As you mentioned, you had a small window to get this but with the sensor grabbing the FG bush, the focus on the deer is just too far off. If you are using all the focusing points, you may want to try using one sensor in this situations to get critical focus on the subject. With the feet cut/close by the edge, it makes it feel too cramped.
The framing above the deer by the tree is real nice.
A real nice whitetail buck in the velvet....Let's get these posts up to 800px on the long side for easier veiwing... Agree with the above posts on this image.
It's too bad the focus was off....would have been a prize photo otherwise. I like the dark background, and the fact that he's looking back, implying one last glance before disappearing into the mystery of the forest. Its a nice composition.