I've spent years and lots of time hiking in the mountains and foothills of Southern California and I've seen very few deer. Just off the top of my head, I can think of: (a) four this year in and near Corn Springs (a siting of one and a siting of three); (b) several near Mount San Jacinto, at least one in Round Valley and one in Tamarack Valley; (c) one near Deep Creek in the San Bernardino Mountains; (d) one in Live Oak Canyon and several in our residential neighborhood near Live Oak Canyon; and (e) one near the summit of Mt. Baldy. I've had a little better luck in the Sierras: near the Cottonwood Lakes above Lone Pine; near Thousand Mile Lake outside Mammoth; and in Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite. Today I had my best deer experience in California, by far. It was almost like experiences I've had in Utah and Colorado where mule deer are very common. I probably saw about 15 in and between Covington Park and Big Morongo Canyon Reserve in Morongo, California, just east of Hwy 62.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjea9y1BhG5mVKWsxlgA4VZ0HPGGIj1VZVVhKQA92taOEIv1BdXf10xJiqeMdXvMBa7E9_6EewK87oE-5T1r0oQJ4wVy2MEpGkWA9i96nIhAXvXtmXquxY_-5kDyTQzFcL-OcA-DlrM0-4/w400-h288/16.jpg) |
A mother and an older fawn. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25YvSIIk_n70iGLoJ4B2Lu3hZVblHNjmZbZkURnAFYpqwkeWZkEmw24s-fFRALiGw4DEscFQnrmjnmcgBLXwjla8CfyTYbYR2GbGG-mBHfIlj47gYJZTeWUduqI6iWKO__YYIbmxEDqU/w400-h294/25a.jpg) |
A little later I went walking into the trees where they disappeared and found them bedded down. |
The California mule deer is a subspecies of the mule deer and I wondered if what I was seeing were California mule deer, or perhaps desert mule deer, or even southern mule deer, which are found in southernmost California. But as I look to see what differentiates the subspecies of mule deer I find an article
here that casts doubt on most of the distinctions in the subspecies, except for the black-tailed deer, based on some limited DNA testing.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg26V5v0H0SzEaxnPwvVeRwsYIDp4Cs5yfU-j-xKK91VlF-gsR9xQHWtCG7MCs35AkchN0WwOKqNSJZLO9ngBVtjTxVm0KNzZxTfP2HpF2MXvbS1l8M4mDRSsNDy0Au6dQY4-MuIzaiHc/w400-h266/1+Covington+Park%252C+Morongo+Valley.jpg) |
This is actually a pretty good sized buck. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQK1NSr7RH_2a5yYL6Gh9jLK1xY-uooNX0VWo_o-8KH3H26onN_at6u4txASIpCiOk225hkpS5fHAcfS15Ju_J93nharBr6NarcRATpZ6lW2sYMzuMj7q5Ss1Dpc-PPAHYWCjNnxjVAs/w400-h265/30a.jpg) |
This buck is hanging back in the trees. I think it may be the same one, but I'm not positive. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXHVdlOJWwaMoPP56wY9dKspseyEDUSHQlLbBqWR2FLyuhv342N6ZzKyANHiFsV2793JG_PW2clyWMH_1mZJfnMdLGURVmCnGxujgKIzRziik61USUZQIa8kU4aJQnaX2hnRAho4ZXPI/w400-h248/35.jpg) |
This is a spike buck with very small antlers. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2caaS5JlN3uanfCP_R3ou-IV0Lx-gjN_SCDjxlxV8XtFpKXSD8xipHUCyD-DCFJnrXAC1V_xk8ow5JDkSaqBC6ZyhbgVKQyhQxYcg3OrK-BX0rl-63nRmWkO-0D38ckdImEX8_1qHd4Q/w400-h266/40.jpg) |
This is my favorite photo from my following them into the trees. Most of those photos had substantial barriers such as significant branches and trees that obstructed the views. |
I love that last photo. I almost wish I had gotten up early to go with you this morning. Almost.
ReplyDelete