Well, not really a smile, but we can pretend. 😉

Taken a couple of weeks ago, the bucks were quite relaxed, opting to lie down and enjoy a quiet, cold morning on the Colorado plains. The rut is over so the big guys are in no rush to be anywhere or fight off competitors.

As you could guess from the thickness of this guy’s antlers, I have no doubt he was one of the top-ranked contenders for the annual event and next spring his genes will make an appearance in more than one young fawn.

Let’s call it #MuleDeerMonday.

Well, this was a fun surprise on this past Sunday’s photo outing.

My photo buddy and I spotted this light-colored beauty as we arrived at our photo destination but as it was still early, it was too dark to get any decent pics. We made a mental note to check the area later and I am glad we did!

By then she was on the move with the rest of the herd and gave us some nice poses. Her blonde fur really set her apart from the much darker coloring of a ‘normal’ mule deer.

Leucism is a genetic condition where pigmentation is reduced in an animal. Mammals, birds and even reptiles can have it. Leucistic animals can vary in appearance from lighter coloring like this doe to a splotchy mixture of normal and light coloring. It is not the same as albinism. Albinos have a total loss of melanin resulting in no pigmentation, even in the eyes.

The rut is winding down but some of the action is ongoing. These two younger bucks were keen on impressing a nearby lady with their prowess, putting on a nice show of back-and-forth. The light was pretty dim at the time and they chose a spot to fight that had plenty of obstructions but it was fun to see them go at it.

This was one handsome dude, clearly in his prime and a contender during the rut that is ongoing right now. He has a fantastic, largely symmetrical rack and judging from that body, he is all muscle and ready to fight.

On Saturday, none of the other bucks wanted to challenge him as he courted a couple of pretty does in the area. As he kept watch on them, he emerged from the trees at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and struck this pose, giving a great look.

The deer rut is in full swing right now but there just has not been much head-to-head action to be seen. A few, dominant bucks seem to have already taken charge with the others just not willing to mount a direct challenge to them. This would-be-contender was circling the area, occasionally approaching the does to test their willingness but none seemed particularly interested.

An extreme closeup of a mule deer buck. Kind of fun image that, if you look close, showcases the horizontal pupil that deer have. That is quite different than the round ones that humans have and it gives the deer a key advantage.

With their horizontal pupils and their eyes being on the side of their head give them a 300-degree panoramic view. This is far wider than our own field of view which is less than 180 degrees and allows the deer to more easily spot threats.

It’s almost time. Let’s get ready to rumble! The deer rut is fast approaching and the big boys are getting prepped. This handsome fellow was showcasing his muscular physique and was working on getting the last of the velvet off his weapons – those impressive antlers.

While he was still hanging out with his fellow bachelors, in another month or so that will change and those friends will become enemies as the hormones begin to rage. This guy will likely be a worthy contender for the ladies’ affection.