Catching Fawns

Yes, today we had the wonderful opportunity to catch fawns at a local deer farm. Some people at our church own the farm, and we went with two other families from our church to catch fawns.

Apparently, there is an art to actually catching fawns. One can chase fawns all day long without any success, but we had to learn the method. First, you actually have to see one, which is no small task. We found that looking at the base of trees where there was a patch of sunlight was the best place to find them. Next, everyone made a large circle around the fawn, kind of like a pack of wolves, coyotes, or dogs would do. The circle shrank as one person got close enough to actually catch the little bugger.





Keegan made the first capture of the day! The dad who actually owns the farm would take the children, one at a time, in the center of the circle, and they would pounce on the poor little thing. The fawns bleated like lambs. After a few cheers and high fives, the owner would tag the baby deer's ear. All the mothers would clamor over the children and the fawns for a brief photo session, and the fawn was released. Then, we would spot another one and begin all over again.


Keegan is on the far left, beginning his conquest.









I found it hilarious that we had nine adults and seven children in a pick-up truck. We drove around on the trails, and then the vehicle would stop. Everyone would climb out of the truck. Our entire family rode in the back, and we would all swing our legs over the side and slide down to the ground. I felt a wee bit hill-billy-ish about this.










"There's one! Go get it!"














Difficulty in capturing depended on the age of the fawn. Recent newborns were really wobbly, and they could not run too fast. About four of them were a little older, and the guys chased after them in the woods. I was thoroughly amused when I saw Jeff and another dad take off running through the woods with all of their might.


They actually caught that one.

Later, there was much running with little results.

At another point in our journey, we were separated from Jeff, Keegan, and the other dad in the woods. They had taken off running while the rest of returned to the truck. Just as we began to travel down the road, we heard a holler "It's coming your way! It's coming your way!" Filled with excitement and the spirit of adventure, one of the boys, a dad, and I jumped out of the truck bed as we saw this little guy come racing towards us. We spread out, but the fawn raced ahead of us. Then, all three of us took off into the woods behind this one. We had him cornered between us and a creek.

Within a split second, several things happened. The fawn looked about, and dashed through the creek. All three of us looked at one another and decided to not chase this creature and become soaking wet. Not realizing that there was a little bridge in the woods about ten feet ahead of us, we saw the other dad from the original pursuit racing full tilt across the bridge, shouting a wild war cry as he flew past.

As I said, we were caught in a great sense of spirit and adventure.

I laughed and laughed. All three of us soon continued across the bridge while Jeff and Keegan rejoined us. Alas, the little fawn escaped our grasp. Absolutely huffing and puffing, we all returned to the pick-up and went back to the house.

I still don't pretend to understand men as well as I should, but today I became a bit more enlightened. The guys loved the sense of adventure, the thrill of the chase, the shouts of victory, the satisfaction of working hard-no matter the outcome, and taking their children into the woods to show them God's wonderful creation.