Broken Antler Buck

[hunterbuilder]

Well, I got my deer opening day this year. I think that's a first for me. About an hour into the season.
I was in my spot well before light and was waiting for all the other guys to push the deer to me. About an hour after light I heard a shot relatively close to me (about 20 minutes after light the shots all around started and lasted almost non-stop for about an hour!) and noticed on of the guys set up on a ridge down below me about 1/4 mile put down his rifle, up with the binocs, up with rifle, boom another shot. Then a few minutes later from the direction he was shooting came 2 does and a buck. I saw right away that one side of his rack was missing something. I saw he had 3 on the other side so he was legal. At this point I was thinking I might pass him with the busted rack and all. They went into the draw below me and out of sight for a few seconds. Then the lead doe came up the trail and then came straight for me. She got about 10yds and stopped, then turned and kept going. The other doe comes up and she's about 25yds and moving by. I finally pulled up my rifle and follow her then the buck comes into view and insticts took over...I thought MEAT...then BOOM. It was over. Buck down.
Later, they guy that shot at the buck first came by camp and told my partner that he had thought it might of been a 3x4 before he shot, then it stumbled, then he realized it was now missing one side.

[bowsandhose]

war zone buck    congrats

[hunterbuilder]

So, I'm assuming from the story from the other guy that he shot the antler off. Has anyone ever done or see this happen?

[hunterbuilder]

 
Yes, it was my first war zone buck. I didn't really like it, but it worked this year. I was set up so I wasn't in the middle of the war zone, but on the outer edge of it.

[300wsm]

I've got an antler that my dad shot off, I guess he gave it to me so he could forget about it.

[X-Force]

knowing my family we would have to mount that thing just for the story involved. congrats on the "war zone" buck.

[Caseyd]

Yes i have seen antlers shatter into many pieces. It could of been shot off!

[WARHORSE]

i have a buddy who found a shed that had a hole through the main beam didn't break the horn into A million pieces just a nice entrance hole and a  little bigger exit.

[bow4elk]

I found the front fork off a muley that appears to have been shot off.  Can't say for sure.  Nice buck anyway!

[Ridgerunner]

The buck I shot last year had a hole completely through one antler, I call him my hole in the horn buck.

[270Shooter]

Congrats on a cool looking deer

[hunterbuilder]

Thanks. How about where I got to hang and skin my buck. A State Park. It wasn't our usual type hunting camp. It was different to see a bunch of deer hanging from the trees in a well groomed state park. I can only imagine what a bunch of non-hunters would think driving in to find a place to camp and see all these dead animals hanging around from the nice trees. 

[huntnphool]

Well done HB, congrats on a nice buck.

[bow4elk]

were you in a public campground?  Hilarious photo!  I can see aunt sally and little Jimmy walking over to the restrooms only to look over at your buck hanging there. 

[fishseeker]

Conconnully St. Park? Seen a couple hanging there when we pulled out about 2:00 mon. after opening weekend. Got to love all the deer walking around in town.