The field next door is a favorite spot for deer. On a good evening we can stand in the backyard and see two or three different herds at once, scattered across the pasture under the fall colors.
We love watching them. They have sharp eyes, and they notice us long before we notice them. It's hard not to stop what you're doing and just look.
Years ago I was watching deer in a soybean field one evening, and some of the bucks still had velvet on their antlers. Then a buck walked up right behind me, so close I could see him clearly. He didn't quite know what I was, so he stomped his foot and snorted at me. It was really great to see a deer that close.
There are a lot of deer in Western Pennsylvania, and from what we see, they aren't running out. Pennsylvania is great deer habitat, with woods, edges and open fields all close together. Deer have a lot of value for people here, too. Hunting is a family tradition for many of our neighbors, and it's a way for families to spend time together. I grew up eating deer meat myself.
The deer are using our land, too. Our woods and open fields are part of the habitat they live in. They aren't always easy neighbors, though. Deer can be pesky, and they wreck our fences. That means repairs, and the repairs cost us time and money. Even so, we'd still rather have the deer than not. The field wouldn't look the same in the evening without them.
Join the Firm Foundation Farm email list to follow what's happening here through the seasons. What do you see out your back window in the evenings?