Last week I journaled about my mushroom hunt of the year. I found so many ‘shrooms in one spot that I left more than I picked. After eating those mushrooms, I decided to go out for one last hunt of the season.

I decided to hit up the likely late season spots, homing in on the north facing slopes. I headed across a hay field to get to the woods and as I topped the crest of the field, I saw what I thought were two deer huddled together. It took a moment to understand that what I was really looking at was a mature doe nursing her twin fawns.  

As I moved in closer the doe went into protective mother mode. She bounded off towards the woods in an obvious attempt to lure the threat (me) away from her offspring. The first fawn instinctively dropped to the ground and became a statue. The second fawn ambled off 20 yards and dropped into the security of the tall hay. I guessed by watching the uncertain steps of one fawn as it moved away from its sibling that they were both only hours old. I wondered if it was a natural survival tactic for the second fawn to move away from the first one. Being that the fawns were brand new, I guessed they were born with those instincts. It was interesting to watch the game of self-preservation play out.  

I readied my phone camera before walking up to the first fawn and spent less than 10 seconds taking pictures. As I walked by the second fawn, I switched my phone to record a 13-second video. The only movement from the fawns were their blinking eyes. I am amazed on how fawns learn so quickly to remain motionless no matter what. Every time I have encountered a fawn, I make sure that the encounter is a short one. The fawns may seem calm and collected but I am guessing that their stress level is off the charts.

Fun fact about fawns: they carry their spots for 90-120 days.

I topped the next crest in the field and noticed that below in my path towards an old mushroom patch was another doe and fawn. These two also had the moves down pat. Mom moved away in an obvious attempt to get me to follow her while the young fawn dropped to the ground and remained still. I studied the fawn’s chest area for breathing and saw only minimal movement. I eased passed the fawn with my camera on burst mode, moving on as quickly as possible.

I eventually made my way into the woods to a spot where I had found morels in the past. I found exactly one mushroom. That has to be an unofficial world record of finding more white-tailed deer fawns (three), than morels (one). 

Now I know the fawns didn’t understand me when I said to all three of them: “If you’re a buck, I’ll see you in five and a half years.” I will let you all know how that works out for me, in five and a half years.

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