First Buck Of The Rut...

On Saturday November 6Th I traveled to Shenandoah National Park to photograph the whitetail rut. The plan was to leave early in the morning and stay until Thursday morning November 11. As usual things didn't go exactly as planned. It was almost noon until I got leaving, brother firefighter Randy O'Donnell called me about a retired mans breakfast they were having that morning for guys that worked at the Mechanicsburg Navy Base Fire Department. I worked there before leaving for Harrisburg in the 80's. They have had the breakfast before but for some reason I was never able to attend, I decided I was not going to miss this one. I am glad I went, I got to see men I worked with and have not seen for over 20 years. It was a great time and I hope to get to do it again next time.

On to the rut, after reaching the park I was greeted with temperatures of 28 degrees and a strong wind with snow flurries. Not what I hoped for but great for wildlife. Before reaching the Big Meadows I spotted a guy sneaking along the road, that could only mean one thing. I found a place to get the truck off the road and walked back to find this ten point buck laying in the woods. What a way to start the trip. I was content to photograph the buck where he lay but the other guy with his point and shoot camera just felt he needed to get closer. As almost always happens he spooked the buck and that ended the session. Unfortunately that happens much to often. More on the trip later as this was not like any other trip I have ever had to SNP.