Austin has some of the most picturesque panoramic views to offer those that love the great outdoors.
In fact, these views are only moments away from the urban lifestyle of Downtown Austin and The Domain located in Northwest Austin (deemed Austin’s second downtown).
Amidst the endless views of the rolling hill country, you’ll discover some of the most expensive views Austin has to offer. In addition, you’ll also discover Austin’s white-tailed deer population.
You may have heard about white-tailed deer sightings in Emma Long Metropolitan Park located at 1706 City Park Road. They are quite the deer sighting experience to witness each evening.
Roughly 15-20 white-tailed deer appear every evening near the Emma Long Metropolitan Park entrance. Deer are most visible in the fields on the east side of park entrance about 30-40 minutes prior to sunset. They mostly graze on grass and pecans in open sight for roughly 1-1.5 hours.
While the deer at Emma Long Metropolitan Park is worth the trip, there is another location not far from the park entrance that pales in comparison: Mañana Street.
Deer watching near Manana Street’s Turkey Creek
Mañana Street, just east of 2400 Pearce Road and 1750 City Park Road, is home to some of Austin’s most luxurious waterfront properties. These one-of-a-kind lakeside views are comparable to those touted in prestigious real estate magazines and tv shows.
Multi-million dollar homes line Lake Austin (also the Colorado River), enjoying boat slips with lifts. In addition, residents are not far from Greenshores and Ski Shores, a neighborhood marina.
White-tailed deer feast at Manana Street’s old pecan orchard
What goes unknown by most people is that Mañana Street is also home to a ~20 acre pecan orchard and Turkey Creek. Row after row of pecan trees lining the block, this pecan orchard is known to producing thousands of pecans annually.
The pecan orchard doesn’t appear to be tended too these days. It does display prominent “No Trepassing” signage at each entrance. However, a growing white-tailed deer population of bucks and does are calling the pecan orchard home these days.
The white-tailed deer of Mañana Street are spotted daily grazing on orchard grass, pecans, and a few oak tree acorns.
I knew deer, white-tailed deer specifically, prefer acorns, beechnuts, and hickory nuts. But what I didn’t realize is that deer also eat pecans, pine needles, and the bark off of trees. Learn something new every day.
Manana Street’s growing population of white-tailed deer
The day my family and I visited Mañana street, we encountered nearly 30-40 deer of all ages and sizes, both bucks and does.
In fact, at the very end of the single-lane Mañana Street (no outlet), our family eagerly watched a buck. We anticipated his jumping the orchard fence to join 10-15 other white-tailed deer.
Deer freely grazed along the front lawns of a few homes. Talk about an up close and personal deer watching experience residents are rewarded with daily.
The deer paid us no mind. They enjoyed plenty of grass, acorns, and pecans without a worry in the world.
One thing we noted about each residence was the absence of flowers of any type. In fact, most flowers were out of reach for deer to browse. However, most houses landscaped with hardy shrubs and trees.
Nonetheless, there is something magical about Mañana Street and its white-tailed deer watching experience. It’s excitingly peaceful, yet majestic to watch these beast of nature gracefully play their role and take their place.
The Mañana Street deer watching experience is certainly worth the drive. Enjoy!
NOTE: Please remember not to feed deer or give the appearance of feeding deer. Austin prohibits the feeding of deer, having adopted a Deer Feeding Ordinance on February 23, 2009. The Austin Code Compliance Department actively enforces the ordinance. A violation is a Class-C Misdemeanor with a fine, not less than $75 or more than $125.
Hey there! I’m Alvin, and welcome to AustinDeer.com. Despite COVID, my wife, three kids, and I found a way to have a blast while staying safe. We turned social distancing into a fun family activity—deer watching in Austin, Texas! Join us as we explore different spots and enjoy the beauty of these amazing creatures. Get ready for our wild journey!