santa's deer and me

Deer live where there is plenty of food, water and prime bedding areas. That is because they do not like to travel out of their own area.

Deers are always part of my imaginary world. They are commonly pet for nymphs in the alter dimension. 

Ecstatified with this childhood hymn I dreamed someday to see them in raw. And today we  take a tour to the foothill part of Mt.Isarog in Ocampo Camarines Sur. To where the deers are. kept, love and feed.

No, they do not only exist in Christmas songs and yes, Rudolph may be the most famous one but there is a herd of them in the town of Ocampo in Camarines Sur. In the foothills of Mount Isarog is a 5-hectare deer farm owned by the Province of Camsur. It started in 1996 with just about 60 heads but has to date grown it to 700.

As they are not domesticated animals, they move around large open spaces like prairies with nearby grassland, thick weeds and abundant herbs as their habitat. Guests in the farm are allowed to interact up close with them and can feed the deer with weeds.

They are pretty to look at as they wander around the vast grassland. Some are prancing and leaping from fallen tree branches while those in a herd walk so sexy as they feed on twigs and herbs. Wave your bunch of weeds they would happily race to you and get surrounded by lovely antlers. Local farm boys also help in collecting grass for their food.

Locally breeded, they’re are sold for their meat. Their fur skin for leather goods, their horns for ornament and medicinal usage as well. 

They are friendly to people, feeding them will give you an opportunity to take selfie with these new found friends so the best time to visit the place is at 3 PM onwards.

Here, one is allowed to get close and personal with several species of deer and it makes for a truly unique experience being with these shy, gentle creatures.

Situated about four kilometers up in Mt. Isarog, this five-hectare farm is considered as the Deer Farm of the country.

The farm was stocked entirely with Australian species such as blackbuck antelope, fallow deer, chital deer, red deer, and elk.

Owned by the Camarines Sur government, it was started late in 1996 with only 60 heads of five species from Australia.

Today, the number had increased to over 700 heads. Its goal is to make the province a supplier of deer meat (venison) which is a delicacy in restaurants while the hides can be used as materials for bags, belts, and other goods. The antlers can be extracted for medicinal value.