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Baby Mule Deer


Baby Mule Deer
Photo Information
Copyright: Jane Magen (jaycee) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-09-11
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon SX10IS
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite wild animal photos 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-09-20 8:16
Viewed: 356
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mule Deer

The Mule Deer, while closely related to the eastern species-the white-tailed deer, are remarkably distinct in their biological, ecological, and behavioral attributes.

The Mule Deer carries its thin, black-tipped tail drooped, unlike the uplifted, bushy white tail of its cousin. They have a distinctly different gait from the leisurely, graceful leaps of the white-tail. When startled, a Mule Deer will move in a series of stiff-legged jumps with all four feet hitting the ground together.

Mule Deer are usually a dark gray-brown, with a small white rump patch and a small, black-tipped tail. Their large ears are distinctive. White-tail deer are tan in color, with a larger tail.

Mule Deer antlers are normally smaller and branch to form 2 equal forks, while the male White-tailed Deer has forward curving antlers with a number of points (tines) branching from the main beam.

Mule Deer have large ears that move constantly and independently, from whence they get their name, "Mule" or "Burro Deer." They do not run as other deer, but have a peculiar and distinctive bounding leap (stotting) over distances up to 8 yards, with all 4 feet coming down together. In this fashion, they can reach a speed of 45 m.p.h. for short periods.

This stocky deer with sturdy legs is 4 to 6-1/2 feet in length and 3 to 3-1/2 feet high at the shoulder. During the summer, the coat on its upper body is yellow- or reddish-brown, while in winter more gray. The throat patch, rump patch, inside ears and inside legs are white with lower portions running cream to tan. A dark V-shaped mark, extending from a point between the eyes upward and laterally is characteristic of all Mule Deer but is more conspicuous in males.

Males are larger than females. The bucks' antlers, which start growth in spring and are shed around December each year, are high and branch forward, forking equally into 2 tines with a spread up to 4 feet.

The Mule Deer is slower and less colorful than the White-tailed Deer, but its pastel, gray-buff color provides a physical adaptation to the desert environment which disguises it from predators like the Cougar, the Coyote and the eagle who will swoop down on a fawn.

Mule Deer have no canine teeth and, like the cow, have a multi-part stomach, the first two chambers of which act as temporary storage bins. Food stored here can be digested later when the deer chews its cud.


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nglen, marianas, bahadir, xTauruSx, nasokoun, goatman04, maurydv, ferranjlloret, boreocypriensis, tuslaw, Gert-Paassen, sranjan, rousettus, siggi, gannu, CeltickRanger, eqshannon has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hello Jane
very nice composition with good details
this mule deer is a beauty
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517] (17564)
  • [2009-09-20 8:21]

Hello Jane,
You are too late! Two photos separate us. And now...? :-)
Very beautiful and cute photo of this Mule Deer. The natural colours are very fine and the sharpness very good. Excellent composition. Beautiful environment.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8623] (32138)
  • [2009-09-20 8:48]

Hi Jane. This is something different from you today. What a cute little thing this is. As you say in your notes it have verylarge ears which we can see from you POV. Taken with fine detail and natural colours . You worked well with the bright sun light. well done .TFS.
Nick..

Jane
What a wonderful capture, great colors and good POV.
Mariana

Hello Jane, a cute baby. lovely shot.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

Hello Jane,
Another lovely and great capture from you:) this one is so cute in lovely pose with wonderful composition.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

hello Jane
so much beautiful, very beautiful presentation,lovely moment and photo
TFS thanksd for sharing
Nasos

Hello Jane,

A beautiful & cute capture of this baby Mule Deer "little deer" with lovely coloration/markings & fine details. Great POV, pose & BG.

One can see the large ears...even on this little one!

Well done & TFS.

Best wishes

Umar

Hello Jane,
a lovely picture of a baby Mule Deer, very beautiful natural colours and good sharpness, a pleasing composition with an intensive look of this cute baby.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hello Jane,
Nice compositon and interesting document of the Mule Deer. He is very interesting to be able to know the life that is to us distant, in this one case the west the USA. Thanks to share it.
Best regards.

Ciao Jane, great capture of lovely creature, splendid natural colors and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

ahhhh... what a beauty!:) she gave you a fine pose sister.
Perfectly seen and captured by you.
Thanks for posting this beauty.
TFS and cheers,

bayram

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 502 W: 20 N: 1381] (4831)
  • [2009-09-20 17:31]

Hello Jane,
You post a cute little fawn which doesn't look to be very old.
You captured (him)or(her) in a great pose with that adorable innocent facial expression. Very informative notes!
The fawns here in Ohio are typically born anywhere from late May to mid July, so they seem to be quite a bit larger then this little fellow. TFS.
Ron

Hello Jane,

what a very cute picture you have been posted here.
I like the sweet pose with good pov, you have here hard light and that managed you well..
Gert

Hello Jane,
Very well shot with good details of this cute & innocent creature. TFS
Regards-Subhash
PS: Would you try reducing some brightness :)

Hello Jane
what a lovely capture from Arizona's beautiful nature. excellent composition in natural biotop. focus, POV and colors very nice. thanks for sharing this beauty.
best regards
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4716] (16222)
  • [2009-09-21 2:06]

Hello Jane,
Beautiful image, the pose and composition are lovely and the detail is lovely and sharp, great colours.
Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2009-09-21 3:44]

Hello Jane, Nice sorroundings and good shot. The lighting and the colors are too goo. Ganesh

hello Jane

a very beautiful photo of the baby Mule Deer,
fine POV, DOF and framing, a tenderness photo,

TFS

Asbed

It looks sort of lost and alone...and as you have said in notes...HOT! ah well...it would have had a better life in my wilderness...but then since I am in the city perhaps I am projecting...Nice picture of a species which is losing in numbers..
bob

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2573] (9077)
  • [2009-09-22 2:07]

Hi Jane,
what a view of this cute and agile deer. How I like it as it never exist in my wilderness country to have spotted such a gem.
I only saw them in the zoo. I could feel the excitement of shooting the deer in a pretty pose and stance.
lovely work well executed.

Regards,
Foozi

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