This is not how I was hoping this story would end. I've been hunting this specific deer for 4 years now. I've never actually seen this buck in person but have got tons of pics of him in my spot for 4+ years. Due to his size when I first saw him I'm guessing he is 8+ years old. Don't know if somebody made a bad shot during archery season or if he died from fighting or a predator or what. We completely just stumbled onto him about a mile from where I hunt for him. As we walked up to him my heart completely sunk as I slowly realized what deer it was. Definitely took some of the wind out of my sails going into deer season knowing that he is gone. Last picture I got of him was 9/18.