Last year I watched the Outdoor channel a lot getting ideas from hunters about how to get close to animals especially deer. I watched a lot of archery deer hunting shows with my finger on the remote and clicked away as the hunter released their arrow. I can’t watch the kill shot. I am not anti-hunting as long as hunting is done legally and responsibly I don’t have a beef
So I made several trips to the Sportsman Warehouse and got some good desert Camo, pants, jacket, face mask, hat, the works. After studying the archery hunters I learned about scent killing techniques as well. Back to Sportsman’s for special soap, detergent, even mouth wash to neutralize human scent. This stuff is amazing! I have had deer walk right by me without knowing I was there. I can’t always get a picture but have had many heart pounding moments. Sometimes they catch a whiff or sense something is not right and bound off but when everything works right it is pretty exciting.
I took this photo of a nice sized Mule deer buck the day after my coyote trapper encounter. I got out to the river around dawn and sat with my back to some sagebrush along a heavily used deer trail. Within 15 minutes of sitting down I saw this buck coming my way. He never saw me. He looks like he sees me in the photo but that alert, ears up look is from him hearing the camera clicks. He kept coming and walked within 20 feet of me. Actually he got too close for my lens.
I am sure I look ridiculous when I am in my camouflage but I almost feel like I have the power of invisibility. I sat in a bush at another location and had a flock of shy, tiny birds land all around me very close to me as they did not realize I was there.
I am learning the value of sitting very still in a zen like state, patiently waiting for what will come rather than hurrying around trying to find what is out there. Please, just don’t send me a mountain lion. 😉
Northern Desert Photography 
That is so exciting to be so close and scentless. What a shot, no pun intended. It is surreal.
Ha, ha. I like puns. Thank you seeker. 🙂
If you continue to get shots like that, the hunters will be asking you for advice!
Thank you! 🙂
Great shot, Alison. Loved the post. Very informative about the camo.
Thanks Bob. It has been interesting and fun learning about it. 🙂
Gorgeous creature!!!
Thanks Lori! 🙂
Breathtaking – amazing creature and image!!
Thank you earthstills. 🙂
Beautiful shot…. love it…. thanks for sharing.
Thank you Sally. 🙂
Wow what an adventure! Must be dream like moments to be so close to so shy beings.
The shot is amazingly beautiful! ❤
Purrr…Your… well not mountain but blogger lion 😉
Love and Light
Thank you Fillandra. It really is kind of like having super powers. 😉
Hey, a like button.
Hey Ray, thanks for checking in. There is a like button? Maybe clear cookies and try again?
That’s certainly dedication to the art/craft! C’mon – I need to see a selfie shot!
Ha ha Dragon, I will have to get a shot of me in the field sometime.
Wow, it’s so beautiful!! Looks like a painting! 😀 Thanks for sharing the info about the camo.
I meant to comment on this much sooner – fantastic shot of a rutting buck!!! Everything – the pose, background, etc. – is perfect. I know how difficult a shot like that can be. I had hoped to do the same with a rutting White-tail but allowed myself to get side-tracked and failed. Still working at it but the intense rutting activity is over and hunting season is in full swing. Good field work and thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Nick. I enjoy every minute of my “field work”. 🙂
Great shot!!
Thank you! 🙂
Nice shot
Thank you colors. 🙂