Jubilation,Then The Let Down

[redarrow]

Oct.1st was opening day of archery here in Michigan.I seen 5 deer ,one buck that was too far and too early to shoot. Couldnt really tell but it looked like an odd rack.Next time out 5 more does,too far for a shot.#rd day the same buck walked out at maybe 60 yards.Hit the doe bleat and he tore outta there like his butt was on fire. HMMMMMMMM.At least I got a better look at his rack.I guessed maybe a 6 pt.Odd rack for sure. Well tonight at 7 pm he stepped out almost in my lap. Im hunting from a pop  up sine some scumbag stole my ladder stands.Maybe 10 yds walking toward me. By the trime I get the crossbow up he right in front of me. All I see in the scope is brown fur. WHACK ! I love that sound.He made it across the bean field to the edge of the woods.Small body for a farm buck. 4 points on the right and 2 almost 3 on the left.Tall and wide.As I was dressing him out I noticed he stunk real bad.Yuck.The chest cavity,lungs,heart,throat,etc were oozing a nasty smelly bunch of crap that looked like runny caulk.I intend to take it to the DNR biologist in the morning. Ain't no way I'm gonna be eating this one.Hopefully I can replace my tag.

[BowBendr]

Where exactly was it coming from Red, and were the organs actually oozing it too ?

Odd for sure, let us know what you find out.

[tomstopper]

Where exactly was it coming from Red, and were the organs actually oozing it too ?

Odd for sure, let us know what you find out.

and good luck getting your tag replaced.

[Turkey Beard]

I'd be interested in "the rest of the story," too.

[redarrow]

And now the rest of the story. The biologist discovered that he had been hit by a vehicle. Right hip had a deep puncture wound that I didn't see in the fading light. The chest also had some damage from where it appeared to have skidded down the road on his chest. He was under weight and the spine was almost sticking through the skin from weight lost.He was full of infection and puss was oozing out of his throat and into the chest cavity. The 3 times that I seen him he was eating and acting normal.How do you act normal with a dis located hip ? Bitter sweet,but at least I put him out of his misery.

[tomstopper]

Did you get a new tag?

[Hognutz]

It's a good thing that you put him out of his misery, Red. Did the DNR give you another tag?

Now quit pickin' on the handicaps and shoot yourself a stud..   

[redarrow]

Nope.No new tag. Cause it was an injury. Had it been a disease they would have kept the deer and given me a new tag. Still got I more tag plus a few doe tags too.So I'm ok with that. I still had the priviledge of taking a nice deer.Backstraps would have been nice though.

[GobbleNut]

That really sucks all the way around!  Bummer.

[Neill_Prater]

I'm guessing had you known the situation, you would have shot him anyway. Sometimes, it isn't about the trophy, or even the meat.

[BowBendr]

I shot a B&C sized buck in Pike Co., IL. in the fall of 2002 that had been hit by a car also.

His face was completely crushed on the right side and his rack was ground flat on the outside edges where he skidded down the road. He had several broken ribs and a messed up right front foot.

It clearly happened after he shed his velvet and was hard-horned. He was in bad shape but I killed him as he chased 5 does around a planted green plot on Dec. 9th. It is amazing what they can endure and survive.

Good luck with the rest of your tags.