HSO Deer Photo's

[reinhard1]

nice looking buck. good luck.

[perchking]

Nice bucks everyone...

[TruthWalleyes]

I really wish I had a photo of this doe, but I was not able to get it.

Made for a fun, but very long day…Here’s the story.

The red X is where I shot the doe at approx 10:30 am, and the red dotted line is the approx path the deer took.

I believe it was a one lung shot. Most people will say that a one lung'd deer won't run that far, but I made the mistake of kicking it out of its first bed within 200yards of the shot while pushing the woods next to where I thought she'd laid down... From there, I continued to track this deer through very heavy cover. She laid down several times, but due to the noise I was making trying to follow it's steps (falling down etc), I think I just kept pushing her...and never let her stiffen up. The terrain was rough, hands and knees crawling, and lots of slipping on steep ridges… More or less, I made enough noise to keep her moving ahead of me. Big mistake and I’ve learned my lesson for the next time.

Initially the blood poured out, and looked like a very good hit. After her first bed, then the blood slowed to a steady splattering out both sides of the deer’s trail. All blood I saw until the end was as if it was coming out of a spray bottle. From there Speckled spots lined the trail, as if air was forcing it out the sides with each breath (this is why I’m thinking one lung). The blood was more often than not, on the sides of the tracks. both sides. Any tree she rubbed up against or blade of grass left a big streak of blood….

At dark I was very close to the end of the trail as you see by the red dots on the picture ending. She ran into a huge bedding area, with hoards of other tracks to add to the difficulty. I lost the blood and I lost hope, but knew that she was heading up hill. So I went 30yds up to the top of the hill I was on, not ever been on this land I had no idea what to expect, and saw that I was on the hillside to the root river (about 200’ down at a 45-60 degree angle…Then I knew just how far I had walked!!) I have hunted down on the river bottom and know how rugged it is to climb down, and up. I actually have a canoe just in case I had to push a deer down these hills into the river to float out cuz it’s about impossible to go up. Anyways….about 5:10 last night I found her tracks, going right over this ridge and on down… I walked down the hill part way and knew that It was a lost cause. Having hunted the bottom edge of that river, I knew she’d cross the river and head into a thicket….It was very disappointed, but having spent the last 7 hours on my hands and knees, nose to the ground, running at times, soaked from sweat, and covered in snow, I knew I had exhausted all options, and this doe was lost after a solid 3-4 miles of tracking. I have one more weekend to hunt, but don’t have the ability to go and hunt this gorgeous land in SE MN this weekend. So until Next Year…Stay Safe, Shoot Straight, and let the little ones walk by.

[sticknstring]

Tough, resilient critters - it's never easy to lose one. Glad to hear you gave it your all in the attempted recovery.

[bigbucks]

Bummer to lose one, but it happens, great effort.

Out of curiousity what's the white thing on the right side of your picture that the deer went across? Looks like it went through both doors of a huge shed. I assume that's not really the case.

[TruthWalleyes]

Bummer to lose one, but it happens, great effort.

Out of curiousity what's the white thing on the right side of your picture that the deer went across? Looks like it went through both doors of a huge shed. I assume that's not really the case.

Thats just a little "white out" i used to cover up the street address so every tom Richard and harry can't find this spot.

[bigbucks]

Ah hah, good plan.

[Steve Foss]

These were from my back yard within the last two weeks. Where were these guys during deer season?

Darn fine bucks, though. They live within the city limits of Ely, and are not hunted. Sure am looking forward to seeing them again over the next couple of years. I found a shed from the first one late last winter. He hasn't put on any more tines, but he sure has gained length and mass.

[bigbucks]

Funky tines on that second one. It's still bow season, can't you hunt them there with that? I'm guessing you maybe don't bowhunt.

[mabr]

Neat Pics Steve. I really like the last two.

[Steve Foss]

Mabr, I'm wondering if the second deer produced those antlers genetically or if the deformation was caused by damage during growth this year. Next year will tell. He sure has an interesting brow tine structure as well.

[Archerysniper]

Mabr, I'm wondering if the second deer produced those antlers genetically or if the deformation was caused by damage during growth this year. Next year will tell. He sure has an interesting brow tine structure as well.

Have bow and buck tag still, will travel.

[nonteepical]

i think he got a little to close to the wood stove.

[Steve Foss]

These deer live within the city limits of Ely, and are not hunted.

However, THIS post-rut guy was huntable when I photographed him in 2006. Dead now, I'm sure, as he appears to be a bit beyond prime antler development. Tons of character to this 13-pointer. Take a close look at his eyes and tell me what you see.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

That is such a bad-a$$ deer!

I see cataracts or blindness in that eye.

[jerkin'm]

Your reflection...

[mrklean]

Cool deer

[Steve Foss]

It's a cataract. I have other pics zoomed farther in, and when zoomed further on the screen it's easy to see he's probably blind or nearly blind in that eye. Great character to that deer. Honestly, I was happier photographing him than I would have been shooting him. The photograph will last forever.

[archerystud]

Cool pics Steve. I think that second buck in your other pictures bumped his one tine during development. His brows are really cool, great character.

Saw a small buck a couple years ago with a white eye socket. I figure it got gored out while fighting. I watched the buck for a half hour until he finally wandered off. He only lived for about another minute until the neighbor shot him.

[mabr]

Steve in response too genetically or by damaging during velvet. I'm no expert by any means. BUT I did raise them for a while. I'll never forget my buck and how he reacted to anyone touching his rack during velvet. It was very sensitive to him or at least he acted that way. Right up to the day he shed, I pulled the last little bit (velvet) off for him. Man he went nuts. It was unreal, I compared it (in my mind) to maybe pulling off a scab before it was ready.

Id bet his shape is genetics or injury. To bend his antlers the way they are he'd have had to get caught in a fence. Its got several bends to it. BUT who knows for sure. Its why we love hunting them and admiring them. I wish I could catch some of the scenes you have in Pics there awsome.

[mabr]

Hey AS, didnt I see you mentioned you had a fawn earlier this year? There pretty cool arent they.

[mabr]

Steve heres a few I took when I raised them. Ive got tons of my doe giving birth which IMO is something most will never see. The pics of my buck (2.5 yo) shedding is when I pulled his velvet and he went nuts.

[Steve Foss]

Great pics, mabr. If the 2.5 is the one behind the fence with the red/bloody antlers, that's gonna be a DAYUMM BIG RACK in a coupla years.

Honestly, do guys ever get tired of looking at nice racks?

[deadgoose]

After 6 long days and a blown chance I was able to conect with this nice sconie buck. Shot him a little after 8 the day after thanksgiving.

[paceman]

Awesome buck deadgoose! And no Steve I never get tired of looking at any racks!