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.
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.