Golden Deer

“Through the fog, I could see the antlers almost lost in the haze. Soon I could see the eyes watching me. The deers have already noticed me, but this was the last opportunity I could get. The place was so good that I didn’t want to leave”.

Morning pursuit

It was last week of December, 2020. It was still early in the morning when I entered the national park. The fog was very dense. According to locals, it was the foggiest morning of the month. The morning smell of forest mixed with the mist was very refreshing. As I started the solo walk deep into the woods, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, visibility was so poor that I couldn’t even see a few meters ahead of me. The fog together with my winter clothing had also dampened the sound. The rubbing sound of my jacket was the only thing that I could hear. While on the brighter side, the same dampened sense would also be true for deers. Chances are good that I may get close to them without getting noticed. Fog reduces the distance !

The unexpected

The road that I was walking on, passed through the woods on both sides. I had been walking on it for sometime now. There was not a single soul that I came across. I was quite inside the forest. Then, to my fears, something unwelcoming happened. I came across a large group of monkeys sitting ahead of me. The road as far as I could see through the fog had monkeys sitting on it. The group was making angry chattering sounds. At this moment, fear gripped me. I was alone in the jungle with no prior experience with wild monkeys.

Chances were the monkeys who grew up in the jungle and had limited experience with humans, would have different behaviour than those in cities. Any misunderstanding that might happen between us could become dangerous. Even the sounds of all the commotion happening in this part of the jungle would not make very far away in the fog. No help could arrive on time. Also, I didn’t want to go back, as that would mean a waste of the whole effort. If I had to photograph wild deers the early morning fog was my only chance. All these thoughts quickly ran through my mind. The angry chattering sounds of monkeys grew deeper, and now I could see a monkey advancing toward me.

I resisted the temptation to go back, so I stepped back a few steps. I decided to hold my nerves and take time to understand the situation. The monkey sat and advanced towards me. I too stood my ground, took a few steps backward, and maintained the distance. In the next few seconds, I could see two more monkeys coming from behind the monkey in the front. They were aggressive and making sounds. The front one was not aggressive but was staring at me. While the monkeys behind him were looking at him instead. Something was different. It soon occurred to me that I was not the target. The monkey in the front was the actual target. Some ruckus might have happened in the group, and the monkeys seemed to be chasing him out of the group. While he was trying to escape, he saw me standing in his way, and was thus looking at me. I could now sense the nervousness on his face. Hoping for the best I decided to move sideways from the path and opened up the space. Then I waited for the monkey to cross. Time seemed to stop as the first monkey advanced. He crossed me while I stood still, and then he ran. Soon the rest of the two crossed and chased him. Now, I became sure that the group didn’t perceive me as a threat, I was a neutral outsider. I then decided to cross the monkeys. The road ahead was full of monkeys, as I walked in, they made space and moved sideways. Gradually, I kept moving in, and gradually they kept giving up the space. The trust that those living souls showed to me while I walked by was humbling. This unsaid understanding of not bothering each other, while sharing the same space was very unique for me.

The first appearance

Soon I crossed the last of the monkey. I moved a bit ahead, so as not to disturb them and then sat down to take some snaps. As I was adjusting the camera focus, a loud barking sound launched the nearest monkey off its feet. What I saw was the glimpse of a deer vanishing into the woods. It was a female deer. She was coming out of the thickets to cross the road. But because of fog, she could only see me very close, thus the surprised reaction. Now, this was something that I came early in the forest for, which is to photograph deers up-close. But now she had seen me and alerted all the herd of an outsider. From my earlier experience, I knew that the deer won’t return to the same spot where it had earlier felt threatened. Thus, I decided to step back a little, so that the deers could re-emerge from some other location. After a brief moment of no activity, deers reappeared deep into the same monkey group that I had now crossed.

Monkeys provided them a sense of security, as there are more eyes to watch for any possible intruder. The deers were standing relaxed now, venturing on the road. It was very serene to watch. I took some photos, but the camera keeps failing to focus in the fog. I switched to manual focus and waited if some deer chooses to move nearby. It was quite sometime now for me being in a squatting position with camera and I felt a bit of a cramp in my leg, so to ease out I adjusted my legs a bit. As soon as I did it, all the deers ran away into the bushes, no deer can be seen anymore. I was left puzzled, Did I make a sound?

There was a tweaking sound while I adjusted my legs. But it wasn’t loud enough. And why all of them ran away. None of them even looked at me while running. I sat bewildered for moments not knowing how to react. A minute or two passed by, and then I saw my answers coming.

