Incident Overview
A pilot reported that he was on a hunting trip in a bog area with a stream running through it. During a low pass intended to check for rocks in the stream before landing, a deer jumped up beside the float plane. The pilot stated that he was watching to see where the deer went when the floats contacted the ground.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was conducting a low pass to survey the stream for potential hazards when the deer suddenly appeared. His attention shifted to following the animal's movements. As a result, the floats of the plane made contact with the ground. Subsequently, the aircraft slid to a stop with only the floats touching the ground.
Damage
The floats sustained substantial damage during the incident. No other damage was reported.