Bushwhacking

With the arrival of August and the close of the nesting season for the ground-nesting birds is the onset of bushwhacking.  Namely the clearing of trails and wildlife openings - a once a year chore.  Sure, it's usually only once a year, but clearing three and a half miles of trails (10 to 15 feet across) is hard work.  Especially if the grass is tall.  Back and forth.  Back and forth.  And back and forth in opposite directions.  Eventually the stubble is clipped to an acceptable height.

One of the more unusual experiences during this several days of labor is the behavior of the local whitetails.

They are unafraid.

They'll step-out of the cover and watch - fawns wagging their tails like dogs - and eventually return to the brush.  It is totally weird.  Loud clattering machinery, the belch of the diesel and me on top of it all has apparently presents no immediate threat.

As soon as deer hunting commences in September someone flips a switch and they all become a skittish as mice.  It is as if someone shared a copy of the hunting regulations with them.

Sure, I know you are skeptical of these casual observations so as evidence of this I present photographic evidence from one of my patient trail cameras.