A group of cyclists arrived chattering among themselves, and they now stood facing the monkeys. Seeing such a large endless group of monkeys, they came out of the cycles, undecided whether to go ahead or not. They must be having similar thoughts as mine about going back or not. The deers must have heard them from a distance, either the sounds they were making or the cycles. And all of them cleared out of the way, long before cyclists even arrived. This was eye-opening for me. That the deers can hear the sounds long before and clear space, spoke a lot to me about their heightened senses. I could now understand my own difficulty in spotting deers, they all must clear the path long before I arrive on the spot.

The cyclists were still standing. Two of them have crossed their cycles to flee away if the situation demands so. I was pretty sure that the deers won’t arrive again here, at least not before half an hr. Also as the day will be setting in, the fog may clear up and more people might arrive, so I will keep missing the shots. I thus decided to abandon the spot, in search of a more secluded one. As I stood on the ground, the cyclists saw me at the far end. Their doubts cleared up and they too decided to cross the monkey group!

Search for the spot

As the cyclists passed by, I too moved ahead. It happened to be a long solo walk. The thickets around me soon gave way to lakes on both sides. The boundary was marked by trees and bushes. There were moments when I could see large waterbirds very close to the pavement. The fog was doing its magic. But it wasn’t the birds that I wanted to photograph, I was looking for deers. The walk soon became a long one. I started having doubts about my decision to leave the monkey spot now. The place wasn’t very well secluded. But atleast there were deers, and the possibility to photograph them. But now, the forest landscape has given way to lakes. Can there be deers in the lake? Of course not. And would there be any forest landscape again, chances seemed grim. Even so, I kept moving ahead.

Tea break

After a brief walk, the main road came to an end. There was an old canteen at the end of the road, also a less walked unpaved road goes to the left. The fog was still very dense. I choose to take a look at the canteen if by any luck it’s open. The canteen seemed closed from the distance, but as I went near, I could see a bonfire. To my surprise a young boy was there, igniting the fire. He invited me to warm myself. With little chit-chat, I came to know he works in the canteen and has joined recently. His father expired early, and he was given the job in his place. He arrived early every day as it was his first new job and he wanted to be punctual. Also, it happened to be the peak time of the season with the tourists were arriving in plenty. The demise of his father and the hardships he and his mother underwent, held my mind. But the boy was light in his head, and I didn’t want to make it heavy for him. Our discussion about his studies and work soon went to young boys and girls hanging out in the park. He shared many stories of how young boys and girls arrive in the park, asking him to be a partner in crime, by showing them a secluded place. We had these refreshing talks for sometime. I warmed myself, had tea, and then bid him farewell, to see him again before I leave. The fog was still dense and there was still sometime to try again for the deers.

The less walked road

The road to my left appeared to be less traveled. It wasn’t also well leveled. There were lakes on both sides, marked by bushes and trees. Hardly had I walked a few hundred meters, that I came across a surprise opening in the bushes. There I could see a forested path going meandering inside the lakes. As far as the fog allowed me to see, I couldn’t see its end. A sense of mystery surrounded my mind. Was this the one path that I was looking for? Would there be deers?

A moment of silence and then very carefully I stepped in. First, I crossed thorny bushes making sure not to make a noise. Then I advanced very slowly inside the forest. Taking the help of trees and bushes to keep myself concealed. As I progressed, the path deepened further. The hopes of finding a deer in such a secluded place increased, and with this, I was also becoming very cautious not to blow away my cover. A point came where the path went below in a small depression and from there it climbed back. As I went into the depression I took a little break, as here I would not be visible. Then I climbed ahead and moved crouching down till I reached a tree. I then lifted gently to see something that held my breath. I took out my camera and zoomed in to make sure what I was looking at.

Through the fog, I could see the antlers, almost lost in the haze. Soon I could see the eyes watching me. They were deers and they had noticed me before I could spot them.

The fog did provide me cover but it wasn’t enough. The deers were now alert. Every move that I would now make would be watched. I retreated behind a tree retracing my steps, and a lot of emotions went by. As the deers had now seen me, they would keep themselves away from this place. It felt like an opportunity missed. At the same time, there would not be a better-secluded place than this where I could spend time and photograph them. The place was so good that I didn’t want to leave.

