Natural History Series on Major International Broadcaster

Hello,

In reply to your request for wildlife fights, I've got footage of several mule deer fights. The first one involves an older heavy horned buck and a younger competitor. Unfortunately when they met there was a road with traffic in the background. I picked up my tripod and moved in order to have a clean background. By the time I got set up again the younger buck had the older buck pinned to the ground with it's antlers in it's chest. The downed buck made an ungodly sound, which is captured as well. As the younger buck gives a shove the older buck struggles to his feet and some blood spurts out of his neck. He runs away with the younger buck right on his behind. It's pretty sobering testimony of the power of these animals and their willingness to try to kill their opponent when in a serious fight.

The second fight involves two 2 or 3 year old bucks. After about 10 seconds of pushing and shoving one shoves the other backwards and it's rear end contacts a tree that trips it and it goes rolling to the ground, recovers it's feet and scrambles out of there with the other buck in hot pursuit. I have one of the same bucks in another fight later that day but it is partly obscured by the slope of the hill and pine trees, but I have the winning buck up close and personal after the fight, with fire in his eyes, all bristled up, breathing heavily, and looking for more.

The third fight is between 2 mature bucks. After several seconds of very rapid and powerful pushing and shoving one gets the other on his side. The victor ends up on top of the other buck's neck and antlers, placing it's full body weight on the other's head and neck, making it impossible to rise for several seconds. This is a good piece of footage, well lit and well captured.

I also have about 100+ clips of bucks sparring--pushing each other around with their antlers. Some of it is gentle and laid back and some of it gets a bit more serious, but not as serious as a fight.

I also have 6 or so elk fights that are of short duration. Just parallel marching and then clashing antlers 1 or more times and then breaking apart. All were shot on HDV. I have a better elk fight of longer duration and seriousness, but it was shot on DV on a Canon FL-1 and is grainy.

I have not submitted the footage yet, as I have just joined Pond 5 and was studying up on the best way to submit footage. Now that I think I have figured it out, I will begin submitting footage this week. Hope it makes it through the curator.

Thanks for considering these.

Ted Steinke, GreatWildlifeImages

Whoops! I meant "Hello!" not "Hell", guess I'd better proofread before using the send button.

Here is a clip on 2 mule deer bucks fighting. I've got several more but was waiting for approval of my first batch of clips before sending more.

Hope you enjoy it, it was quite a thrill witnessing and videoing this action!

Ted

Here's more mule deer fighting: Mule Deer Bucks Fighting Part 3 Opponent Down and Being Gored


You can see the blood coming out of his neck/chest where he has been gored (Slow/Mo Clip)



Ted

Here's a third mule deer fight in regular speed and in slow motion:

Here's a 4th mule deer fight in real time and slow motion: