The inscription identifying Bodmer's sketch of the head of a black-tailed deer indicates that it was made on the Missouri in 1833. It does not say if the subject was observed en route to or from Fort McKenzie or above or below Fort Union

Throughout November Bodmer made frequent excursions into the wilderness near New Harmony to hunt and sketch. On days when it was raining or too cold to sketch, he worked indoors producing finished versions of his earlier studies. His drawing of a deer with the inscription "New Harmony, Ind. Nov. 1832" corresponds to an entry in Maximilian's journal for November 12 which relates that "Mr. Bodmer made sketches of the deer we received yesterday. I took its measurements." He adds that "the skinning and dissecting of our deer gave gave an all day's work to Dreidoppel."