Prime Time Bucks

We apologize for the absence of entries in the blog since May. Truth be told, there is an abundance of good news and nothing bad of concern to report.

All the bucks including the youngest ones (Spike and Moki) are in their prime that means large antler growth and maximum body weight. George's antlers are bigger than ever this year as you can see from the photo.

The antlers are still in velvet, still growing and will continue until some time in August when the velvet will fall away.

The hot weather and frequent rain has provided them with ample pasture and we continue to supplement with mineral licks and produce. Small apples have fallen from neighbours' apple trees this year, so we are receiving many buckets of apples that are useless for people and gourmet delights for our deer. Special thanks to the Sparlings for a continuous supply this month.

Small token

Spike lounges under the names of the bucks who have died since the deer arrived at the Florida Road site on May 26, 2007...almost three years ago.

We lost Ty and Dandy in November 2008 and Koko early this year in January 2010.

Antler dropping season is over.

The list is now complete. All the antlers 2010 have been cast and found. If you are interesting in purchasing a pair the cost is $100 plus $25 for shipping if needed. So far we have sold the antlers of Bash, Gulliver, Murph and George.

1. Moki, April 6
2. Bash, April 6
3. Murph, April 8
4. Gulliver, April 9 and 10
5. Buddy, April 12
6. George, April 13
7. Mike, April 15
8. Spike, April 15
9. Max, April 15, April 16
10. EGee...April 18

Murph's joins the anterless group

On Thursday, April 8, Murph joined the group of antler-less bucks. He's hanging out as far away from the herd as possible, shaking his head as he learns how to adjust to his new, more vulnerable status.

Here's the latest list:

1. Moki, April 6
2. Bash, April 6
3. Murph, April 8

Second Place in the Sweepstakes

Mike and Bash challenging one another, Fall 2009

Bash's antlers, April 2010

Bash dropped his antlers on the same day as Moki, just several hours later. Here's a photo of the antlers on him and off him. John C. of Brampton has expressed an interest in this beautiful pair. Here's a photo of the antlers on the floor and as worn by Bash from the end of growth in August 2009 to this month. The length is approx 26 inches, the beams are about 4 inches in circumference and the palms are about 5 1/2 inches wide.

Who knew? Antler Sweepstake Winner 2010

Moki, September 2009

You'll never guess who dropped his antlers today, the first this year. None other than Moki who was one of our "babies" when the bucks first came to the Reserve in 2007.

Here's the list from the past two years and you'll find Moki was way down the list in 2008 and in the middle in 2009.

2008
1. Gulliver -- April 10, 2008
2 .Max -- April 14, 2008
3. Mike -- April 16, 2008
4. Bash -- April 18, 2008
5. Murph -- April 19, 2008
6. George -- April 22, 23, 2008
7. Buddy -- April 25, 26, 2008
8. KoKo -- April 29, 2008
9. EGee -- April 29, 2008
10. Moki -- April 29, May 1, 2008
11. Spike -- May 3, 2008

2009
1. Gulliver -- Apr 6 & 7, 2009
2. Murph -- April 7 & 8, 2009
3. Bash -- April 8, 2009
4. Max -- April 10, 2009
5. Moki -- April 14, 2009
6. Buddy -- April 14, 2009
7. George -- April 15, 2009
8. KoKo -- April 15, 2009
9. Mike -- April 19, 2009
10. EGee -- April 21, 2009
11. Spike -- April 21, 2009

Worm free status confirmed

Allan's photo of the reserve from a flight with Chris Grooms

We were contemplating giving the entire herd anti-worm medication when Lorraine Alderman, a board member and avid horse lover, suggested we test the deer droppings first. The test results are in and the herd is worm-free!

Here is an aerial photo of the Reserve taken by Allan Park, our head deer keeper in early March just before the snow melted.