The weather this weekend looks impeccable making it a beautiful opportunity to meander through the Herald backwoods to the season opening of Vaughn Deer Farm. With limited signage, it’s easy to feel like you’re on the wrong trek, but even our geographically challenged reporter found the secluded paradise without a missed turn and says the payoff is worth any anxiety. The Vaughns open for the season Saturday from 10am – 5pm and Sunday from noon – 5pm.
The Vaughns are somewhere in the early to mid-part of their journey in realizing the licensed deer farm and petting zoo. What they’ve built is fun; what they have planned for the future is even more so. It all began about six years ago Diana Vaughn says when she and her husband Dink pulled the trigger on getting some deer. She blames a neighbor and family friend who had deer saying that Dink drove past them regularly which in turn only drove his urge stronger. Clover, their first deer, is still on the farm. That was 2019. Two short years later, and Diana’s urge to get a fox came to fruition. At that point, the lid was off and the Vaughn family has been adding animals in number and variety. The foxes were being rescued from a fur farm which led to other opportunities to rescue and now more than 100 animals call Vaughn Deer Farm home.
Raccoons, opossums, bobcats, a skunk, a rabbit, red foxes, and an arctic fox join the fallow and whitetail deer. Together, they all share the more than 30 acres with traditional farm livestock including goats, miniature horse, donkey, pot-bellied pig, chickens, guineas, and of course dogs and cats. Diana explains the reasoning for the type of deer.
“The fallow deer; I wanted to do fallow deer. [Dink] wanted to do whitetail. I thought fallow were a better option because they are so hearty. They don’t develop Chronic Wasting Disease which is a big thing for Whitetail Deer. They don’t actually get EHD (Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus) which in this area, we actually have more problems with than CWD.”
The Vaughn’s son, Nathan has plans to further the exhibit with his passion, reptiles. Corn snakes and a Burmese Python are current members of the farm. They’ve all got animals on their wishlist to add, none bigger though than what Nathan has his eyes on.
“I’m wanting to get an alligator. I want to get the permits and everything. I used to work with alligators down in San Antonio so it’s a dream of mine to bring my skills and knowledge and use that here to get an alligator for us.”
Asked how Dink and Diana feel about that, Dink says…
“I like it. What does that T-shirt say…if you’re weird, I’ll keep ya”
Dink is strictly focused on Artiodactyls; more specifically cervids.
“I’d like to grow with Red Stag or Elk”.
Diana is also looking at deer, but much smaller.
“I want a muntjac. I think that would be really cool. It’s another deer, but it’s really small. It actually has canine teeth. They’re extremely loyal and they actually make really good pets. I mean, I’d love to have a wolf eventually, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
It takes every member of the family and an immense dedication of time. Beyond that, it’s also not a cheap endeavor. The food and vet bills routinely exceed $2,000 per month. That’s what your entrance fee of just $8 helps to offset. Luckily, the Vaughns are masters at both making the most of their land and networking with friends and other businesses. Dink has his own sawmill on the property and most of the many enclosures and on-site structures are built with primarily fallen timber from their own land. He gets telephone poles from their power distributor, Wayne-White Electric. They’ve made friends with Emmy Williams at WP Meat Company; she provides the bobcats with donated raw meat and Bluford grain whips up just the right mixture for much of the fauna.
Vaughn Deer Farm just recently got approved as a wildlife sanctuary which will allow them to take on animals from a rehab that can’t necessarily be released back into the wild. Diana says when it comes to making a better life for animals, “that’s just what we do.” Having the wildlife sanctuary designation provides an educational opportunity to those that visit as well as potentially a chance to see an animal they otherwise may never get a chance to see in person. That means more space is needed and when Dink isn’t feeding or taking care of animals, he’s working on clearing land for expansion.
Your $8 admission also gets you a treat bag so you can feed select animals. Children 2 and under get in free. You can find them at 925 County Rd. 540 North Norris City, IL, 62869. You can also call 618-383-0229 if you get lost or just need some confirmation you’re headed the right way. They’ll also be happy to answer any questions or book a weekday outing for you. Vaughn Deer Farm is open Saturdays 10am – 5pm and Sundays from noon – 5pm through October. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/p/Vaughn-Deer-Farm-100083279681812/.
