The weather does not always cooperate with us photographers, and I have learned to have a backup plan for my back up for those rough weather days while leading a Japan Photography Tour Workshop. On the day I photographed the largest herd of wild Sika Deer on earth, I was supposed to board a chartered vessel with participants on my annual Hokkaido Photography Expedition Workshop Tour. Our Chartered boat was scheduled to depart Rausu just after 5 AM, for a 3hr cruise to photograph the Steller's Sea Eagles on pack ice, with the possibility of seeing seals whales and other subarctic wildlife "The Perfect Itinerary"! But a strong jet stream carrying gale force winds was to arrive earlier than anticipated and prevented us from casting off, to go out on our planned shoot. There were several dozen other photographers waiting to board their chartered vessel at the boat dock. After hearing the news, we headed to the docks restaurant for morning tea and naturally started talking with other photographers. As usual, for those staying in Rausu with no transportation but their guides tour bus, they started boarding the buses to head back to their hotels for a day of editing, or possibly a photo seminar a little shopping and hot spring, “boring to say the least when you are in winter wonderland Hokkaido Japan!” The gale force winds arrived as we were departed Rausu at 6 AM, in our rugged SUVs driven by our experienced staff drivers.

 Rough Ocean Conditions Hokkaido, Japan 

Our group sure were happy we were not out on a boat when the gale force winds hit. To lift everyone’s spirit including mine, we headed for a little-known spot where large herds of Sika Deer are known to gather during rough winter weather. An hrs drive out of Rausu we started traversing a few kilometers of rough terrain-off road-4x4ing. Thirty minutes later everyone was speechless including me when standing before us 200 yards away was the largest herd of Sika Deer on our planet numbering in the hundreds.

 Herd of Sika Deer Hokkaido, Japan 

Every one quickly set up and starting photographing and filming; we were able to get hundreds of great shots of the deer before they stampeded away 50 yards away from us into the snowy mountain wilderness.

 Sika Deer Stampede Hokkaido, Japan 

Photographing the largest herd of sika deer on our planet is a rare event, timing and weather is everything to capture the this!

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