On edge for the entire winter with only distant and rare sightings of Lexi.....he is back to spend summer with Mommy
Mature Does, close to spring births will always disperse their winter herds just prior to birth. Occasionally yearling does are permitted to remain with adult does, but without exception the young Bucks must go. This must have been especially difficuly for Lexi who didn't have more than 5 months with his Deer Mom. Never-the-less she raised him well through their winter together.
Lexi is a survivor, big, strong, and determined to fufill his destiny as a dominant Buck.
Typically these yearling bucks will return, alone, to their place of birth where they will forage all summer in preparation of their first full Rut. Lexi is home now, living and eating in our back field but certainly not alone. In early June Lexi appeared in the back field. It was the middle of the day and there he stood just fixated on his old home. His winter collar ring still remained at the base of his neck as he was shedding his winter coat. Definitely Lexi ! WE were thrilled ! That afternoon ended with a very expensive trip to the grocery store.
That evening Lexi returned and Mom was ready.. "Lexi, come on my Baby" was all my wife had to say and Lexi puppy trotted to her side from across the field.
It's now late August and our Summer has been filled with Lexi visits on a very regular basis. He and Kalo the Doberman have renewed their friendship and typically will play and chase each other throughout the field (more videos added to Lexi's youtube page).
My wife is always greeted with such affection and Lexi just loves the physical contact with Mommy. He is scratched, loved, and fed at each visit. Lexi is also Tick treated every three weeks. He remains the only tick free deer living in the wild! This probably explains his 150LB frame full of muscle!
His antlers are in velvet now, he is big and powerful yet always calm and very gentle with Mom.
Lexi is the identical darker Rust color of the dominant Doe we suspected was his deer mom.........this would also explain his size and determination.
More pictures to come soon! Please return and check them out soon!
