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Outdoor Minnesota Deer Photo's


picksbigwagon

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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. full-17731-13731-img_0396.jpg

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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.

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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.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

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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. cool

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He looks like a big ol hog surewood, did you get him today? What time was he moving? Stuck at work today and tomorrow but then its off the woods, hope my timing is right.

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Got him at 0730 today. At shooting light had two fawns and a doe getting chased by a smaller 8. He was grunting the whole way. He even snort wheezed. My brother has saw two bucks chasing does but was unable to tell what they were. He also saw a fork. They are running hard today.

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I shot this buck in North Dakota on November 4th... yes, full velvet on November 4th! It is what some people refer to as a "Cactus Buck." It had both male and female genetalia. It had no testicles and it had a milk sack. The condition has to do with testosterone levels. Enjoy!full-11135-13740-buck2011compressed.jpg

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full-38641-13746-deer3.jpg

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My FIRST deer ever! grin 11 point buck shot opening morning, was on stand less than 15 min and he showed up 5 min after legal shooting time, my poor boyfriend had very little time to hunt before he got the phone call smile Putting this guy on the wall.

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Got him at 0730 today. At shooting light had two fawns and a doe getting chased by a smaller 8. He was grunting the whole way. He even snort wheezed. My brother has saw two bucks chasing does but was unable to tell what they were. He also saw a fork. They are running hard today.

Thanks for the report, I suspected it might be good today after all that wind. I normally take all week off but burned too much vacation bow season. Back in the woods on Thurs.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I shot this buck in North Dakota on November 4th... yes, full velvet on November 4th! It is what some people refer to as a "Cactus Buck." It had both male and female genetalia. It had no testicles and it had a milk sack. The condition has to do with testosterone levels. Enjoy!full-11135-13740-buck2011compressed.jpg

Anylake, as soon as I started to read this my first thought was antlered Doe. My buddy who is a Taxidermist has a 10 point Doe still in velvet on his wall. I'm sure it was a mind blow when you went to gut it and things were not in the right places! laugh

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Kettle
      Walked today and yesterday, flushed 9, shot at two and got two. Hopefully next year I'll have a dog to hunt with. Still warm up here, skim of ice on ponds. Weather has been nice. Hopefully walk a bit more the next few weeks. Been pretty cautious walking for birds to not interfere with deer hunters. There sure are not the deer hunters there used to be 
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    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
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    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
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    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
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