Very nice image and good detail and the deer. The dof used is wonderful the lighting seems really good as well.
My biggest issue with this photo is placement. it needs cropped more so that the deer is not in the middle. I would probably have cut about half the distance between the deer and the right edge to move the deer out of the center.
That really seems to be the one main flaw here the cropping of the photo.
As for meeting the challenge I understand what you are saying but think it may be a little week for the average voter. A buck is strong had it been a doe or fawn i believe delicate would have been represented better.