If you are deciding between photographing deer from a blind vs still hunting with a camera, neither one is better across the board, and they are good at different things. A blind on a spot you have already scouted will usually give you the better photograph, with deer closer and calmer, and still-hunting will usually teach you more because you cover more ground and learn how deer use a property.

Most of the time you do not really get close to deer, they get close to you, and that took me a while to accept because the natural thing to do when you see one is to move toward it. Learning how to get close to deer without spooking them is mostly about picking a place deer already want to be, sitting on a good wind, and staying still long enough that they come through on their own.

If you photograph whitetail deer, your day is decided in about ninety minutes: the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. That is when deer move — and when your camera has the least light to work with.

Photographing whitetail deer during the rut is not about finding a better spot. The deer changes behavior every few days — and the sit that worked last week can sit empty this week for reasons that have nothing to do with you.

Thinking about upgrading from the Nikon Z5 to the Z5II? This detailed comparison breaks down everything you need to know.

2025 buyers guide for wildlife photography lenses.

A detailed breakdown of the Nikon Z8 vs Nikon Z6iii

It's not all fun and games, and you're about to hear some tough love. Selling prints as a photographer takes more than talent.

The Nikon Z5 and why it is a great camera for wildlife photography.

I attended the Lance Krueger Whitetail Dream Bucks Up-Close Masterclass this past November. Was it worth it?

A short behind-the-scenes of the moment a whitetail buck walked straight towards me.

A short review of the Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6 PF ED VR lens.