Found one of last year's bucks...

[catman529]

Was hoping to see this deer while hunting last year. Had pics of him from throughout bow season. I pulled my camera sometime in October and used it elsewhere. Never saw him since.

By a very odd coincidence, today I was trying to clear out a blackberry patch in the middle of a thicket I haven't been to in a year or two. Not too far from where I had the camera last year. The crop of berries was disappointing, but I found some bones that weren't there before, and went looking till I found the skull.

He broke off a couple tines near the base, but was very recognizable. Wonder what killed him. The one jawbone I found suggested 4.5+ on age.

Funny how his whole nose was bent to one side. You can see it on the trail cam pic, and also the skull. He was a very unique deer and that's why I had my eye on him more than any other deer last year.

Got some video too for a better look...

http://youtu.be/Ljko1Gh1fgU

Now I put a new camera out and look forward to seeing what is growing up this year.


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[BULL MOOSE]

Black antler rot?

 

[catman529]

Black antler rot?

What is that? Google doesn't turn up anything. Antlers are hard like any normal antler, only the skull is broken.

 

[Deer Assassin]

cool and sad

 

[dirtyhands]

That's a neat looking deer too bad you didn't get him.

 

[TheLBLman]

Had pics of him from throughout bow season. I pulled my camera sometime in October and used it elsewhere. Never saw him since.

Wonder what killed him.

You'll probably never know, but my best guess would be another hunter's arrow.
It's pretty saddening to me how many mortally wounded deer go unrecovered, at least by the hunter who wounded them.

I've also observed quite a few non-mortally wounded deer become more "targeted" by coyotes and dogs, simply because they were leaving a bit of a blood trail, and/or observed to be in a physically weakened state.

But since you've posted that pic now, and it is a fairly identifiable rack,
someone may step forward and tell you about their experience with this buck.

 

[ImThere]

Had pics of him from throughout bow season. I pulled my camera sometime in October and used it elsewhere. Never saw him since.

Wonder what killed him.

You'll probably never know, but my best guess would be another hunter's arrow.
It's pretty saddening to me how many mortally wounded deer go unrecovered, at least by the hunter who wounded them.

I've also observed quite a few non-mortally wounded deer become more "targeted" by coyotes and dogs, simply because they were leaving a bit of a blood trail, and/or observed to be in a physically weakened state.

But since you've posted that pic now, and it is a fairly identifiable rack,
someone may step forward and tell you about their experience with this buck.

IF I remember right that's a private land buck. I hope someone does fuss up to trespass and poaching. Would serve them right.

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

 

[BULL MOOSE]

The bucks left antler looks discolored in the trail cam pics

 

[catman529]

Had pics of him from throughout bow season. I pulled my camera sometime in October and used it elsewhere. Never saw him since.

Wonder what killed him.

You'll probably never know, but my best guess would be another hunter's arrow.
It's pretty saddening to me how many mortally wounded deer go unrecovered, at least by the hunter who wounded them.

I've also observed quite a few non-mortally wounded deer become more "targeted" by coyotes and dogs, simply because they were leaving a bit of a blood trail, and/or observed to be in a physically weakened state.

But since you've posted that pic now, and it is a fairly identifiable rack,
someone may step forward and tell you about their experience with this buck.

IF I remember right that's a private land buck. I hope someone does fuss up to trespass and poaching. Would serve them right.

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

it is private and there could potentially be a couple other people hunting nearby the area, but given the way the rack broke off, I think he could have got hurt in a fight just as well. Who knows.


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[Matador]

Very unique rack. Hate you didn't get a chance at him.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Disappointing but at least you do have the satisfaction of knowing what happened to him and having his rack.

 

[Andy S.]

...but given the way the rack broke off, I think he could have got hurt in a fight just as well.

My thoughts exactly considering the rack was busted up. I really believe A LOT more mature bucks die from fighting injuries than most hunters want to believe. We see a good bit of this at Ames with the buck age structure we have.

 

[Mike Belt]

The points don't look too busted up but that's a mighty blow to his skull plate under the burr. I don't know if fighting would result in that traumatic of an injury. Is there a road nearby? Looks like he might have been hit and made it as far as where he laid down and died.

 

[catman529]

The points don't look too busted up but that's a mighty blow to his skull plate under the burr. I don't know if fighting would result in that traumatic of an injury. Is there a road nearby? Looks like he might have been hit and made it as far as where he laid down and died.

he could have been hit too, but the bucks out there are pretty stout. Who knows.


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