For a long time, a legendary white-tailed buck named “Duke” roamed the western Montana mountains. Myself, and a couple photographer friends were awed by Duke…especially  during late fall when he was more easily filmed.

Duke was known for his especially vertical and massive antlers…like a crown. It gave him a stately look, 
thus the name “Duke”.

For years, we filmed him in late fall with great joy. You could count on him to show up like clockwork.

Then one fall, old Duke didn’t show. And the next year, and the next. Even though I’d visit exactly where I knew he lived.

This went on for years. Every late fall, I’d travel to where he used to be and wish I could film him again.

Yesterday, I was in the western mountains, camera in hand (as always). My goal was to film owls in the cold pre-storm light. By chance, I happened to be in the exact spot where Duke used to roam.

As I walked, I heard a rustling in the branches. I turned, and one of the most majestic bucks I’d ever seen appeared from the brush. His antlers were unmistakably similar to Dukes’.

I realized, then and there, that old Duke had passed on his genes to this amazing new buck.

I won’t look back on Dukes’ old haunting grounds with sadness anymore. He lives on in the western mountains.

– Michael