Into the Rut

We spend quite a bit of time in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near our home in East Tennessee. This particular fall afternoon, we had experienced large bucks active during the rut. Bucks go into the rut each year looking for potential mates in the months of October and November. Just in time for all the fall foliage to put on a colorful show in the park. Earlier that morning as the sun came up, many of the fields were covered in frost and the dark shadows of the bucks started to appear as they were grazing. As the sun started to rise and cast a golden hue on the fields, we realized there were several large whitetail bucks. Many of these majestic creatures had prize winning racks making them even more appealing to photograph. Later in the day, we could really see the interaction between the bucks and the does as they grazed together in herds and pursued chasing back and forth throughout the fields.

We had just settled into a large field when we saw several does heading our way as the tall grasses seemed to be moving swiftly back and forth. My husband, kirk and I had our cameras ready but he captured the winning shot as the whitetail buck rushed through the briars and foliage in hot pursuit of a doe he had seen moments before. As soon as he appeared, he was gone. The buck hesitated momentarily as he rushed by and leaped over the camera and back into the brush. Fast thinking by Kirk, captured the shot. A shot of a lifetime, we feel very blessed to live so close to the Smokies and all the beauty they provide. Each time you visit, a new adventure awaits, whether you take a hike or a wonderful ride through.