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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Deer? Oh dear!

When is a dear not a deer?  Well, when she's a goat, of course!  You see, dear reader, it would not be at all good to mistaken for a deer, during deer season, when one is not in fact a deer, but rather, one is a very endearing goat.  The problem is, some goats look very much like does.  Well, a female goat is actually a doe, but I meant that in some cases, a goat doe can look very much like a deer doe.  Oh dear me, this gets so muddled!

Our dairy goat, Caramel, is 25% LaMancha, 25% alpine, 50% Nubian, and 0% deer (although 100% dear, to us!)
However, in deer hunting season, some hunters get over-exuberant about their quarry and will not always take the time to ensure that their target is in fact of the Cervidae family, and not something else.  From time to time, one hears horrible stories about various animals being shot by mistake, including horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, and even dogs.  I think some people hunt at night or in poor weather when they can't see properly.  I simply can't figure out some of those mistakes otherwise.  However, Caramel would be an easier mistake.  The only thing she's missing, really, are the ears.  She has the lovely fawn colour, the tall build, the flagging tail, and definitely the run.  She's also a champion fence jumper.

So, I took some bright orange fleece and set to work creating the perfect "I am not a deer" coat for my little Caprine friend.
I might have to tighten the front holding strap a bit - I'll see how it fares over a couple of days.
Since I rarely use the alphabet function on my sewing machine, I thought I'd give it a whirl!
I'm not sure that Caramel is particularly impressed, but she'll be safer this way until deer season has ended and she can quietly regain her dignity.



13 comments:

brokenteepee said...

You are so very clever. A hunting vest for a dear goat.

Texan said...

Very good idea! We have one goat that is built so much like a deer from a distance and quick look she could be mistaken as well.

Marigold said...

I have trouble believing she will actually leave it on. I think it must be the Nubian in her. She must forget it is there. I'm sure I would never allow such a thing and if I did, Ella would just eat it. However, it is quite lovely to look at. How is the leg, by the way????

IsobelleGoLightly said...

She's a beautiful dear! Number Bumber has a red, white and blue stable sheet that looks like the American flag. He wears it on the first day of gun season here. Tee hee. I like your idea, Auntie Claire! Caramel is a very pretty goat.

Melodie said...

This is a very good idea!

Mimi Foxmorton said...

Such a ...dear!
And I hadn't even considered the possibility of careless hunters.

We should teach our loves to shoot back! lol

Unknown said...

Claire, I hope you are feeling better! I love your handiwork on Caramel's jacket.

Judy T said...

How lovely she looks. Definitely dear but not a deer.
Judy

Millie said...

Oh, dear! I hope she's safe. The human might need to make an orange sweater for Vixen.

Michelle said...

When we lived in Minnesota where deer season occurs over just two weekends and year and a lot of city folk drive out for the event, there was a Holstein dairy cow and a girl in a pink coat both supposedly mistaken for deer and shot. Yeah. You want to know how some of those assinine mistakes happen? Drunk hunters.

Nancy K. said...

Caramel looks lovely in her beautiful, orange sweater! The color is perfect for her. I do think a little snugging or lifting of the chest strap would make it fit the dainty girl a tad better...

Christine said...

LOL, brilliant idea!

Louise said...

That's a great idea, and Caramel looks very stylish.