A different animal

[Grizzlyadam]

I was driving home from work today and spotted a big buck standing in a thick overgrown area right next to the road. I hit the brakes and put it in reverse and pulled up right next to him. He was only about 15 yards away and stood there for a couple of seconds looking at me. Then he did something I've never seen a deer do. He hit the ground laying flat down in the tall grass like a border collie. He was laying there flat with his neck stretched out and his chin flat on the ground looking at me. Hiding in plain sight from me instead of running. After a minute or so another car came by and slowed to go around me which made him get up, stand there for a few seconds then bound off. He didn't go far then stopped and I noticed a doe go running over that had been standing there with him next to the road. I realized he was locked down with her and wouldn't leave. I ended up watching them for a while longer before they got into some thick stuff where I couldn't see them.

It was interesting to see first of all a buck this size still holding his antlers now. Secondly to see him locked on to a hot doe in February. And lastly the way he hid from me was incredible. I've seen lots of deer and big bucks in my days and never saw one do that. It just goes to show that those big old bucks truly are a different animal than regular deer and never cease to amaze me by doing things I would never expect.

I took a pic of him laying there, then one right when he stood back up. It's amazing how he just disappeared in plain sight.

KIMG2263.JPG

KIMG2264.JPG

He was an exceptional buck for my area, they don't get much bigger than this guy.

KIMG2269~2.JPG

[john1984]

Very cool

[Lockdown]

I have seen a doe lay down once. Similar situation to yours. She was 75 yards off the road and when I stopped to glass she laid down in the CRP very slowly.

[muddy]

Many years ago there was a booner class locked in the median of the interstate near me here in Iowa. I was really shocked there wasnt a pile up as he was a freaking monster.

[greenhorndave]

Really cool example of behavior and a sweet buck. Great that you were able to capture it. Nice job!

[Dewey]

That’s really cool. Back in early November I saw one just like that locked down with a doe just off the road. Those old bucks never cease to amaze me.

[Moose]

I have always wondered how many bucks ive missed by driving to fast. Thanks for sharing!

[EllieTheChubb]

Thanks for sharing!

[Boogieman1]

I don’t recall ever seeing one in daylight do it in person but have had hundreds do that very same thing in the cover of darkness. I’ve walked inside of 10 yards of more than a few whoppers b4 daylight who put there chin on the ground and stayed like a garden statue. As long as I didn’t stop they would hold. Also noticed they only hold when they know there wind is not blowing towards us, apparently they assume we have a nose worth a hoot.

Very cool! Thanks for sharing

[Twenty Up]

My old man told me a story of a deer drive near a bluff and an overgrown CRP field up around Saratoga Springs, NY.

They had isolated a mature doe and had her pinned in a wide open crp field that was 3’ tall with a cliff off the back side. They setup drivers across the entire field and 2 sitters below the cliff.

Long story short the doe had crawled past two of the drivers and slipped out behind them.

[Ack]

Saw a good one lay down like that in a bean field in late summer one year. Was standing there 150 yards or so off the road eating when we pulled up, and as soon as we stopped he dropped down into the beans out of sight.

[backstraps]

Thats very cool to witness that first hand
I have seen them “hunker” down inside cover but never flat out!!

Cool story and pics

[Jackson Marsh]

[austin1990]

Very cool!