Never seen this behavior before

[dogsled]

I have permission to hunt a small property near my house, the owner wants some of the deer removed as they are eating all of his landscaping. One of my wife's coworkers wanted some venison, and I wanted to use my 44 mag Marlin 1894 (iron sights) to take a deer. So when a small 6 point presented himself at about 40 yards, I took the shot. He went down like ton of bricks, 200 gr Hornady XTP reloads at about 1400 fps. No exit wound, but both lungs were disintegrated.

I didn't notice the other small buck, young 3 point following him until after I shot as the cover there is very thick and overgrown. The other buck didn't leave, he went maybe 20 yards, then stopped and while watching his fallen comrade, blew several alert whistles and stomped the ground. He then circled around in front of the down deer, and crept cautiously up to him. He nosed him a few times as if trying to push him to get him up. Appeared to lick the down deer's face. Circled a few more times, then came in from behind the carcass and kicked him several times trying to get him up. This went on for about 15 minutes or so. I think finally he must have smelled me, I was in a ground blind watching. He stiff leg trotted off into the thicket.

I have seen does hang around before, even bed down in the area of a kill. But I have never experienced anything to compare with the loyalty of this fellow trying to get his buddy up.

 

[cecil30-30]

That's the saddest thing I've heard all day.

 

[pockets]

The dead one WAS the bully. He just wanted to kick'em while he was down.

 

[dogsled]

That's the saddest thing I've heard all day.

It was kind of depressing. I felt bad for the little guy. Reminded me of my boys (dogs) when they are separated for vet visits.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Have seen similar behavior before.

My wife's step dad told me that he killed one and watched another buck come in and try to fight the dead deer.

 

[Popcorn]

I have seen this and similar activity for years. Pretty normal rut or not

 

[RockMcL]

I have permission to hunt a small property near my house, the owner wants some of the deer removed as they are eating all of his landscaping. One of my wife's coworkers wanted some venison, and I wanted to use my 44 mag Marlin 1894 (iron sights) to take a deer. So when a small 6 point presented himself at about 40 yards, I took the shot. He went down like ton of bricks, 200 gr Hornady XTP reloads at about 1400 fps. No exit wound, but both lungs were disintegrated.

I didn't notice the other small buck, young 3 point following him until after I shot as the cover there is very thick and overgrown. The other buck didn't leave, he went maybe 20 yards, then stopped and while watching his fallen comrade, blew several alert whistles and stomped the ground. He then circled around in front of the down deer, and crept cautiously up to him. He nosed him a few times as if trying to push him to get him up. Appeared to lick the down deer's face. Circled a few more times, then came in from behind the carcass and kicked him several times trying to get him up. This went on for about 15 minutes or so. I think finally he must have smelled me, I was in a ground blind watching. He stiff leg trotted off into the thicket.

I have seen does hang around before, even bed down in the area of a kill. But I have never experienced anything to compare with the loyalty of this fellow trying to get his buddy up.

It is just my theory but I think it is pretty well backed by observed buck behavior:
The bachelor groups are next level training initially for the yearling bucks who go from pampered mommy's favorites to being driven away in one day.
Woefully unprepared to survive and procreate on their own they join or ghost/follow existing bachelor groups and learn by observing their older peers. First year as breeding desire kicks up they find they are smelling differences in the does and get super excited but don't yet fully understand how to use terrain and thermals to give them a better chance to breed.

Within months to years those two bucks would have learned to either tolerate each other or be mortal enemies.

Not to dash the beautiful dream of friendship but that young buck didn't know how to find girls to chase as effectively as his more mature bud and just wanted help finding ladies night hollow or more wiffs of easy girl perfume as the thermals rose but he as a "young buck" did not fully understand the best way to look & move to up his chances.

 

[Setterman]

Last doe I killed her fawns did this and then laid down next to her. That was 7 years ago.

I used to be a heartless and ruthless killer. In those days I would've killed the entire family group. As a more mature hunter it just made me sad. Haven't had the desire to kill another doe as a result

 

[Snake]

I shot a decent 9 point one morning , him and another smaller buck was running a doe . It was early so thought about shooting a doe . The 9 point lay not 20 yards from me . I was in a ladder stand and heard something to my left turned to look here came a big bodied 6 point . He came right up in under me . This bucks hair was bristled up and he was walking stiff legged. He seen my downed buck so he slowly circled him and all of a sudden he rammed him ! He did this several times , he'd circle then ram him . This went on for several minutes and here I am not videoing it . I was just so dumbfounded at his reaction to my dead buck . Finally he walked off kinda like a proud walk like he had done something . That was weird never seen anything like that before .

 

[Lost Lake]

Last doe I killed her fawns did this and then laid down next to her. That was 7 years ago.

