I want to shoot some deer

[SunTracker]

I want to shoot some deer, with my camera.  I have taken an interest in wildlife photography.  Any tips on how to attract some deer?

[eagl]

Check with local and state laws before you do ANYTHING to attract deer to a particular spot.  You don't want to be mistaken for a poacher and there are laws you will want to be familiar with.  Like are you allowed to put out bait on public or private land...  The fact that you have a camera instead of a gun may make no difference if the law forbids a particular form of baiting in a particular area.

[rpm]

What communist state do you live in where you can't put out feed for deer?

[Lizking]

Landscape your yard.  They will be there within minutes.

[eagl]

California.  I've heard of other states where baiting deer in the wrong place or at the wrong time of year will at the very least attract the attention of lots of nice people with uniforms and guns.  In California you can't even carry a gun in cougar country, and a couple hikers get mauled or killed every once in a while because of it.

Go to a state park where hunting is outlawed, set up a deer blind, and start spreading bait.  See how long it is before someone asks what the hell you're doing.  Try it on private property without asking permission first, and see how long it is until the owner tells you to get the hell off his land.

I'm just saying check on the rules first because some of them aren't always obvious.

[vorticon]

Originally posted by eagl
In California you can't even carry a gun in cougar country, and a couple hikers get mauled or killed every once in a while because of it.

a gun will not help if your attacked by a couger, if you see him, generally he aint interested.

[Holden McGroin]

Originally posted by vorticon
a gun will not help if your attacked by a couger, if you see him, generally he aint interested.

Not having a gun will for sure not help.

[eagl]

Riiight...

Like the hiker that watched the cougar jump on his wife's back, realize his mistake, hop off, think about it a bit, then come back to kill and start eating her.  Or the cougar my dad (while on duty) found wandering on the highway near a residential area with a nearby state park.

The cougar population in Calif. has exploded and in some areas, the population has grown beyond the food supply.  That means that the cats are ending up in people's back yards and attacking hikers.  A lone hiker may be toast even with a gun, but a pair would at least stand a chance against a sick or hungry cougar if they were armed.  There was a report of a guy who fought off a cougar with a big hunting knife, and afterwards he got fined for carrying a blade longer than 6 inches in a state park.

They're loony in California.  It's like the vocal groups hate themselves so much they have to bring down all people with their rules.  I grew up in Calif and love it there, but the people who influence the lawmakers are mostly on crack.

[Mini D]

If you have to have the picture... look for big parks in the area.  Deer aren't too hard to find.  Just keep your eyes open.  I'd also suggest a good pair of binoculars.

I simply stumbled across this one in an area that was very likely to have deer.  It was about 20 feet away:

[SunTracker]

Wow, nice photo.  Is that a blacktail deer?  Sure does have big ears.

Here is the photo contest I would like to enter http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/photocontestrules.cfm

Digital photos due by June I believe.

Thanks for the advice eagl, baiting is legal here in Kentucky.  Was planning on putting a pile of corn down by a state lake.  Hoping to get some nice sunrise shots of deer.

[rpm]

Tresspass on my land and see how long it takes before you have "Lefty" chewing your leg off. Seriously, never ever go on private property without getting permission first. Not only is it illegal, it's downright rude. Would you like someone wandering into your house just to look around?

If you have no gun, bow or other hunting equiptment, Game Wardens should have no problem and will most likely assist you in your quest. But California is quirky, so a call to Parks and Wildlife (or whatever the state agency is called) is a wise first step. With all the snow and bad weather Cali has received recently the deer should be foraging heavily. Any cracked corn or sweet feed should work nicely. Early morning or late evening will be the best times.

[eagl]

Good luck!

I've read that your enemies will be sound, movement, and scent.  Scent may not be as big a problem in a state park where deer are somewhat used to the presence of people, but sound and movement will probably spook them every time.

Wrap buckles in non-reflective tape so they don't clink, freeze whenever their heads come up, etc.  Some hunters will tell you camoflage is overrated...  I think I've stumbled across an equal number of deer while wearing camo as when wearing jeans and a red hat, so I'm not sure.  I do know that during survival and evasion training, I've nearly stepped on deer or been stepped on by deer that didn't know I was there or who realized I was there too late and decided not to move until I was almost touching them, so it's possible to sneek up on them if you're really patient and lucky.

[United]

Best advice I can give you is hunt, except with a camera instead of a gun.

Was planning on putting a pile of corn down by a state lake. Hoping to get some nice sunrise shots of deer.

Since baiting is legal, thats probably your best bet.  Here in VA, the deer usually come out to eat just after sunrise and just after sunset, not the best for photographs.  But, you can catch a few wondering out in the day, especially does with fawns.

[Golfer]

[Lizking]

That is the best kiind of deer pic, right there.