I am continually amazed at the number of ways in which white-tailed deer meet their demise. Although deer commonly die by getting one or both of their hind legs hung in a fence, and less often by getting impaled on iron fences while attempting to jump them, it appears that bucks can also become “captured” when their antlers get hung up in net-wire fences. Over the years though, I have heard of bucks getting their antlers hung in fences while fighting. Is this the case here? 

A rancher once told me that he watched two large whitetail bucks battling each other through a game fence (opposite sides) and then the next day he found one of the bucks dead on his ranch, presumably from injuries sustained during that fight. Was the fence to blame in that case? Not likely, especially considering that whitetail bucks will sometimes fight to the death. Although most battles do not result in death, some do. Some fights even involve both bucks dying, either directly from locked antlers or indirectly through injuries sustained during the battle. Nature is survival of the fittest, but as hunters and deer managers we hate to see bucks killing themselves.  

These photos of what appears to be a 3 1/2 year old buck hung in a fence come to us today from the Four A Ranch in Coryell County, Texas. Was this buck battling another buck across the fence or within the same ranch? It is hard to say from looking at the photos, but both scenarios end with a dead buck.

The rut can make a smart white-tailed buck act really stupid. A buck can live in total seclusion throughout the year and then suddenly and seemingly from nowhere he can end up smack dab in front of you following a doe. Sure, this is probably the best chance a hunter has at seeing a truly monstorous buck, but pure chance could also bring him out of hiding. This was the case last week in Houston when the 13 point buck above was struck by a vehicle near FM 1960 and Northate Country Club (about 60 yards from the light on Northgate Forest Drive) on Tuesday November 18 at 6:45 am. Apparently the buck was flushed from a wooded area and made his first — and last – wrong move. Here is an eye witness account as received via email:

Guys, I had to share this with you. Tuesday morning just as I was coming up to the light at Northgate Forest Drive and FM 1960 the golf course ground crew flushed this big buck from a section of thick woods next to FM1960. He was hit by at least one car immediately. The grounds crew ran over and pulled him from the middle of the road but he was messed up pretty bad, bleeding a great deal from the mouth. Truly unfortunate. The best buck I have every seen in the flesh.

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White-tailed deer hunting is in full swing here in Texas and the bucks and does are hot! The rut in most definitely on in central Texas because each day this week I have observed bucks running does hard throughout the day. Just this afternoon I observed at least 20 different bucks chasing 7 different does. Everything from 10 point bucks to spikes were running does, often in succession with the biggest bucks closest to the does and the smaller bucks trailing behind. Hey, when they’re hot they’re hot!

Now that you’re all pumped up, it’s time for a hunting story submitted by a successful reader of this site. From time to time hunters will submit photos and even stories regarding their most recent deer hunt and this is always appreciated. It’s good to hear how everone is doing and get reports from other parts of the country. I’ve written in the past about the Antler Restriction regulations that are in effect in some Texas counties and that sets the stage for today’s reader-submitted story. Here it is:  

Its been right at 6 years now since Colorado County became an Antler Restriction county. Since that time I have only harvested 1 white-tailed buck (a spike) on the Swanson Ranch located on Sandies Creek in the southern part of the county. Myself, along with other members of the family who hunt there, have been patient waiting for the deer population to grow and mature. I finally found time in my busy schedule to travel out to the ranch this weekend and hunt for the first time this year.

We had been preparing for deer season since mid-summer when we started up the corn feeders and clearing yaupon brush that had regrown since last year. We were even lucky enough to have a few rains in October to establish some cool season food plots. As we entered the ranch, I had a feeling that it would be a good hunt after seeing a young 4 point buck run off into the woods. (more…)

The deer hunting season is well underway around the country and from time to time I like to post some of the big bucks taken by hunters. The photos today come from a lucky Illinois bowhunter that bagged this big non-typical white-tailed buck. The mid-west is known for big-bodied bucks that sport huge racks. It is important to note that Northern deer get much larger than whitetails at southern latitudes, primarily because they need the body mass to make it through the harsh winter they receive each year.

These big-bodied bucks often develop monster antlers. Why is this? Well, all mammals get larger as you head north — it’s just a scientific fact. But the amazing thing about bucks in general is that many of the minerals used to grow antlers is taken directly from their bones. More bone mass means the potential for more antler mass. So the take home message here is that big healthy bucks have the potential to grow large, massive antlers – regardless of latitude.      

Any guesses on the score?