I used to be a heartless and ruthless killer. In those days I would've killed the entire family group. As a more mature hunter it just made me sad. Haven't had the desire to kill another doe as a result

For reasons I can't explain, I've gotten Ultra Uber selective about which doe I'll shoot when the time comes, if I shoot one at all. Maybe I'm just getting old, but stuff like that stays with me for a long time.

I totally understand.

 

[Popcorn]

Last doe I killed her fawns did this and then laid down next to her. That was 7 years ago.

I used to be a heartless and ruthless killer. In those days I would've killed the entire family group. As a more mature hunter it just made me sad. Haven't had the desire to kill another doe as a result

For reasons I can't explain, I've gotten Ultra Uber selective about which doe I'll shoot when the time comes, if I shoot one at all. Maybe I'm just getting old, but stuff like that stays with me for a long time.

I totally understand.

Y'all getting soft in your old age

 

[Ski]

Deer mourn. Many animals do. We don't always recognize it because we're self centered humans. But watch nature long enough and you'll see your reflection everywhere.

I've heard of bucks attacking dead bucks but haven't seen it. I have had the unfortunate experience of seeing deer mourn, though. It's heartbreaking.

I shot a buck once and the doe he was with came back and began circling him, then nudging his back. I thought that was horrible enough but then other does and a young forky came into the field and encircled the buck for what seemed an eternity before slowly going back where they came. The only way I can rationalize it was a funeral procession. No idea what goes through a deer's mind, but there was no other way to describe what I saw.

 

[dogsled]

Y'all getting soft in your old age

Me too, I guess.

 

[LA man]

I shot a doe a few years back and watched a 7 pointer try and hump the dead doe, he also tried lifting her with is antlers several times

 

[LiveOffLand]

I shot a decent 9 point one morning , him and another smaller buck was running a doe . It was early so thought about shooting a doe . The 9 point lay not 20 yards from me . I was in a ladder stand and heard something to my left turned to look here came a big bodied 6 point . He came right up in under me . This bucks hair was bristled up and he was walking stiff legged. He seen my downed buck so he slowly circled him and all of a sudden he rammed him ! He did this several times , he'd circle then ram him . This went on for several minutes and here I am not videoing it . I was just so dumbfounded at his reaction to my dead buck . Finally he walked off kinda like a proud walk like he had done something . That was weird never seen anything like that before .

I experienced the same thing several years ago during archery season. Mid/late October when they are sparring a lot, I arrowed a 7pt. He ran 70 yards and crashed. 3 minutes later, a nice 8 came in and started sparring with him and pushing him around. He would I walk off and browse for a minute and then come back to fight. I videoed the lopsided battle, but at 70 yards and plenty of foliage in the woods, it was not the best quality. It seemed to get more intense every time that he returned. I was thinking, there is not going to be anything left of my deers rack and his body will be all tore up, but he had no considerable damage. One of the coolest things I witnessed while hunting.

 

[Popcorn]

I shot a doe a few years back and watched a 7 pointer try and hump the dead doe, he also tried lifting her with is antlers several times

Been there, saw a buck bloody himself wet trying to pick a doe up

 

[Popcorn]

I have to ask if we are not witnessing a little Bambi syndrome here!?
Y'all are implying deer have the power of reason and therefore understand death.
I suggest it's normal behavior on display and we notice it due to the fact they do not know.
Jmho

 

[Ski]

I have to ask if we are not witnessing a little Bambi syndrome here!?
Y'all are implying deer have the power of reason and therefore understand death.
I suggest it's normal behavior on display and we notice it due to the fact they do not know.
Jmho

I'd have to ask why anyone would think deer can't grieve death. Many other mammals do, including cattle and elephants, etc. Why not deer?

 

[killingtime 41]

They might grieve or have some kind of emotions. But we try to rationalize it in the human form. Because that's all we can do as humans. We compare it to ourselves and how we feel. We cannot think like a deer so we can't exactly say how and or what they are actually feeling. Without comparing ourselves in the same situation

 

[deer hunter 21]

Consider me getting soft, I shot a doe a few years back and had a yearling with her and that thing basically followed me dragging her through the woods and stayed 40-50 yards back until we reached the field and that where it quit following and I felt pretty bad.

 

[Tweeter]

Several years ago on opening of muzzleloader I shot a big doe that was with another doe, I could have shot her too, but she was full of milk when I field dressed her and after I drug her 300 yards her fawn came chasing me bleating. I squatted in the sage grass and slapped him on the butt to run him off. But that and the last time I cut a does throat is the most saddened times Iv had in the woods.

