The sun is rising in the forest and all of the creatures that like to rise before dawn, start to magically appear in the morning light. The mist starts to rise and the birds call to one another. It is all so beautiful and breath taking to behold. We are constant witnesses of the glory of creation and its magical mysteries, one of our true gifts as the lucky beings that inhabit planet earth.
“According to the National History Museum Los Angeles County, the black-tailed deer is classified as one of nine subspecies of the mule deer. Its first recorded observation in habitat was made by the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806. The black-tailed deer has two different subspecies: The Columbia black-tailed deer and the Sitka black-tailed deer. The two subspecies occupy different areas within North America.

Subspecies

The black-tailed deer is generally a little smaller than the mule deer. Additionally, both subspecies of the black-tailed deer are distinguishable by their larger tails and their backs, which are covered with black or brown hair. According to Hungry for Hunting, the Sitka black-tailed deer is smaller than Columbia black-tailed deer. The antlers of both black-tailed deer species are evenly forked like the mule deer. However, black-tailed deer only grow a maximum of three tines per side.

Location

Both species of the black-tailed deer are found in the Pacific Northwest, “living in temperate coniferous forests along the Pacific Coast,” according to the National History Museum. The Columbia black-tailed deer is primarily located in California, Oregon and British Columbia, while the Sitka deer is primarily found in British Columbia, Washington and Southeast Alaska. The forests that black-tailed deer occupy are characterized by cooler temperatures and a lot of precipitation. Black-tailed deer do not migrate due to seasonal changes, and stay in the same area most of the time.

Additional Facts

Black-tailed deer are herbivores and eat the variety of plants and herbs that are within their habitat. The animal will even eat poison oak without experiencing an allergic reaction. The deer communicate with each over using over 10 vocalizations. When startled, the black-tailed deer, according to International Hunter Education Association, “will run with high, stiff-legged bounce, like mule deer.” Common predators of the deer include coyotes, cougars, bears, wolves and golden eagles."

Black-Tailed Deer Facts found here

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Original background image taken at Union Creek off of highway 62 in Southern Oregon.
Working with layers in photoshop, all deer were added as composites, using Topaz Remask2 to cut out the deer. The forest already had light rays slanting into it, I increased the light to look like sunrise by using the photoshop filter, render and using omni then increasing the light until I was happy with it.