December 21st the official start of winter. It is the shortest day and longest night and signals the beginning of the difficult road ahead for the wildlife to survive on Eighty Acres. This beautiful buck managed to avoid the hunter's bullets and arrows, but deep snow, frigid temps and a limited food supply will require the deer to skillfully conserve its strength through the bitter months ahead. The Earth Mother has assisted the deer's survival by providing a dense winter coa

It's not uncommon for a group of bucks to run as a pack during the spring and summer months. During the rut season it is a different story, but tonight it's a boys night out. And I suppose their moms would say," behave yourself, look both ways when you cross the street, and you better be home before the sun comes up." #Eightyacresphotography #DeerinVelvet #Menomonie #Discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #Whitetaildeer #MenomonieWisconsin #Naturephotography #Wisconsin #TravelW

I was born in May and weighed 15 pounds. Since that time I have really grown, but mom continues to keep me stashed away in some tick infested brush pile. I've been so bored I even counted the number of spots on my back. Around 300 if you need to know. But today I escaped from mom. On my own. Running. Jumping. Don't know where I'm going but who cares! But..... I am feeling a bit hungry and Mom does feed me 4-6 times each day. I'm going back. I need to find mom. Maybe I'll

Pictured above is one of the many whitetail deer who make Eighty Acres their home. Each year bucks grow a set of new antlers and currently they are in their "velvet" stage. The velvet is filled with blood vessels which nourishes and develops the antlers. In a few months the velvet falls off and what remains are true bone antlers. On the deer's neck you will notice the remains of the darker colored winter fur that is being replaced by the shiny new summer red coat. Also note t

Each April bucks begin growing their new antlers. As the antlers develop they are covered in soft hairy skin known as velvet. The velvet is filled with blood vessels and nerves. In the fall the antlers are fully formed, the velvet is no longer nourished and soon falls off. What remains is true antler bone. Thanks Mr. Buck for stopping by on Eighty Acres this week. #EarthMotherssecrets #NaturePhotography #EightyAcresPhotography #Midwest #Discoverwisconsin #wisconsin #Whiteta

Mid April and over a foot of new snow blanketed Eighty Acres. I believe the doe and I would agree. Enough! My 97 year old Swedish mother has a word for this type of bafflement, dismay or surprise. Uff-dah! I agree with her too. #EarthMotherssecrets #NaturePhotography #Wisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #DunnCounty #Midwest #Whitetaildeer #Discoverwisconsin #wintersurvival

The hunters' guns have been set aside and now the deer face a new challenge of surviving the harsh winter ahead. Hopefully their fat reserves and dense winter coats will help them through the deep snow, frigid winds and a depleted food supply. The deer will seek shelter in dense evergreens or the sides of hills that protect them from the wind and offer warming sunshine. They will dig for acorns, and browse on oak leaves and small twigs. During most of the day they will be

Maybe he struggled to find a safe place to lay down, rest, close his eyes and fall asleep. I found his bones scattered about in the spring and honored him with a prayer to the Earth Mother. Thanks for his strength, beauty and for making his last bed on Eighty Acres. #Whitetaildeer #Naturephotography #EightyAcres #wisconsin #dunncounty

Winter on Eighty Acres finds deer gathering together for protection and saving energy by using well worn trails through the deep snow. Pictured above is a young doe whose head is framed within the herd's legs. So far the deer herd looks strong and healthy. They will need to wait about seven weeks until the Earth Mother begins sending warmer winds and longer days. Waiting for spring requires patience for the deer as well as myself. #Naturephotography #EightyAcres #dunncount

It is now midwinter on Eighty Acres and the deer are becoming more aggressive and desperate for food. Pictured above are two adult does who are standing on their hind legs doing battle over a few kernels of shelled corn. For a moment they are suspended in air. Like heavyweight boxers they throw sharp jabs and launch wild punches at each other. Today the victor will claim the scarce food and the loser will need to move on. Tomorrow there will be a rematch. #dunncounty #Nature

The hunting season ended and this buck with the broken antler survived the hunters' bullets and arrows. Now his life depends upon finding an adequate food supply and keeping warm in the bitter months ahead. As She always does, the Earth Mother has given all her creatures, incredible abilities to survive in the dead of winter. Once the acorns are covered with snow and the corn has been picked, he will browse on cedar, red maple, sumac, white pine, dogwood, poplar and oak sa

For years I have attempted to photograph spiderwebs on Eighty Acres. Nearly all have been deleted from my camera. On Saturday night a heavy dew covered Eighty Acres. As the early morning sun crept into the woods, the sidelight revealed these two amazing rainbow spiderwebs. .I quickly snapped this photo and in just thirty seconds the sunlight moved and the rainbow colors disappeared. A gift to me from the Earth Mother....and now I share her gift with you. #EightyAcres #

With tottering legs, the fawns arrive on Eighty Acres in early May. Beautifully camouflaged and weighing only 6-8 pounds at birth, discovering one in their natural surroundings is a rare gift. They soon learn that their long legs can be used for escaping predators or just jumping because it's fun! While I was looking for trillium, this fawn was unexpectedly spotted and its instinct told it to freeze; hoping I would pass by. After several photos, I slowly and quietly backed

Once again the Earth Mother reminded me to be patient when waiting for Spring to arrive on Eighty Acres. Two weeks ago nine inches of heavy wet snow covered both the land and animals. These one year old twin Whitetails seemed both surprised and confused because just the day before they were enjoying green grass and acorns. Patience and hope to all my Eighty Acres friends. Spring will soon be here! #eightyacres #Whitetaildeer #Naturephotography #Spring