In Turkey Hollow, we’re half way through winter, though the brutal months of February and March still lie ahead. Snow has covered Turkey Hollow since about the middle of November, but there have been no big storms. A couple of eight-inchers are about the best we have been able to produce so far this winter.

The deer have been holding up, but there is change in the air. The big bucks have shed their antlers for the winter and the young yearlings are starting to develop their personalities and claim their place in the herds. The cute little fawns are becoming young bucks and does and seeking their rightful place.

This is not easy for Attila.

First, he had to survive hunting season and then he shed his massive eight point rack in a terrible blow to his masculinity. Now, instead of being the dominant force in our backyard, he is like most any other deer....buck or doe. You can only distinguish him by calling out his name – he’ll jerk his head upwards to acknowledge the call. It can't be easy for him.

He was Kate’s beau last year, but now she is too busy raising her young twins to give him much attention. Without the rack, he just doesn’t seem to be her type anymore. The twins follow Kate around everywhere. One has adopted her serenity, though the other is very timid and is literally scared of her own shadow. Kate seems to never give Attila the time of day anymore.

To make the situation worse for the proud buck, there are new stars in town.

First and foremost, there is Baby.

We named this yearling Baby because she is smaller in height and a little heavier than the other young ones. Her fur is thick and she seems to always have a mischievous smile. Well, cute little Baby has become the new kid on the block. She is totally fearless, challenges the older deer and demands to be noticed.

Once in awhile, even in this serene setting, the deer will rise on their hind legs and starting kicking at each other like kangaroos. Recently, as one deer was grazing, Baby pushed forward and challenged the other deer for its food. The much older and taller deer stood on his back legs to kick at "Baby". When Baby raised herself to meet the challenge from the older deer, the young one found herself standing at about half the other deer’s height. When Baby realized that she was clearly the small one in the match, she forgot about kicking and without hesitation, head-butted the other deer square in the belly. It ran off immediately and Baby triumphantly enjoyed her meal.

Attila is going to have his hands full with this one in the coming months! But I bet that once his extraordinary new antlers emerge over the next months, Attila will quickly be back in charge. Baby better not push her luck since I imagine Attila has a long memory.

Photographs by Steven Guy taken in Turkey Hollow.