• Tuesday-What'sUP December 26 - 09:34 pm

If you travel from the western end of the U.P. to the eastern end, you'll find varying depths of snow on the ground, but none of those depths are near what we normally have this time of year. Tricia Bohlsen snapped a shot of one resident that really doesn't mind the lesser amounts, as it means it's easier to get around and find something to eat on their own. I'm not sure when the deer usually herd up in the deer yards, but I imagine it will be a bit later this year, since the conditions in the bush aren't too bad for them quite yet. Less snow is good for some Yoopers, while not so good for others...like those that rely on the tourist trade for their livelihood. One thing for certain here in the North Country, we'll get the snow, it's just a matter of when!

Nice picture! I have 2 of thoses beautiful creatures in a baseball field across the street from me. Thanks for sharing. Hope Santa was good to everyone!

There is deer walking all over here in Laurel county, east ky. I don't think people hunt them like they did years ago.Hello Gracie Reed in L'anse.

What are the deer yards?

Gorgeous!

To clarify, I know a deer yard is a place that deer gather for safty & food. My real quetion is do the deer pick these locations or are they an area people have picked as a place to feed the deer over a harsh winter?

Super, I know they have trouble when the snow is approching that 300" mark. We don't have quite so many deer as we do antelope. No snow for them.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!! Thank you to everyone who provided these incredible pictures this year.

I look forward to seeing more of Copper Country in 2007.

By the way.... we are used to no snow in Dallas for Christmas and every other day for that matter.

I'll give it a try, deer tend to congregate in deep snow areas for mutual aid. The areas they do this in are generally sheltered from winds and have food nearby. On the Keweenaw there are two areas (easily accessible by humans) one outside of Eagle River and one on the south side between Gay and Lac la Belle. The cedar swamps provide shelter from the wind but the food value of cedar is low. Nearby brush is browsed and the cedar is a last resort. The trails one makes are used by all easing the load of breaking trail. Carnivores that chase them usually catch something but again the stronger ones usually get away and deliver their young in the spring. I think the young ones learn the way to these yards by following their mothers and pass it on to the next generation. Over time there is a general migration with the onset of snow to these areas.

Oh deer! What a life the poor things have. It's very strange that they don't huddle together at night for warmth. They seem to prefer their own sleeping quarters. Maybe some of the doe snore, like our husbands. sigh

Been a while since my last post, but have been visiting regularly. Hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Today, I caught my dad picking up leaves in his yard! I guess that tells you we still haven't got any of the white stuff here in Corunna!

oh wow, i haven't seen many deer around here since a month or 2 ago. if i do see them its usually when i am driving. less snow there is the happier they are im sure.

I've been through Eagle River in the winter and seen the deer yarding. I believe the residents there feed them, right?

haven't been up that way in the winter, but i been through there plenty in the summer and fall times. we used to have deer come in our yard when i was younger and lay under the clothesline in the tall grass. we used to feed them too, but now and then one will wander around by the house here.

Tricia, I didn't know you were such a photographer until I happened to come to your photo gallery here on Pasty. I'm glad to see your photo of the deer in Tuesday's photo for the day. I love pictures of deer and you captured that one beautifully.

One particularly hard winter at the end of the East Branch Road in Mass City we fed the deer in the field across our yard with feed provided by the Sportsman's Club. It was quite a sight to see. There were probably 30-40 deer there at times. The bucks would get up on their hind legs and fight each other. Sometimes a brave deer would venture up toward the garage where the feed was stored.