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Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

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43.7834, -102.369

Field Notes

Description:

This deer is fairly large with males weighing 150–300 pounds (68–140 kg); females (does) are smaller. Their coats are typically gray. Antlers can be large with tines forking being typical in adult males.

Habitat:

Generally associated with arid grasslands and forests west of the Missouri River in the United States, including mountain forests and temperate rainforests in the case of blacktails (a subspecies of mule deer).

Notes:

This fawn was photographed on a very cold, sunny late afternoon in South Dakota's Badlands National Park. I had never been impressed with the amount of wildlife in the Badlands until this trip. There were deer everywhere along with bighorn sheep. A fabulous place to visit in the winter, although camping was definitely on the cold side.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)

Thanks for the kind comments. This fawn was probably experiencing her first winter and I really wanted to capture the feeling of feeble warmth (the yellowish rimlighting) and cold temperatures (bluish background).

Spotted for Missions

Photographed
PublishedDecember 13, 2011

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