Strange Encounter

[oleander]

Twice now in Mineral King, I have had surprise encounters with big, quiet, fearless deer while in camp. They walk into the campsite after dark, poking around a little bit. Looking for salt? And unlike normal deer, they are hard to scare away.

That has never happened to me anywhere else in the Sierra. Just in Mineral King!

- Elizabeth

[Jimr]

Somebody else posted recently about fearless deer coming in for salt. I don't recall if it was the same area or not.

[Wandering Daisy]

The deer in Yosemite are downright tame and very curious. I had one try to get into my tent! The deer in areas where they are seriously hunted are more wary of humans. Hunting is not allowed in National Parks so the deer do not fear you.

[longri]

It's funny how the dark and the unknown can play tricks with your mind.

[oldranger]

Why didn't you just walk toward the eyes with your light on it?

Mike

[Herm]

I had a similar experience one night camped above the north shore of Franklin Lake out of Mineral King. But there were 5 or more sets of eyes staring at me and my brother. While my brother and I were star gazing near his tent, the many sets of eyes were close to my tent, which was a couple hundred feet away. If I approached, they would move, but didn't leave the area until I went to my tent to retire for the night. Interesting, but not anything that felt threatening.

Too many sasquatch stories tied to Mineral King!


Herm