Oh Deer!

When I went out to take pictures on Wednesday, I decided I was only going to take macro shots. I couldn't resist taking my telephoto lens, too...just in case. I was on my hands and knees on the boardwalk when a noise behind me finally registered. It sounded like a snort. I turned around in time to see a deer leap over the weeds and disappear. I continued down the boardwalk, stopping to take pictures, and heard the noise again. I looked up and a good distance away was a doe standing by some weeds and watching me. I acted like I didn't notice her and knelt back down on the boardwalk to switch cameras. I stayed down on the boardwalk and snapped some pictures of her. Then the coolest thing happened. She walked over to check me out! Slowly she made her way through all the brush and right over to the boardwalk. There was no doubt she was checking me out. She walked directly toward me. I have to admit that briefly I wondered if deer get rabies and attack lonely photographers, but I think she was just curious. She got to the spot where she was almost too close for me to use my telephoto lens and finally stopped. She stared at me for a few seconds and then turned and walked away just as slowly. She wasn't in any hurry. It was the neatest experience.