Posted on 07/02/2020 1:52:09 PM PDT by SJackson
I can add deer to the list of mammals I eye warily in the backcountry
On a recent hike with friends near Whitefish, a deer emerged from the brush and blankly stared at us like deer often do. But instead of scampering off, like deer often do, it charged. Our group was slow to react. After all, deer are considered passive creatures. They apparently are not.
The two dogs accompanying us didn’t help matters. The deer eyed both of them before deciding which one to attack first. Then the animal gave chase, pounding its hooves just feet from the canines as they barked and ran in circles. The pet owners screamed, but no one listened.
When it appeared the ordeal had ended and the dogs were about to be re-leashed, round two was upon us. The deer again bounced. More barking. More hoof pounding. More screaming. Finally, a member of the group threw a plastic water bottle at the doe, which momentarily stopped the fight. But if animals could talk, I imagine this one would have said, “Is that all you got?”
The dogs were now leashed. But as we slowly continued up the trail, the deer maintained its pursuit at the same pace, daring us to turn around. My pumping adrenaline was mixed with confusion as we continued our out-and-back. The key word here is “back;” we would be returning to this portion of the trail in about an hour’s time.
“There’s no way the deer will still be there!” I shouted, although I had no idea what I was talking about. I hadn’t been that spooked in the woods since running into a moose in Glacier National Park, ironically with the same hiking partners (minus the dogs).
Speaking of the dogs, we kept them leashed as we descended the trail. It didn’t matter. The deer was still there — in the same spot we left it, staring at us. Waiting for us? I again imagined it speaking, saying something like, “Are you really going to do this? Are you really going to come back for more?”
“No” and “no” were our respective answers. We opted for an alternative route and theorized the rest of the way about what had just happened. The doe must be protecting a fawn. The deer hates dogs. The deer is having a really bad day.
Our encounter was by no means unusual. Browse YouTube and you can find a plethora of videos showing deer mauling people. And there are even more news reports of hikers and hunters being injured by the animal. Still, seeing one on a trail or the side of the road rarely strikes fear in anyone. After all, they’re everywhere.
Deer may be the deadliest animal in the United States, but those fatalities almost always involve car accidents, not random attacks. If you encounter one, chances are it will prance away. However, if it doesn’t, perhaps heed this warning.
After our two run-ins, we hiked the rest of the way with rocks in our hands — just in case. My aim isn’t great, so I wondered what good it would do if I really had to throw the thing. Fortunately, we didn’t confront any more animals along the way. Unfortunately, along with bears and moose, I can add deer to the list of mammals I eye warily in the backcountry.
Happy hiking.
I'm hard pressed to think of any wild animal I'd pet, or let my dogs approach.
A deer killed an old woman in her backyard a few years back. After that the massive resistance to a bow season in that township disappeared.
Technically, bulls, rhinos, elephants, hippos, are all prey animals but will royally mess you up.
Bucks during the rutting season are NOT safe to be around.
A couple of years back a fellow was driving on a road south of San Antonio. A buck was standing in the road and would not move. The man got out and tried to shoo the deer away and the deer attacked. The man was gored to death.
A DPS trooper arrived about an hour later and the buck charged him. The trooper shot the deer with his service weapon. It was during the rut.
Do you know what would happen if a ranger sees you throw a rock at a deer?
Funny that FR is having this discussion about deer today. Two nights ago, I looked out a window in my Baltimore apartment complex at 2 a.m., and there was a young buck nibbling on the yew hedge right below.
Camping at Elkmont Campground in the Smoky Mountains Nat’l Park several years ago....
Just finished supper and my plate was still on the picnic table as I sat in a folding chair reading a book with a lantern on the table when a skunk waddled over to the table...I just sat still...
He hopped up on the bench and put it’s front paws on the table, leaned over and started licking my food plate...
I sat still as it finished and walked down the bench to the chair I was sitting in...It looked up at me and put it’s front paws on the arm of the chair and just looked up me...
I reached over and scratched the top of it’s head...It shut it’s eyes like a cat would do...
It climbed down and went under my chair and laid down curled up...
I thought I was going to have to sit there still in that chair all night...
After about 5-6 minutes, it got up and waddled back off....
Now, living near the Park and spending a lot of time outdoors and there in the park, I knew the skunks around the campgrounds were used to people and unafraid, but I had never had one act like that...
“After all, deer are considered passive creatures.”
Not when the buck is in rut. YouTube is full of people that have gotten it precarious situations with deer in the wrong place and wrong time.
In reference I submit the following:
These nimrods don't belong in the wild. They should stick to the zoo.
Pound for pound, a deer is stronger than a horse. They have sharp hooves and a mean bite. I usually run early in the morning and when I spot one of them on the trail, make some noise or what it takes to make them leave. Have never been attacked but wouldn’t confront them without at least a Louisville slugger.
Must have had new fawns.
In recent years, I’ve had close encounters with two different large, wild mammals that I didn’t want to mess with, with my overly friendly and curious dog along, unleashed.
Most recently was what I can only describe as a herd of whitetail deer that were startled out of the undergrowth as we walked past them totally unaware that they were even there. They darted our mere feet in front of us and just kept coming, a good twenty of them. This was on my mother’s acreage in North Carolina, just uphill from the Yadkin River. My dog started after them, not barking or aggressive at all, he had his frisbee in his mouth. He no doubt thought he was going to play with them. He was so close I was sure he’d get kicked, gored, bitten or otherwise mauled. He disappeared over the hills and into the woods running after them. He was gone for hours and I didn’t have the first clue how to begin searching for him. But, he came back on his own, muddied and sans his precious frisbee.
Second was several years ago during a weeklong vacation to the NC Outer Banks. I’d gone outside after dark to put the day’s garbage in the garbage can, much younger same dog along with me as he always insisted whenever I went outside. I practically walked into the large ass end of a wild Spanish Mustang, which was munching on the bayberry bushes growing on the dunes to either side of the sandy driveway. Muah dog ran straight up to it, again wagging his tails. I panicked thinking he was about to be kicked. Fortunately, the wild horse just backed out of the bayberry bushes, snorted and ambled away down the drive and the dog listened when I called him back. This house was in the 4x4 area just above Corolla.
I took my little Sheltie Collie out for a walk in the country.
I saw a group of mules on a hill a ways away. They came charging.
I figured they wanted some food.
They didn’t.
They surrounded me and had their ears back and showing their teeth.
I noticed they were all looking at my dog.
I picked her up.
The mules were like, “Oh. It’s just a dog.”
They left.
My dog looked at me and said, “Let’s go home and chase tennis balls in the backyard.”
A lot of animals think dogs are coyotes.
Hanging out with a dear is about the BEST WAY to get Lyme Disease, in much of the country.
...thanks to the Left.
“Deer may be the deadliest animal in the United States...”
You ain’t seen a bull moose in heat, or a mama bear with cubs. That’s why I carry a .50cal Beowulf (AR-50) and a .357mag when in the wilderness, which isn’t that often, these past few years.
Campground skunks and raccoons are different creatures than their wild brethren who aren’t easy to see. And don’t approach humans. I’ve noticed the same thing with urban deer who allow walkers and dogs far too close. I’d be afraid to pet even a friendly skunk. Even domestic animals can have a reaction to being touched.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.