Touching the Wild on NATURE takes place in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming near the ranch belonging to writer, artist and naturalist Joe Hutto (“My Life as a Turkey”). These images, courtesy of Hutto’s book ‘Touching The Wild: Living with the Mule Deer of Deadman Gulch,” tell the seven-year story of Hutto’s introduction into the wild mule deer herd, his unprecedented access into the minds and social practices of these highly-intelligent animals – and ultimately heart-felt, familial connections with the deer as individuals.
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The herd heads out
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Hutto with young deer, Rag Tag
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Hutto with Possum
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Blossom's fawn Rosebud (with a friend)
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Possum (9)-Will visiting with Joe
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Hutto with Peep, who seemed more than happy to receive a scratching treatment from this human
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Hutto was able to observe many behaviors of the wild mule deer previously unknown to humans.
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There were numerous displays from the wild mule deer toward Hutto that suggested a they viewed the human not merely as harmless, but as a member of their families. Photo: ©THIRTEEN Productions LLC
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Hutto with Blossom and Dolly
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Hutto with an orphaned deer Molly. Hutto's involvement with the wild mule deer herd began with a chance encounter with a young buck that took an interest in him and somehow understood he was not a threat. Photo: Dawson Dunning / ©THIRTEEN Productions LLC
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Blossom the deer is pregnant in this photo. The comfort level reached by many wild mule deer with a human in Hutto's case is truly extraordinary. Photo: Dawson Dunning / ©THIRTEEN Productions LLC
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Joe Hutto with Babe the buck in the snow - Riverton area, Wyoming. Photo Credit: ©THIRTEEN Productions LLC
Living Among The Mule Deer, Babe and Joe
