Well, I do not have enough money to buy all of the nonresident tags that I normally do. I decided to go to Missouri this year with the video and still cameras instead. So I got up early at my B-I-L's farm in northern Missouri on opening morning and decided to take the cameras to parts of the farm where I know deer hang out while not bothering anyone who had the firearms.

At first I sat on the bank of a dried up pond with my back against what I call an "armchair" tree. You know the ones. They are the ones where you lean back and have to decide whether or not to sleep because they are just so darned comfortable. Well, about 9:30 I happened to see movement coming out of the creek bed. I grabbed the video cam and ended up filming a nice 8-point come to within 15 yards of me. Yes, I thought, I should have bought the tag. It would have been a chip shot. Before and after this, I had probably seen 10-12 spikes and 6-points that were large,but "unattractive" for the camera.

So it was. After lunch, I decided to put up one of the ATVs that I had been working on. We only use them to retrieve shot animals, so I had time to work on them while my partners were hunting. While driving to the barn, I decided to go to the top of the ridge that overlooks a small draw and watch for deer and picture opportunities. There always seems to be something small in that draw. It is no more than the bottom of the hill, really. On one side of the fence there is short cut pasture where the cattle graze and on the other sode is CRP grass and just a few trees and small scrub brush.

I got to the top of the hill and turned the ATV off and just watched. After about 5 minutes of blessed silence, I saw this nice sized buck walking toward the bottom on the other side of the fence in the brush. I just thought to myself that he looked very intent. Maybe there was something in the bottom. Sure enough, after a minute, a smaller spike and 4-point come out of the very bottom. I thought that was that. But boy was I wrong. The buck, that I now saw was a nice 10-point stiffened up, bristled up and began the stiff-legged walk of a man looking for a fight. I could have not been more right.

As he got to the bottom of the draw where I could not see him anymore, I heard the LOUD CRASH of antlers. Now you have to understand that I have seen bucks fight on TV and videos, but never in person. I was in for a treat. I could barely make them out from my perch atop the hill. As they continued to fight, I thought that I should go take pictures of the action, if it lasted that long. I had my Olympus E-500 around my neck. I got off the ATV and almost ran down the hill to watch and take pictures.

Sure enough, when I got to the bottom, I saw two of the largest deer I have ever seen locked in amazing combat. The violence and noise was undescribable. The "smaller" 10-point would actually leap into the air to charge the enormous 12-point he was fighting. Yes, he was picking on a buck that probably weighed 200 pounds. I started snapping pictures as fast as I could. I was standing on my side of the fence and the bucks started to fight up the hill towards me. They were almost totally in the open. I kept walking toward them as well. They obviously didn't know I was there since they were more worried about the sharp points coming at them.

Just as quickly as it began, it ended with the big boy turning and running to the fence to leap to my side about 10 feet from me. That is when I realized they may still be pissed with sharp pointy things on their heads. I backed off a step or two. The 10-point followed shortly after and they both left in a hurry. Thank goodness.

Here are some of the pictures I got. Enjoy...I did.

Larry-

That is absolutely AWESOME!

Thanks for sharing the wonders of nature that you witnessed first-hand.

And for the greenies who lurk here and think nature is all fun and games, take a look at those antlers and the blood. These bucks mean business.

Again, congrats!

LarryS,

Thats a mighty fine sequence you posted.

I keep game cameras set out year round, and in the backpack I take any time I go afield, I keep a digital camera. I love taking pix of animals in their habitat when they don't know I'm there. Its kinda like countin' coup. I've captured their image and essence but have not killed them. Doesn't require a license, just the cost of getting there and patience.

back at you with a few of mine
GWB


Caught this little guy running down the hill while waiting for elk


no animals, but not a bad sunrise


Squirrel being inquisitive


Watched this guy for two seasons. Don't know if he got shot or not.


My son shot this deer later that year


Watched this guy for two years before my buddy shot him about a mile away from this photo

LarryS, those are very cool, very real photos. Your thread is why it's so worthwhile to hang around this website.Thank You!

I'll bet you were no less excited than if you'd had a gun and killed one of those bruisers. I'm glad you got to witness that first hand and thanks for the pics.

If I had seen this in person it would have been an adrenaline-pumping experience, they were driving hard and trying to inflict some serious damage. Great photos.

Great shots! I really love to "shoot" deer and other game with my camera as well. Rifle season at the hunting camp starts Saturday and I can almost guarantee I will be armed with both a rifle and my Canon 70-200mm with the doubler attached.

I tend to let a lot of "small" ones walk, but it's definitely gratifying to shoot them with my camera; almost as if to say, "I could have had you if I really wanted."

Good luck to all of you!

Beautifull pictures, thanks a lot for sharing!

Those are great.

The two bucks fighting are really drawing some blood.


ddj

Right place, right time, baby!

As a previopus poster noted, it looks like there is some blood on the antlers. Those fights are no joke.

Those are fantastic shots, Larry; really impressive. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the comments. Geedubya, those are some great photos.

SIR MAUSER, yes there was adrenalin pumping on both sides of the fence. It did get fairly bloody. The "smaller" buck would back up a bit sometimes and take a leap at the big one like you see the sheep rams do.

I have something to mount (photos)and the knowledge that they may both be bigger next year!

Awesome pictures!

A buddy of mine that is a pro photographer started a "game" with some of his photog friends, they would "pheasant hunt" with cameras. They would walk fields and flush birds, and shoot a picture as fast as possible. When they were developed, they drew an X from corner to corner on the print, and if the X went through the bird it was a kill. There was a bit of drinking and wagering involved as well. That takes some pretty steady hands (and fast film) with a 35mm camera.

very cool thanks for sharing!!

Love the pics!

I've taken a few long distance photos of big horn sheep through my spoting scope. They are not great photos, but it's fun to get pictures of sheep at long distances