Fight to the death

[DOUBLELUNG]

The reproductive urge of a mature, dominant buck (which is likely to only get one season of major reproductive success) is insane.  I once put down a mature mule deer buck during the rut that had both back legs shattered just below the knee joint by a poacher's .22 bullet.  He was chasing does and fending off subordinates, and swam the North Platte River before I put him down with 00.  At the time we were saving full body capes for trade against remote-controlled decoys, so off to the shop we went.  Started to skin down the hams with a coworker, and at least a quart of nasty pus ran out so we abandoned that effort.  Based on the condition of his leg stubs and the advanced degree of systemic infection, he had been rutting in that condition for several days.   

[pianoman9701]

Cool story Doug. Thanks.

[Gringo31]

 

[oneshot12]

  got to like it 

[Bean Counter]

Canon AE1 Program or Canon AE1? I've thought about picking one of those up--they can be had for $50 with a lens! Real photography!! 

[Austrian Hunter]

Cool story!  It's telling you that you are old Doug 

[bowhunterforever]

Awsome story To bad you didn't get good pics of the buck

[The Big Game Hunter]

Very interesting story. That must have been quite a sight.

More than a few deer and people have gotten in a bunch of trouble fighting over a female!

[Smossy]

Interesting story bone, sounds exciting.

[skills]

That is amazing

[Heredoggydoggy]

The son of a friend of mine goes to western Wyoming to photograph the Bucks, and one year he had a picture of a buck that got his eye poked out...they must do some serious fighting!

[Idabooner]

Doug, didn't we go back the next day?  I remember watching the sky while tromping around in the jungle trying to pick up on any magpie or crow activity.

[boneaddict]

I went back multiple days and looked.   I REALLY looked that next spring.   There are some real thick pockets in there.  I am guessing he went in there and died.   There is no way that animal lived.   In order for a fight like that to occur, the animals have to be pretty well matched.   I saw the handlebar buck, I wanted to see what he was fighting.

[boneaddict]

The son of a friend of mine goes to western Wyoming to photograph the Bucks, and one year he had a picture of a buck that got his eye poked out...they must do some serious fighting!

YES, they can really tear into it.   I found one dead buck this fall.    I'll photograph him in the spring once the birds have him cleaned up a bit.  It sucks to leave a rack out there, but that's the law now.    Back in the day when this fight occurred, you could still bring them home.   

[Eli346]

 I found a spot like that once in a blacktail area on the end of a logging road. The landing itself, probably 75'x75' was so tore up it looked like someone took a rototiller to it. There wasn't any blood as near as I could see but it was amazing to see the arena they fought in. What I would have given to witness that. Good story and pics Bone!