Having stumbled upon a large enclosure of deer at Woodmancote (West Sussex) while walking last year I thought it would be an ideal place to play with a recent acquisition (a 50 year old Meyer Optik Görlitz 1Q Orestor 4/300 lens) and spend some quiet time honing my stalking skills.

During a brief visit last week a cross wind helped mask my scent and sound while I got myself into a hollow by the pond the deer drink from. Three curious (and possibly thirsty) females came up through the woods in my direction… (click on the images for a larger version)

…making my way through the deer trails inside a hedge with the wind blowing my scent and sound towards them I was spotted by this stag wile I looked trough the cleft of a hawthorn trunk.

I had some time to go back yesterday and managed to get much closer to a group of them despite the wind not being in my favour. Being quiet and crawling my way up behind clumps of common rushes peeked their interest and bought them towards me, one curious young doe got around five feet from me while I was taking pictures of this stag with it’s newly forming antlers; The inquisitive doe was too close to focus on so I looked in silent awe as it sniffed the air before me, a wonderful encounter.

This particular group seem much more approachable than the other two on site, hopefully I will enjoy more time among them soon.