A true tale: this photo first appeared in my 6th Edition of Whitetail Hunters Almanac in 1993 with the caption: “Let’s see. I’ve done this, and this and this. According to this book (my 2nd Edition) I should soon see a big buck.”

I first met this buck when it was a fawn on the top of a limestone bluff fronted with NO HUNTING signs in western Wisconsin on January 1st, 1988. [Doc knew the landowner.] While other deer were sneaking or bounding away, it never stopped moving toward me, finally putting a nose-print on the lens of my camera. Always strangely tame, during succeeding visits I rewarded its welcome with potato chips. It dearly loved salty potato chips. During a following visit, I gave it some of my chocolate covered peanuts (M&Ms). It loved them even more. Though more cautious when Jene and I returned during following January firsts, the moment it heard the cracking of a bag containing these peanuts, it came running, giving me the idea for setting up this priceless photo.

Doc

A less cropped version of Dr. Ken Nordberg with a live, wild buck looking over his shoulder.

Another photo of the same buck.

Doc is talking to the buck.