If you live anywhere in the Rocky Mountain Region then you already know what a Mule Deer  Mule Deer-Portrait-Wind River Canyon, WyomingMule Deer Portrait photographed in Wind River Canyon, Wyoming. looks like; you may even have a few that frequent your yard, like we do here in the Wind River Canyon, in Wonderful Wyoming.  Mule deer are much larger than White-tailed deer or Black-tailed deer, and are related genetically to the latter; but studies suggest that the Mule Deer may be the result of interbreeding.  I do know from decades of experience that our Wyoming Mule Deer are very large wild animals.  Bucks (males) typically weigh in the range of 130-330 pounds; Trophy Bucks have been confirmed at an astonishing 460 lbs! 

     Mating of the Mule Deer takes place in the fall like other Wyoming hoofed animals, with a gestation of around 200 days.  The Doe (female deer) usually will have twins, unless this is her first Fawn (baby deer).  The Fawn will be weaned Fawn-Wind River Canyon, WyomingThis cute little fawn was hiding in the sage in Wyoming. by it's mother at between 60 to 75 days, typically.  They are taught to "hide" from predators by sitting very still, which is why wildlife personnel in Wyoming spend valuable time teaching the uninformed not to pickup, "the cute baby deer I saw in the sage."  There are more deer now in Wyoming than there were a hundred years ago; this is a direct result of good wildlife management, and all the quality deer food we plant in our yards.

     Hearing folks in town complain about the deer eating their flowers and greenery is amusing: Don't plant things that deer enjoy, or make sure they can't get at the things you'd rather deer not eat; it's that simple.  To settle the argument that I'm bound to get into sooner or later....they are here because the food you offer is better, and easier to get, than what is out of town; which is why Mule Deer-My Friend-Wind River Canyon, WyomingBuck Mule Deer photographed in The Wind River Canyon, Wyoming. so many people go for cheeseburgers at the golden arches!

     A much bigger problem, than the deer eating our flowers, is the huge costs we all pay from vehicles hitting these large deer crossing our roadways.  I was surprised, while researching this blog, that real hard numbers don't really exist from the insurance industry; you know it has something to do with money....but the estimates are staggering.  Your chance of hitting a deer in the Wild West?  One in a hundred, more or less, depends on who you ask; these are much better odds than you'll ever get in that casino.  Total figures are astronomical, with yearly amounts of over one billion dollars in claims annually and deaths of around 200 yearly!  I read that three times this amount is spent yearly to help avoid this slaughter, but to no avail it continues.  Some states use infrared beepers at the sides of roads, or red reflectors, or underpasses specially made for wildlife, and this promises some relief from the carnage.  

     Growing up around GWH (great white hunters) I have experienced hunting of Mule Deer first hand, and it's yucky and expensive; if we all had to kill for our food, we would all eat less meat, that's for sure.  Venison is tasty and has far less fat and cholesterol than that burger; it's more "gamey" than Elk for example, but tasty.  To be frank about hunting, culling the herd has to be done, because the lack of predators means they go unchecked, and that's unhealthy for the herds of Mule Deer.  And as strange as it sounds to our Wyoming ears, venison is an expensive steak in some upscale restaurants on the coast.

     Mule Deer are in no way an endangered species; on the contrary they sometimes seem in the way of our progress....which tourists just love.  They were here before us, and probably will be here long after we are all gone; so let's have a little respect for this strong and beautiful wild animal, and at night in Wyoming....be very careful, or it could cost you your life!

All writing and photographs by Michael John Balog - HogbatsPhotography.com

All cameras were Canon....of course.

Thank you once again for reading my dribble....er, blog; and till next week...."Keep your camera ready!"