I'm sure the CO was able to get fairly close with the bucks locked together. It wouldn't be an easy shot, but I bet it could be done. I've seen stories with 2 bucks locked together and they would hog tie the live one and cut the others antler off. I even read one story where both were alive and they cut one of the antlers. So if you can get close enough to saw and antler off you can get close enough to shoot one off too.