I decided to retreat, as going forward wasn’t the option. As I moved back away from the tree, the deers watched me step by step, till I went back into the depression. Now taking a sigh of relief I started to think. The deers have seen me going back. They must have their suspicion, but maybe if I could wait long enough they may feel safe and venture out into this area. Maybe all was not lost yet. But the problem was how could I go back to the same path as it has been exposed, and the deers being cautious. A new path must be taken, and there could be one if I can skirt along the edge of the forested path behind the bushes. With that the only remaining option I went through the path. It was a difficult terrain, as there were a lot of thorns and unlevelled ground. Inch by inch I closed the distance, till I reached the end of the bushes. The tree where I was exposed was to my left and behind. In front of me was an open patch of ground a few meters wide and long. Immediately in front of me and to my left were three bulls, one standing, and two sitting. Ahead of them, and at the end of the ground was deer herd partially concealed in the bushes. I could still see those antlers. Also unexpectedly I found an old abandoned tent to my front right. It was in torn condition, someone had used it before and left it, probably with an intent to return. But the presence of deer herd meant its owner has been absent for sometime. But then this tent could be used as a hide, only if I could get there, as the ground in front was open and to reach the tent without getting noticed was a challenge. Taking a deep breath, I moved along the edges, trying to keep myself as concealed as possible till I reached the tent. During this time I didn’t look up a bit to see if I was noticed. But after reaching the tent I could see the bulls were at peace. This meant good chances are that my presence remains hidden.

The wait

I found myself at peace realizing I did my best to get to the place I wanted to. Also, luck was on my side that I found a tent to hide behind. It had been unimaginable for me to reach so close to a wild deer herd, and them being unaware of my presence. Watching them so close in the wilderness was very satisfying. If the luck favoured me more may be the deers just decide to venture to my side and give me an opportunity to photograph them. Although the opportunity might be very small. They would soon spot me and run.

What now I had to do was to wait. The fog was still dense. I watched the bushes and the trees that I came out from. Everything was very silent, the surrounding lakes felt serene. Occasionally few small birds came and perched nearby. I took the opportunity to photograph them. Then there were sounds of distant ducks in the lake, I could see them emerging out and vanishing back into the floating fog layer over the lake. A few hours passed by, and slowly nature started waking up as the fog envelope faded away. The sunshine appeared and cleared the visibility further. It was time for me to also get prepared. Anything could happen anytime. There was a small gap in the two successive cloth layers of the tent, through which I could see the other side. The deer herd was still behind bushes. The bulls still relaxed, only a slight change in their positions. I checked my camera settings as the daylight had increased, and then waited.

Now, I don’t remember the exact duration, but soon enough a small guest made an appearance. It was a little deer fawn, who had ventured out into the open. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The herd had a fawn!

The herd had also come out in the open to warm themselves in sunlight. But the curious fawn came further out and near to my side. I wasted no time and started photographing. While photographing I watched the fawn through the lens. He was so close and everything was so adorable about him. The innocence, and the happiness on his face as he ate the fresh grass. Some moment of silent photography, and then I got the urge, that may be I could get a little nearer. It was a wrong urge, a slight movement in the tent, and the fawn got alerted. He saw up and then moved back to the herd. The return of fawn alerted his mother. She was sitting near the bushes. Now she was staring straight at me through those small tent holes as if she has spotted me behind the camera. I couldn’t even remember making a noise loud enough for her to hear. The fact that she pinpointed me at the same spot through those small holes left me feeling unintelligent. Her evolutionary intelligence and senses were simply very high.

Some anxious time passed by, she was still alert and staring. But surprisingly she wasn’t alerting the remaining herd. She wasn’t making that barking sound. The fawn was now secure behind her and has joined the rest of the herd grazing. What could be stopping her? Maybe she hasn’t yet seen me and only had a doubt. Or maybe she still wasn’t sure whether I posed threat enough for the herd to be alerted. Anyway, moments passed by. I didn’t make any other noise, and not even pressed the camera shutter. I wasn’t willing to take any chance to give away my position. She then eventually relaxed. I also felt relieved that the herd won’t be disturbed because of me, as it wasn’t my intent. I loved watching them and photographing them and I just did that. I had a few more opportunities to photograph the mother and fawn together. But the view was often obscured by the bulls coming in between. Eventually, the herd moved further away into the bushes, along with the fawn. It was time for me to move back too. I had a very deeply satisfying experience and now I was feeling hungry.

I made sure to return as silently as I came. I was happy with the thought that the herd never could know of my presence. Only the fawn and mother had their suspicion. The only blunder that I made was forgetting to collect my winter cap. I hung it near the tent while photographing. Maybe when the mother and the fawn returned, the fawn would have confirmed my presence seeing it, and would be proud of himself to had successfully identified an intruder.

I went back to the canteen, had tea and snacks, and met with the boy who was now busy with the tourists who came in plenty, as the day cleared up. I showed him the photos, and after a short chat said him goodbye.

One thing that occurred to me after this experience was that I could now understand why the predators likes to ambush. The senses of deers are simply very high. It’s next to impossible to approach them without being spotted. Thus, the predators prefers to try their luck, waiting patiently for the deers to approach them. As I was returning back I still could remember the piercing eyes of the mother deer as she watched me sitting behind the tent!

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