HSO Deer Photo's

[fishuhalik]

hey skies, this thread is for deer pics. put your moose picture on a different thread!

[wannafish2]

WOW! thats a tough act to follow, but here's a pic of mine this morning...he's the biggest I've ever shot...9 ptr at 755am..heart shot and down within sight. I hadn't even made it to my stand yet...

and NO, I didn't shoot him on on the 4th..the date on my camera is wrong...

[eyeguy 54]

nice!

[DHost21]

finally my first bow buck after passing on so many 1.5 year olds and 2.5 year olds.

[archerystud]

Here is the "little" 8 pointer I got Sat. morning.

[hookjunior]

Beautiful buck, I like how dark he looks, well worth the wait I'm sure.

[james_walleye]

Nice bucks fellas!

My kids loved the drive home from the inlaws cabin on Vermillion with all the deer in the trailers on I35.

[SpecialK]

Archerystud, I love how you got one of his tree rubs in the photo with him. All nice deer, hope to be able to post something in here in the next couple of weeks. My season starts tomorrow night or Tuesday morning depending on when I get out of work.

Good luck to those of you still hunting.

[skies]

Thanks guys! Some really nice bucks congrats to everybody.

[Bear55]

Great deer guys, holy mass skies!

[Scott M]

Done Well, Photos preserve best shots

by Bill Marchell, Star Tribune

Nov. 6, 2011

BRAINERD - I love to look at deer hunting photos, and so do most other hunters. Each image brings a flood of memories.

A few deer hunting pictures adorn the walls of my office. I look at those images and instantly recall the moment I first spotted the bucks. One image in particular is of me posing with a bruiser of a buck. When I look at that image I vividly recall the instant the buck stepped from behind a wall of young aspens, his rut-swelled neck and tall, dark antlers etched in my mind.

A closer look at the image reveals a much younger me. I'm wearing a jacket and pants sporting a camouflage pattern that is no longer made. I look at the date -- 1998. Can it really be that long ago?

I remember a friend and I had taken a considerable amount of time to photograph me with my buck. My friend was kind enough to take part of his hunting day to help me get the worthy images I so cherish today.

What constitutes a superior "kill shot" image and how does one go about taking them?

Use the best camera that you have. Images taken with a cell phone are getting better all the time, but they don't offer the photographer as many options as does a 35-millimeter camera or quality point-and-shoot.

Ideally you'll want to photograph you with your deer at or near the site where it fell before field dressing the animal. That requires you carry a camera in your backpack. It's a good idea to pack some paper towels or, better yet, wet wipes to clean the deer's face and mouth of blood. Be sure to tuck the deer's tongue back into its mouth, or cut it off. Hopefully, one of your hunting partners is nearby and willing to help you with the photo process. Kill shots always look better before rigor mortis sets in.

If the "grip and grin" image must be taken back at camp, or later at home, be sure to move the carcass to a spot that offers a natural background such as a large bush or hedge. As you gaze through the camera's viewfinder, look for distracting objects in the image, such as other hunters, vehicles or any manmade objects. Check to make sure the deer's antlers stand out against a uncluttered background such as the sky, out-of-focus distant trees, or a background colored differently than the antlers. Be sure each antler point is distinguishable from the others. That usually requires the hunter to position the deer's head facing slightly to the side.

Take the photographs at eye level or from below the hunter and his deer. Avoid a downward angle. Remember to get close to your subject. Leave a bit of room around the edges, but the hunter and the deer should almost fill the frame. Avoid using a wide-angle lens that distorts the near objects in the photo. A lens of roughly 100mm is ideal. Position the hunter and his or her deer so that they are roughly on the same plane. That way, both will be in focus. You can also set your camera's aperture to, say, f16 for a greater depth of field. Remember though, that the subject should stand out against a slightly blurry or neutral background.

If a wound or field dressing cuts show up, attempt to hide them using the hunter's gun or bow, or by positioning the deer so that blood doesn't show. Shoot both vertical and horizontal images.

The trick to good outdoor portraits under less-than-perfect lighting conditions is to balance the natural, or ambient, light with just the right amount of flash.

Under a full sun, your flash should be set from one to two stops of light less than the camera setting. This will fill the harsh shadows created by, for instance, the brim of a cap, yet will not overpower the natural sunlight. It will also add that all-important catch light to your subject's eyes.

To achieve colors that really pop under a heavy overcast, set your flash about a half-stop less than the camera's setting.

Take plenty of photos. Reposition the deer and hunter and shoot additional images. When you think you have taken enough, shoot more. Check the camera's viewing screen to affirm your results.

Have a safe and fun deer hunting season. And don't forget your camera.

Bill Marchel, an outdoors columnist and photographer, lives near Brainerd.

[Born2Fish]

Smaller of my two deer taken on opening day. This one was an 8 pointer taken at 5:10pm. Our group tagged out opening night. I will have pictures of my other deer soon.

[Jarrid Houston]

looking at these sure gets a guy pumped for the season. Mine is still a couple weeks out here in WI.

[bigbucks]

Great job guys, couple of HUGE 8 pointers! Haven't seen a good buck during archery season & not much of anything this weekend with the gun, but heading out every evening, so we'll see.

[Todd Caswell]

Wind Wind and more wind, of course it dies down after were home. Saw more deer than I thought we would considering the weather.

[MUSKY18]

Here's my big boy from the weekend. Took him Sunday night at 4. The Winchester dropped him in his tracks. Did a "rough" score of him and he did better than I thought. Best deer I have ever taken. 10pt and dressed at 195.

[sunyuv88]

Been hunting for a few years and I've always put something in the freezer, this year I finally get to put something on the wall. This guy came through with his nose on the ground after a doe at about noon on Saturday. Good times.

[paceman]

Awesome bucks guys!

[tunrevir]

Great deer guys!

Tunrevir~

[perchking]

Great job everyone. I will be hunting the UP of Michigan from the 15-18th then heading down to SE Wisc for the Wisc opener.

[Bear55]

Great bucks guys, congrats!

[leech~~]

8 pointer with a 25 inch spread shot half hour into the season! It was the second deer I shot this morning. The other was a nice eight but this deer puts it to shame

Holy ceerap! Skies, are sure that's not some kind of record main frame 8? Please let us know what it scores when you get it done once dried! Wow.

[Monkster]

Great looking buck Bret, congrats!

[slimngrizzly]

7 1/2 year old, 159 and change

[surewood]

219Lb. 7pt. Maybe 8 but he busted his brow off might be an inch yet. Mature deer though, I'm happy.