 

[Setterman]

Y'all getting soft in your old age

Maybe, and I'm okay with it. I spent years riding in the truck bed with a spotlight guy shining deer and shooting every one we saw while running depredation permits in Alabama. Never felt anything close to remorse back then.

Now at 47 with more deer dead by my hands than I can count I definitely have lost the edge to a degree. Hell I barely deer hunt now, and definitely have no interest in killing does. That incident 7 years ago got to me.

My dad always told me I'd lose the killer instinct someday and he may be right. It only applies to Does, for bucks it just takes a special buck for me to pull the trigger and I feel no sadness at that point.

as far as turkeys the fire still burns hot. That one won't fade

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . . . Haven't had the desire to kill another doe as a result

Trying to avoid the experience you described is much of why I prefer taking female deer in late December & early January. I realize the fawns will do just fine earlier (if they have lost their spots), but like you, I prefer to take mature doe that don't have a fawn (and do this sometimes in October/November), or else take them later, when the fawns are already much more on their own anyway.

I feel really good about shooting & eating mature bucks & does.
Just have no desire to shoot younger ones unless it's absolutely necessary for herd management or population control.

 

[Snake]

Y'all getting soft in your old age

Call me soft as well , of all the deer I've been fortunate to kill I killed one once that had a fawn with it . Sad it just kept coming back so I took it upon myself to never kill one with a fawn any more . That was one thing I said I would never do and I hadn't seen that fawn before guess it was hidden and when it's moma didn't come back for it he started looking for her . Bout shed a tear , I mean at times when they don't die pretty much immediately I feel pretty bad .... but I've kept hunting so I get over it quickly . I rarely shoot a doe any more especially during bow season when fawns are still really young . Ok hit me with your best shot I'm a softy !! ☺

 

[Popcorn]

Ok hit me with your best shot I'm a softy !! ☺

LOL ! I love it!! You guys are great. LOL

Even if I dont share your feelings I cant knock you for having them...

eewww
there, I said it lol

Just Kidding, Im ok picking up the slack
lol

 

[Henry]

When I butchered chickens (the gateway to butchering other farm animals and deer?) for the first time I apologized to all 50 plus of them as I cut their throats. It was horrible. So...
I'll admit to being soft, but some day I might be hungry so I need to learn and do what I need to do now so I don't go hungry later.
Bucks now, does later if still have room in the freezer.

 

[Chickenrig]

I'd have to ask why anyone would think deer can't grieve death. Many other mammals do, including cattle and elephants, etc. Why not deer?

They do grieve, i put down my male catahoula back in Oct. i also had a female mixed breed the same age(14). She went into such a depression after that . She quit eating,being social,playful, wanting to go outside that she shrivled to nothing and i had to put her down 3 weeks ago one of the hardest things to do

 

[Ski]

They do grieve, i put down my male catahoula back in Oct. i also had a female mixed breed the same age(14). She went into such a depression after that . She quit eating,being social,playful, wanting to go outside that she shrivled to nothing and i had to put her down 3 weeks ago one of the hardest things to do

Over summer I had a bulldog die of cancer. The other bulldog laid on her bed and wouldn't eat, then died a couple days later of no apparent physical ailments.

Animals grieve. I have no idea what they feel or how, but I recognize that it happens, and can empathize. I love hunting. I love venison. But I take no solace or joy in killing. It's a means to an end, nothing more. None of that prevents me from doing it, though. My drive to hunt and eat wild game outweighs my empathy for the animal. I am a predator. They are prey. It's the natural order of things.

 

[BuckWild]

Anthropomorphism, associating human traits and emotions to anything non human.

Perfectly normal part of being human.

As for killing a doe and a fawn and thinking the fawn is grieving, no way that is happening. It's more about association and familiarity. That doe is all that fawn has been imprinted with since birth. Nothing more than that.

But with that being said, as I get older, I often find myself torn between killing or not killing an animal. I've been hunting for 50 years. Sometimes something in my head just says don't do it.
Maybe it's my way of coping with my own mortality...who knows. The human brain and your soul are magical and mysterious things. I can't explain it.

I can watch two or three does feeding through an oak flat and just marvel at the complexity of life, but at the same time, know with all my heart that if any creature, animal or man, threatened me or my family, I would not hesitate to end their life on the spot.

I've often thought that a hunter values all life more than others because they know just how fast it can be taken away...

 

[dogsled]

I shot a doe last year after Thanksgiving in a large group on that same property I mentioned in the start of the thread. Double lung shot, she ran about 30 yards before dropping. I sat for about 15 minutes before going to track her. When I got to the carcass a yearling jumped up from some brush nearby and ran away. Field dressing her I realized she was still lactating, so I assume that was her offspring and was still nursing. After that incident I won't take a doe in a group that has any yearlings and try to wait later in the year.