-- The sizes are too disproportionate for both figures to be actual animals photo'd at the same time, unless the red one farther back is an Amazon plus sized specimen.

-- The color saturations of the red figure do not seem consistent with an illuminated animal. More like a projected light/shadow pattern in vegetation, that is somehow shaped that way, and seen by the camera in that hue.

-- Animals illuminated by infrared lighting recorded by my trail cam do not show in the images as red figures. They are seen as white and shades of gray. Likewise with other infrared trail cam photos I have seen.
Neither the coloring on the buck nor the area in question farther back, are like that in typical infrared trail cam photos I've seen before.

From just this one image, I'm inclined to think lighting/shadows combined to cause a pattern the camera recorded this way. In person, the human eye may not even pick up on the pattern the way the camera lens/sensor/processor detected and recorded it.

None of my previous points are still valid, probably, if there is some type of double exposure of something that involves a change to focal length or camera-to-subject distance.

It’s interesting that you mention ‘projected light/shadow pattern in vegetation. That area is a wetland or somewhat swampy area with lots of vegetation. The neighbors did not think a real deer would go back there. Thus the idea of an image projecting thru the vegetation seemed interesting. Especially since the red deer does appear to have vegetation on its body.

The question then is, where is the projection coming from? There are solar lights behind the shed that might assist with the projection? The buck is clearly in front bc it blocks out the doe’s legs.

Thx!

Have new info to share: The neighbor with the field cam says she sees the red glow often; when they take a picture in color mode. Although sometimes she just sees the red dot.

Also, there is a pile of wood somewhere behind the buck. So maybe the doe was climbing over the wood pile and would appear higher up, and maybe bigger, than the buck? [Would/Could a deer, with thin legs, climb onto a wood pile???]

Still waiting to hear what a perusal of the memory card shows. Thx everyone who has offered ideas!

So, a neighbor of a friend, captured a photo of a buck in their backyard with a field camera. What’s strange is the red deer projected behind the buck. It really wasn’t there, but where did it come from? Where did the red coloring in the photo come from? Something to do with field cam lighting to focus?

More info:
The field cam was about 12 feet from the buck.
There’s a small storage garage about 13-14 feet to the right of the buck.
Where the red deer is projected is wetlands.
My friend’s shed is about 15 feet to the left of the buck.
They have solar lights on the other side (backside?) of the shed.
Also on the other side of the shed is a huge wooden Moose sculpture.

At first I thought it had something to do with a reflection or mirrored effect and thought the red light must be from the field cam. However, I wonder about the influence of the wetlands, the solar lights and the Moose sculpture. I know the quality if the field cam photo isn’t very good. I can see the red deer but not the big moose head. Any help figuring out how this photo might have occurred would be appreciated.
When she looks to the left of the red deer, there appears to be the head of the moose but way out of proportion.

No. Murder (homicide) is killing another human being illegally. It does not apply to animals. You may disagree with killing animals, but for the majority of humans in this world, it is common. You don't have to do the killing yourself to understand that someone has to.

If you are religious, the Bible supports the eating of meat. If you are not, then please explain to me why homo-sapiens have canine teeth, an attribute found only in carnivores. When you anthropomorphize animal behavior, you do a disservice to the animals and yourself.

I should be clear; I am not opposed to people who choose a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. What you eat and why you eat it is a personal choice. I could go on, but I don't wish to offend you unnecessarily.

So, a neighbor of a friend, captured a photo of a buck in their backyard with a field camera. What’s strange is the red deer projected behind the buck. It really wasn’t there, but where did it come from? Where did the red coloring in the photo come from? Something to do with field cam lighting to focus?

More info:
The field cam was about 12 feet from the buck.
There’s a small storage garage about 13-14 feet to the right of the buck.
Where the red deer is projected is wetlands.
My friend’s shed is about 15 feet to the left of the buck.
They have solar lights on the other side (backside?) of the shed.
Also on the other side of the shed is a huge wooden Moose sculpture.

At first I thought it had something to do with a reflection or mirrored effect and thought the red light must be from the field cam. However, I wonder about the influence of the wetlands, the solar lights and the Moose sculpture. I know the quality if the field cam photo isn’t very good. I can see the red deer but not the big moose head. Any help figuring out how this photo might have occurred would be appreciated.
When she looks to the left of the red deer, there appears to be the head of the moose but way out of proportion.