I want, the ones that will tell the story of this beautiful animal and its life journey, it will then be complete. Many, many hours of studying, stalking, patiently waiting, braving the weather, and at many times, not even seeing a single deer have helped and continue to help make this happen. I am looking forward to getting it finished so that I can share it with you.
Alot of the images in this gallery are of Doe's, I want to save the boyz lol until the portfolio is finished.
All of these images are of wild deer, most of which I was hunkered down in full camo for hours, and trying not to get winded in the process...one good sniff of human and seeee ya!!! they are outa there, off with their white tails a flagging all the while blowing and making a scene.

While I was set-up on one occasion, I had a doe sneak up right behind me and when I heard a noise and turned my head slowly she blew loudly and bolted...I think in that instance she spooked me worse that I did her lol.

Ducks a splashing!!!

Here we are!!! finally!! lol
Had a blast and was able to capture some great ..in the moment images of Hooded mergansers and a wood duck drake flying. They came in about 100 yards from me and I had to work my way towards them to get into range. I took video of the trip but because of technical difficulties(user error) I wont be able to show the footage...maybe next time. check out all of the duck images from this shoot at ducks

Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Average length: M 18.1 in, F 17
Average weight: M 1.6 lbs, F 1.5 lbs

Description: The hooded merganser is the smallest of the three merganser species occurring in North America.
Breeding: Hooded mergansers breed from southeastern Alaska, central British Columbia and southwestern Alberta to southwestern Oregon, central Idaho and northwestern Montana; and from central Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia, south to Kansas, northern Louisiana and northern Georgia. Hooded mergansers prefer forested wetland systems, where they nest in tree cavities or nest boxes and lay an average of 9-11 eggs.

Migrating and Wintering: Of the three species of mergansers occurring in North America, the hooded merganser is the only one restricted to the continent. Forested wetlands, brackish estuaries and tidal creeks are preferred wintering habitats. Hooded mergansers winter along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts, mainly from southeastern Alaska to northern Baja California, and New England to Florida and west to northern Mexico. The majority of wintering hooded mergansers occur in the Mississippi Flyway.

Population: Hooded mergansers are most common in the Great Lakes region and current information suggests a stable, possibly increasing population in some areas. However, data on population size and status are tenuous due to the secretive nature of this species. Historically, populations likely suffered from habitat loss.

Feeding Habits: Hooded mergansers dive in fresh water to feed on small fish, crayfish and other crustaceans and aquatic insects.
Parts of Duck Information Used from DUCKS UNLIMITED

Duck shoot a wrap for this week!!

Here are some mobile pics of the duck shoot this weekend... I hope to have the images processed and up this week.
It was a very good weekend...lots of wildlife showed up at my location, got some great captures. The Hooded Mergansers were in the pond where I was at and white-tailed deer also showed up to lend a hand. beautiful mornings added to the compositions and mood...it was awesome! This is why I do what I do, for days like this weekend. Sitting in a tick infested swamp in 30 degree weather with a camera and tripod is most likely not on most peoples to do list. But when I reap the pleasure's of watching the sun rise over the water and treetops, having a bald eagle swoop down for the kill as it skims the water for fish right over my head, and watching as a doe cleans her yearling's face or Merganser drakes fight over a popular female in the group, I know that this is God's work and I am blessed to be in the moment...knowing that this is where I am supposed to be...priceless.

DUCKS!!!!

My crude blind set-up last Saturday and
Some mobile shots of last weekend.
I hope to be setting up on ducks this weekend.....pintails and a few woodducks are coming in at skidaway and harris neck....haven't decided yet where to go. This is a part of an ongoing duck portfolio that I am working on...I will be working on this and the elusive portfolio for a while .....getting great opportunity but not the moments I want to capture....patience. and hard work...lol

Cypress Fog Gallery is on the web-site!!!

Maybe one of my favorite color with fog images that I have captured to date!! The morning was perfect...cool, heavy fog rolled across the lake onto the colorful cypress trees...fog just makes compositions happen.

"THE MIST" revealed!!

Finally!!! The monochrome portfolio I have been working on is on the website... I hope you enjoy viewing them!!
Also I have got this portfolio and new images loaded onto my new Fine Art Print an Managed License site...Check it out by clicking on the buy links above the images. I am having to add a few galleries along as I go because it is impossible to be in the field and set all this up at the same time>>>WHEW!!! slowly but surely I will get it.

Still going!!

This new addition of a stock and fine art print site has been crazy!!! hope to have it all together by next week!!! It will be really nice when it all gets up and running!! new images will be up soon I PROMISE!! lol.