Texas’ General Deer Hunting Season opened over the past weekend to warm weather. As expected, hunters that took to the field reported seeing fewer white-tailed deer than expected and very little rutting activity. I had reported that deer were rutting in the Hill Country early last week and they still are, but the increase in temperature has really slowed the deer down. Bucks will really respond to cooler weather and even yesterday morning with temperatures 10 degrees cooler than over the weekend, I spotted one buck chasing a doe and the lucky hunter below did, too!

The peak of the Hill Country rut usually occurs just before mid-November, so expect the next good cold front to really set the deer on fire. But, if you haven’t seen many deer in your area you are not alone. Many locker plants reported a lower number of deer being dropped off for processing over opening weekend. To make matters worse, in those areas that received lower than average rainfall this year, hunters are reported bucks average to below average antler conditions with respect to age. Cooler weather may not increase antler quality or the total number of deer in your area, but it will help you see them.

The 8-point buck below was harvested on November 3 at 8:00 am in the eastern portion of the Hill Country and the hunter reported that the buck was chasing a doe. The 4 1/2 year old whitetail buck had an 18-inch inside spread, gross scored 130 Boone and Crockett points, and had a live weight of 169 pounds.       

Each fall, as testosterone levels rise in white-tailed bucks they begin working off aggression by working rubs and building up much needed shoulder and neck muscles. It’s not an accident and if you’ve ever noticed the changes that a buck’s body undergoes between late August and late October, it really is amazing. However, as the breeding season — known as the rut by hunters — begins, whitetail bucks that were friendly towards one another during the antler growing period quickly become rivals. It’s all about a battle for space and access to receptive does.

The rut really takes its toll on bucks. Not only do bucks lose a substantial percentage of their body weight over the course of the breeding season, but buck to buck combat can lead to both direct and indirect mortality. Indirect mortality can come from wounds that become infected or even internal damage from fighting. Direct mortality, although more infrequent, can occur when two or three bucks’ antlers become locked together causing one or both animals to die.

This is the case today for one deer. I received these photos of two locked up white-tailed bucks from Minnesota. The guys that stumbled upon the bucks actually found them while one of the bucks was still alive. Instead of shooting the locked up buck, they managed to separate the two and send one lucky deer on his way. Here is the story: (more…)

Hunters that spend any amount of time in the woods get to see some really awesome things, sometimes events you don’t quite believe yourself! The same can be said of some game camera photos and that is the case today. I received these photos via email and the story is simple, but one photo in particular is really quite amazing! The photo I am referring to is the middle picture below, which captures a white-tailed buck in flight just a split-second after being shot by a bowhunter. 

As far as can tell, the photo appears to be real despite looking surreal. The two biggest factors that make the photo unbelievable are first that the buck appears transparent towards the back of the body and then secondly that the game camera photo actually captures the buck in mid-flight, with an arrow in its side, and blood coming out. Cuddeback camera users know that transparent or ghostly deer photos are not uncommon, so I think this photo is simply luck — and a good shot!       

More about these photos: (more…)

Television seems to glamorize keeping wild animals as pets, but the reality is really is far less pleasant — especially for the wildlife involved. Would-be rescuers are usually not aware of what it takes to properly care for wildlife and this means nothing but bad news. Most hunters are familiar with the following concept: Bringing a wild animal home is effectively kidnapping it from the environment to which it is best adapted.

We talked about the abandoned fawn I saw on the road last week, and if an unknowing person had picked up that deer fawn, they would have been condemning it to an unnatural and probably short life. Of course, that same deer fawn could have died on the road had it ran out in front of me or some other vehicle, but the best assumption was that she was going to make it. Sure, white-tailed deer can be “tamed” to an extent, but they are born to survive in the wild.

And a critical part of their life is making it through the first few months as a fawn, particularly their first few weeks. It comes as no surprise that deer do quite well in close proximity to people and suburban areas, so that means they really do not need our help. If we want to help deer in our area, let’s convince hunters to cut back on the harvest of young bucks! Fawns aren’t just dropped in rural areas. People often find deer fawns in tall grass, areas of shrubs and brush, and in wooded areas within towns and cities. They are almost too well adapted to suburban areas.  

This, however, was not the case last Friday when I stumbled (not literally) across this young doe fawn. She was tucked away in a safe haven of mid-sized grass, within a semi-barbed-wire cage, and miles from the nearest town. She was sleepy, so I snapped a couple photos and was on my way. As easy as it looks, this is the safest thing she can do right now!