last night at 9pm i went into the yard with a flashlight. i often do this when the dogs, from in the house where we smoke, start sniffing and head for the doggy door. it usually means the deer are coming up the pasture. how they smell them is beyond me. sometimes the group of deer is over 90 yds away. anyway, there was a lone deer about 50 yds from our yards fence in the pasture eating. my male dog was much more upset than usual. usually we don't see bucks and i thought it odd a lone doe would be out there. i hit it with the flashlight and wasn't quite sure what it was, male or female, until it turned facing away from me and put its head up. wow, nice rack shining in the moonlight and flashlight. my male dog is going nuts, hair up charging the fence, i grab him and he quiets down. i then start making horse noises and pops with my lips, the buck could care less. he turns broad side. he was beautiful. i start talking to him - hey buddy, its ok. he could care less. i let my dog go and he goes crazy again and i start telling him to hush - very loud. buck could care less. he's just standing there eating. it was so interesting. he was definately not scared of the dog or my voice or the noises i was making. he must have been feeling very confident. it was nice to see. i wouldn't shoot at night and hope i haven't offended anyone with the fact i like to look at deer at night out there. it is really the only way i can keep up with how the family is doing. i've been very concerned about dwindling doe, but the other night they were all out there together. john.