A Management Buck

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: A Management Buck

Although I don't hunt for "Trophy" Bucks, I also won't pass on a less-than-perfect deer either.

This particular deer had been identified by a local deer biologist as "less than desirable" 3 years ago. I don't normally give a c**p what local "experts" think of a deer, but this deer caught my attention that year when my wife missed a shot at him from 65 yards with a shotgun . He gained a new lease on life when my nephew missed him from 125 yards with his ML rifle 2 years ago, and my niece also missed him from 85 yards with a ML last year (the first time she ever fired a gun at a game animal).

I had a shot at him on opening day of archery season, but the sneaky bugger went around the "wrong" side of the tree. When I went to move my crossbow to take the shot, I made just enough noise to spook him and off he went. At that time (before the rut) he had his entire rack. It wasn't much, but prolly as good a rack as he'd ever develop.

He was known as "The Sneaky Six". He had been seen fighting with MUCH larger deer (both in rack and body size). He had never developed brow tines.

When I killed him he had serious wounds in both rear quarters. I originally thought they were flesh wounds, until I skinned him out. Skinning also revealed that he had several .22 cal wounds in his mid-section. The shooter is suspected, but he'll not admit it. Unless his rifle shoots around corners, he won't be a danger to any additional animals.

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: A Management Buck

Oh yeah...

I Had to hold the LEFT antler on for the picture...

My nephews were slightly over-zealous dragging him out....

glockman55 · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: A Management Buck

Unless his rifle shoots around corners, he won't be a danger to any additional animals.

Did his barrel get bent a little?
Should have wrapped it around his head. Mad

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

Nice Deer! Very Happy

And I agree with Glockman!

Dimitri

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: A Management Buck

glockman55 wrote:

Unless his rifle shoots around corners, he won't be a danger to any additional animals.

Did his barrel get bent a little?
Should have wrapped it around his head. Mad

That was my original intent. He knows better, but blames the "other" kids....

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: A Management Buck

When I stop and look at the picture of that old Basta*d, he makes me hope for many more in his mold........

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: A Management Buck

Nice Buck Good job. He will eat just fine Very Happy

Joe

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: A Management Buck

Joe,

Unfortunately, I had to discard a large portion of this deer. The wounds I originally thought were flesh wounds, turned out to be rather deep punctures, consistent with antler wounds suffered during a fight. His left rear quarter had an infection, which had worked its way in between the muscles. There was no evidence of infection within the actual muscles, and his liver appeared healthy, but I was forced to discard the entire quarter.

In addition, I missed slightly left on him as he quartered in from right-to-left, and hit his left front leg. (I know, I should have waited for him to get broadside). The bullet (270 gr Powerbelt Platinum) richocheted off the bone, went through a lung and was found in the off-side ham, having traveled through his entire body cavity. It turned out to be a fatal hit, but that tough old fart made a break for it when I approached to 40 yards, and the second bullet went through in almost the exact opposite path (entered in the RR, exited in the LF). Needless to say, other than backstraps, he made a pretty good pile of ground meat!

ElyBoy · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:22 am Post subject: Re: A Management Buck

I shot a "management buck" a few years ago Hunterjoe, but I didn't know that I was doing it when I pulled the trigger.
I had a doe permit, and determined that I would take a doe, and let our bucks grow up a little.
Well, here comes a young 4 point with what I thought was a doe that was the same size as Jr.
After shooting the doe, and walking up to it, I smelled buck in rut.
The "Doe" turned out to be a buck.
The He/She had tarsal glands on it's hind legs, but no horns and no genitals at all.
I figured that it was the 4 pointer's "brother"
I felt that I helped the herd by harvisting this deer and help the dead He/She also.
Just figure, IT could still get in rut, but couldn't do anything about it.
All that the poor thing could do is watch it's brother, and say-"boy, is he having fun" Very Happy

Eric

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject: Re: A Management Buck

Eric,

One year I passed on a small "basket" rack 8 pointer. His rack was no thicker than a #2 pencil. I thought I was doing the right thing, and shot the deer that was following him. I thought it was his Momma. Turns out it was his brother AND his sister. He/she had lost it's antlers, but possessed both male and female reproductive organs.

It was checked in as an "antlerless" deer, but they had to call the DOW to find out how to fill out the paperwork.