Shooter's Remorse

[Encore 280]

I'm with goshawk. That's a short bed truck, a normal blacktail with that rack would fill an 8' bed. Seeing those antlers you'd expect and big bodied critter.

[yakimanoob]

Remarkably small body for the rack, no doubt, but I'm with the others that would take that buck every time. Most people hunt and get nothing, so it's a bit off-putting to post a photo of what most tried and failed to get, and complain about it.

That said, I'd be in an off-putting mood after dealing with that many ticks too.

[chukardogs]

 I killed a Whitetail years ago from about 60 in the 204 that was just crawling with ticks about two minutes after he hit the ground. Ticks suck! I think I heard early this year that it was supposed to be a bad tick year. If each of those ticks was sucking off of the deers blood supply, I believe the deer would have had a hard time putting on weight. In fact, with a lack of blood flow, he'd probably be tired all the time making it hard to rise each day and get enough feed to sustain his body weight let alone put on fat. If he was entirely covered by ticks, I think you may have done that dandy a solid by putting him out of his misery.

[elkboy]

I killed a Whitetail years ago from about 60 in the 204 that was just crawling with ticks about two minutes after he hit the ground. Ticks suck! I think I heard early this year that it was supposed to be a bad tick year. If each of those ticks was sucking off of the deers blood supply, I believe the deer would have had a hard time putting on weight. In fact, with a lack of blood flow, he'd probably be tired all the time making it hard to rise each day and get enough feed to sustain his body weight let alone put on fat. If he was entirely covered by ticks, I think you may have done that dandy a solid by putting him out of his misery.

I agree.  You harvesting that deer (and yes, it is a very nice buck, one to be appreciated, even if small in body) means that some healthier buck off in the brush, with a stronger parasite immune response and overall greater vigor, is going to pass on his genes.  From the standpoint of herd health, a good outcome, I think.  Enjoy the venison! 

[Twispriver]

It just looks like a young deer to me. Besides the small body it has a little head, thin antlers and small antler bases. I'd keep hunting that spot because the mature bucks might be real mashers.