Unexpected Buck Encounter

[Ski]

In Wisconsin with family for the holiday and while driving saw a buck swimming down the river. My FIL and son are amateur wildlife photographers so I pulled over to get them some pics.

Initially I thought the buck was just swimming from one side to the other but that didn't turn out to be the case. He was swimming/floating downstream. Obviously in trouble my FIL tried pulling him ashore before he got swept down a small waterfall, but he wasn't able to and the buck went over. He did pop up again but was visibly weak and now out of reach.

Later that evening at the local bar my FIL was telling the bartender what had happened and where, and turned out it was very near the bartenders home. He said he'd go searching for it at daylight. And his search was short. He found the buck dead behind his house on river edge and was able to get salvage tag. Turned out the deer had both an arrow and bullet wound, so he was suffering from archery season when he got shot by a rifle and still had strength to get to the river.

 

[killingtime 41]

Pretty wild story glad the guy was able to salvage him.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Man that's a shame that the deer went through all that, shows how tough they are. Glad the bartender was able to get a salvage tag.

Btw, great buck and pics.

 

[Gravey]

Sad way to go.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

I hate that deer had such a harsh ending.

 

[Apostolic Outdoors]

What a story. Thanks for sharing. Great pictures!!

 

[Lost Lake]

Dang that's a shame.

 

[swampbadger]

Glad it was salvaged! Nice buck too! At least it didn't end up going to rot.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Bummer....but glad he was able to find the buck

 

[Crappieaddict]

Sad story, but at least he didn't die just to rot.

 

[Ski]

He for sure didn't go to waste. Tough shake for the hunters and harsh death for the deer, but meat will be eaten. Temps haven't been above freezing in days so he didn't go bad overnight.

 

[rifle02]

A white-tailed buck can be pretty tough at times. Sometimes it gets bad enough they just have to give up. Good thing that he didn't go to waste.

 

[bhud84]

That is a wild story..That deer was sick...glad they found it. .

 

[Snake]

Man that's just crazy....nice buck and glad your FIL informed the guy to get the buck .

 

[rem270]

Glad he was able to get a salvage tag for it. Hate to see any animal go out like that but glad it didn't go to waste. Heckuva buck too.

 

[fairchaser]

That buck suffered for months. There's nothing about dying that's pleasant but a quick death is definitely more humane than a long suffering painful one.

That's why we should all as hunters endeavor to be efficient killers. There are three hunters now who will have a forever memory of the buck. He won't be forgotten. Two with great disappointment and one with a sense of satisfaction.

 

[Ski]

That buck suffered for months. There's nothing about dying that's pleasant but a quick death is definitely more humane than a long suffering painful one.

That's why we should all as hunters endeavor to be efficient killers. There are three hunters now who will have a forever memory of the buck. He won't be forgotten. Two with great disappointment and one with a sense of satisfaction.

I agree 1000%. Being an efficient killer is the absolute obligation of a hunter. Everything else plays second fiddle. If you can't effectively close the deal then you shouldn't be out there. Mistakes happen and deer sometimes just refuse to die, but that should be a rarity. It shouldn't happen twice to the same deer in the same season. Was hard to witness the aftermath.