Way of the Whitetail, Dr. Leonard Lee Rue III
Review of Greatly Detailed and Informative Book About Whitetail Deer
Nov 13, 2009
Dr. Leonard Lee Rue III may be the most deer-obsessed person on the planet, and this obsession has allowed him to produce a fascinating book. From the many astoundingly perceptive photographs of deer engaged in all kinds of behaviors, to the vast amount of information about the animals, this book provides more information about deer than most people would ever imagine could exist.
Great Photographs of Deer
Both Leonard Lee Rue III and his son, Len Rue, Jr., contributed the book’s numerous photographs. These are of excellent quality and capture deer in the most seldom witnessed behaviors. A doe giving birth, newborn fawns in hiding, deer breeding, and bucks engaged in scenting scrapes are all presented in pictures that bring the reader right into the deer’s forest world. These beautiful wildlife photographs alone are reason enough to seek out this book.
In-depth Information About the Life of Deer
Rue covers every imaginable aspect of deer behavior, environment, and biology. He writes that he has spent his life observing and photographing these animals, and his years of experience and accumulated knowledge show. He writes about deer in such intimate terms that the reader receives the impression that Rue can actually think like a deer. He goes so far as to suggest that deer possess psychic abilities, because he has seen them react to the presence of threats that he believes would be impossible for the animals to detect through their five natural senses.
Rue has not confined his study of deer to mere observation, but he has consulted the work of biologists in order to expand his understanding of what he sees. This allows him to include detailed descriptions of the physiological mechanisms that give deer their highly developed senses of smell and hearing. He describes the physical differences between the eyes of deer and humans, explaining the way that deer visually perceive the environment in contrast to the way it is viewed by humans.
The Life Cycle of Whitetail Deer
In the book’s final section, Rue presents a month-by-month account of a year in the life of deer. He takes into account diet, shelter, the effects of weather, dominance and reproduction, and movement. Charts depict movement patterns and also information about frequency and timing of accidents involving deer and cars. Rue paints a complete portrait of the life of deer, animals that are so common yet so secretive in their habits.
Rue’s writing style is surprising, eccentric, and quirky. Sometimes scholarly and at other times awkward, it is nonetheless clear and pleasing to read. Although not an example of great literature, the book does represent a great scholarly effort. Rue has researched, accumulated, organized, illustrated, and presented a thoroughly informative work that is sure to be enjoyed by any reader who is interested in wildlife.
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