Big Mule Deer Buck Bedded In the Corn Field

A heavy-bodied, mature mule deer buck lies tucked into the rows of a harvested cornfield at dusk, his gray-brown coat blending seamlessly with the dry stalks and golden stubble. Thick beams rise from his skull, tall forks and deep tines silhouetted against the fading orange sky. His ears pivot constantly, catching every whisper of wind, while dark eyes scan the field’s edge for movement. Calm but alert, he waits for full darkness to rise and feed, a seasoned monarch using the last light to his advantage.