I enjoyed my final turkey hunt of the season last week. This hunt, in the northern reaches of Wisconsin, is always one of my favorites. We hunt big woods country, far from farm fields and other hunters. The companionship is so great, and the experience so unique, that it makes the perfect cap to a spring season.

And perhaps even more remarkable…the sighting of this deer, first fawn of the season for me! I seem to stumble across a newborn somewhere during my spring wanderings, but until the Wisconsin hunt I had not been lucky. We spotted this days-old deer as we drove around a bend in a remote gravel road. The doe was standing at the road-edge, and as we approached, something small dropped to the ground beside her. I don’t know if the doe gave a vocal command or the fawn just crouched instinctively, but once her newborn hit the dirt the doe trotted a short distance into the woods.

Even as we pulled alongside her (him?) the fawn remained motionless, not even blinking as we took a few quick photos. Her spotted coat was a perfect camo against the dappled sunlight slanting through the trees, and I could see her chest rise and fall as she breathed only through her nose. It is a sight I will never tire of.

I have thought of that little deer often in the days since. She faces a difficult and uncertain future. Fawns are vulnerable in any clime, but in this area the predator load makes the ensuing weeks a truly high-risk period. Black bear and timber wolf populations are as dense as anywhere in North American; toss in the odd bobcat or fisher and life becomes even more complicated for a wobbly-legged creature.

I consider myself a pragmatist when it comes to Nature; I know predators have to eat because I am one. But I can’t help but cross my fingers for this little deer that reminded me of the miracle of new beginnings.

Comments (11)

from buckhunter wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

I saw my first fawn last week. (Ohio). A cute little thing wobbling in a field. I thought of three things. A) Time to use the fawn distress call for coyotes B) If it's a buck how big will it get? C) Why do I enjoy hunting these beautiful creatures so much?

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from NY Survivor wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

At least you are smart enough to leave the fawn alone. Where my wife works they found a fawn laying under a truck in their parking lot. Since they didn't see the doe they assumed that it had been abandoned. They called the local Animal Control who came out and took it. None of them, including the Animal Control Officer knew enough to leave it alone and make absolutely sure that the doe would not come back for it.
Of course in the area that this happened the Town does not allow hunting. And of course they also complain that the deer are destroying their shrubs, especially during the winter. They also have the highest number of car deer accidents in the area.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from cooner wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

i am looking forward to when the doe's start bring their fawns to the field behind the house to feed in the evening. nothing better than watching a fawn run and jump as it plays, unless it is a set of twins .

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from muskiemaster wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

I also saw a brand new fawn with little wobbly legs on the way to go fishing yesterday where when mom ran off I hoped she'd teach that little deer that roads are bad even if that's the only place I see them.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ranger2 wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

This year will be the first year two of my kids will have a chance to see fawns... they are amazing to watch, and the kids get a real nature education lesson out of the deal... great photo by the way!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

It's the circle of life. But I know what you mean, animals have to eat but you just gotta hope they won't eat the future world record buck...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from scottprice wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

you could definately tell he just flopped over to hide. he doesnt look comfortable

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 2Poppa wrote 36 weeks 21 hours ago

Aww.
To me that is mother nature at her finest moment.
Sometimes I think that if we could just plop down in the face of fear ... most of it would just "go away" and not bother us.

After all,most of the larger bucks retain this habit most of their lives.

Beautiful picture!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from towery wrote 36 weeks 8 hours ago

Unfortunatly my first fawn siteing this year was along side the road laying in a ditch with the doe not ten feet from it. They both had been hit by a truck. Its always hard for me to swallow things like this... But there will always be more predaters than just wild bears and timber wolfs... The one in the picture sure is a cute little guy though. Great pic

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from libertyfirst wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

I was told many years ago that very young fawns put out no scent. I don't know if this is true but suspect that it may be. I once saw my bird dog walk right by a tiny spotted fawn that had assumed the same position as the little guy in the photo and this particular dog had a great nose. I love your picture! In 5 years, when you see him again, your reaction will probably be different.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from alabamaoutlaw wrote 29 weeks 1 day ago

Where i live we don't see the fawn crop until the late summer or fall have seen spotted fawns in November gun hunts in South Alabama.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from NY Survivor wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

At least you are smart enough to leave the fawn alone. Where my wife works they found a fawn laying under a truck in their parking lot. Since they didn't see the doe they assumed that it had been abandoned. They called the local Animal Control who came out and took it. None of them, including the Animal Control Officer knew enough to leave it alone and make absolutely sure that the doe would not come back for it.
Of course in the area that this happened the Town does not allow hunting. And of course they also complain that the deer are destroying their shrubs, especially during the winter. They also have the highest number of car deer accidents in the area.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

I saw my first fawn last week. (Ohio). A cute little thing wobbling in a field. I thought of three things. A) Time to use the fawn distress call for coyotes B) If it's a buck how big will it get? C) Why do I enjoy hunting these beautiful creatures so much?

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from cooner wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

i am looking forward to when the doe's start bring their fawns to the field behind the house to feed in the evening. nothing better than watching a fawn run and jump as it plays, unless it is a set of twins .

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from muskiemaster wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

I also saw a brand new fawn with little wobbly legs on the way to go fishing yesterday where when mom ran off I hoped she'd teach that little deer that roads are bad even if that's the only place I see them.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ranger2 wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

This year will be the first year two of my kids will have a chance to see fawns... they are amazing to watch, and the kids get a real nature education lesson out of the deal... great photo by the way!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FloridaHunter1226 wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

It's the circle of life. But I know what you mean, animals have to eat but you just gotta hope they won't eat the future world record buck...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from scottprice wrote 36 weeks 1 day ago

you could definately tell he just flopped over to hide. he doesnt look comfortable

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 2Poppa wrote 36 weeks 21 hours ago

Aww.
To me that is mother nature at her finest moment.
Sometimes I think that if we could just plop down in the face of fear ... most of it would just "go away" and not bother us.

After all,most of the larger bucks retain this habit most of their lives.

Beautiful picture!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from towery wrote 36 weeks 8 hours ago

Unfortunatly my first fawn siteing this year was along side the road laying in a ditch with the doe not ten feet from it. They both had been hit by a truck. Its always hard for me to swallow things like this... But there will always be more predaters than just wild bears and timber wolfs... The one in the picture sure is a cute little guy though. Great pic

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from libertyfirst wrote 35 weeks 5 days ago

I was told many years ago that very young fawns put out no scent. I don't know if this is true but suspect that it may be. I once saw my bird dog walk right by a tiny spotted fawn that had assumed the same position as the little guy in the photo and this particular dog had a great nose. I love your picture! In 5 years, when you see him again, your reaction will probably be different.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from alabamaoutlaw wrote 29 weeks 1 day ago

Where i live we don't see the fawn crop until the late summer or fall have seen spotted fawns in November gun hunts in South Alabama.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.