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Cooperative deer, the right light/conditions, it's the rut, and I've spend a lot of years studying mule deer habits as well as following this particular heard, so I know where they live and how and where to find them during certain periods of the year. . . I also know my equipment very well and how to get into position to get the shot that I know I want.

I think about what shots I want before I go. I do shoot a lot of off the cuff stuff, but I have a mental list of the shots that I want and the conditions under which I may find them. AND, I'm in the field a lot AND READY for the shots. Because I spend so much time with the deer, I have learned to anticipate their actions, which helps me to get into the right positions for the shot. It takes me DAYS to accumulate these kinds of shot. I shoot 200 okay shots for every 1 that is great.

I also am a very avid big game hunter, I shoot at least on mule deer buck a year, and sometimes more, and have always been fascinated with/by mule deer! So, I'm dedicated and persistent.



Tony, you just described what it takes to be a successful photographer.

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The snow shots were taken at 0 degrees F!! Ever spend 5 hours in zero degrees taking photos? The only tough thing is the hands. I use those disposable hand warmers inside mittens. I wear thin leather palmed glove liners and just slip my hands inside the mittens about every 20 minutes. A few times per day, when my hands warm up, the pain almost makes me cry! I'm sure you know the feeling when your hands get so cold that the acid builds up in them and then when they warm up, it stings like they are on fire!



I once spent 36 hours outside photographing a dog sled race when it was -25 degrees. I used a pair of liner gloves under a pair of Ragg Wool fingerless gloves with the mitten flap while I was shooting and inbetween racers, I stuck my hands into a pair of US Army Arctic Mittens. I have used this combo for down to -55 degrees and stayed warm.

David Ramey Photography