If you have an affinity for nature and a camera that's gathering dust, you'll want to clear your calendar for the evening of November 15. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is rolling out the proverbial green carpet for wildlife enthusiasts at the Nash Wash Wildlife Management Area. According to the Utah Wildlife News, from 3-7 p.m., you can witness mule deer in the throes of their breeding season migration. The event is family-friendly and entirely free, although registration is required as spots are limited to 75. Interested parties can secure their place at the viewing by registering on Eventbrite.
Why November for deer spotting, you ask? Brandon Behling, the DWR Regional Outreach Manager, told Utah Wildlife News, "I like to remind people that wildlife are wild, and we can’t guarantee any will be viewable. But mule deer at Nash Wash in November is as close to a sure thing as you can get." Nash Wash is apparently a haven for big buck action during the rut, which translates to males either wooing does with all the finesse nature endowed them with or jousting with other males for supremacy and the chance at a mate.
Attendees can expect to see these mule deer from the safety and comfort of their cars along maintained dirt roads. But as Behling reminds, there's no guarantee; nature isn't a scripted spectacle, after all. Still, respectful visitors are likely to be rewarded with the living tableau that animal documentaries are made of, all set against an east-central Utah backdrop.
