Dear Deer

Illinois’s 2024 white-tailed deer population was estimated at 730,000. That represented a significant increase from the 690,000 deer recorded, and reflected a broader upward trend — the population has grown by approximately 90,000 deer since 2021 after remaining relatively steady for eight years prior.

In my county of Fayette, in south-central Illinois, 3,700 white-tail deer were harvested by hunters in 2024 – which would be a small slice of the overall, estimated population. I was unable to find the estimated total population of deer in this county.

Those numbers might suggest that deer are walking down Main street in every little town. But, that’s not the case. We know they are around, but deer are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and are amazingly well hidden most of the time, during daylight house.

When we drive on our county roads near and after dark, we are likely to see a few deer standing out in the open in farm field noshing on the newly planted corn or soybeans. In the open, they have ample opportunity to flee from predators (coyotes or perhaps dogs.) But, typically it’s a treat to see them in enough light to get a decent photo because they are very flighty and spook when they hear or see the slightest wrinkle outside their expected “norm.”

Still, I know that there are deer that make their living on our property – which has enough pockets of trees and scrub brush to offer daytime nesting spots and all nite dining on our pastures-turned-hay fields.

So, I’m still excited to see a deer, especially one that either doesn’t detect me or can tolerate my remote presence.

This doe, that based on her condition is nursing fawn(s) which are likely hidden somewhere, was browsing on the far side of the pond, and did not seem to detect me as I sat silently in the golf cart with my camera.

I was excited to get the next shot – which would have been enough for me – but turned out to be only the beginning of several good opportunities to capture her image as she made her way down to the pond’s edge for a drink.

I didn’t add captions, but in the next video you can hear me whispering over the wind, “good thing we don’t have crocodiles, here…..” I guess the experience reminded me of nature shows shot of Impala in Africa!

I noticed in this next video that she has utters filled with milk – which is why I speculate she likely has fawn(s) hiding somewhere. I can also see that this doe has an injury on her left hock – it’s swollen and she’s a bit lame. One can only speculate how that might have happened.

The “Hay Guy” had cut and raked the hay, but hadn’t yet baled it. That’s what you see in the background.