Thats a total shame. He would have been a beast this year if he really was younger. We had record snowfall here as well (over 70" which is a ton for here) and I noticed a lot of dead (mostly yearlings) this spring - about 15 around the 4 farms and their food sources (which draw deer for miles in the winter) that I shed hunt. Nothing of any size though.

The coyotes were the only thing that was fat come April!

It was probably a winter kill.....heavy snow killed this bad boy after he was worn down from the rut.

As far as the wolves....you definately know when you have a wolf kill. You will only find a bunch of hair and maybe a couple leg bones. If you do find the skull from a wolf kill, the nose will be chewed off.

Good info Dan, the bull elk I found had his nose even the bone (skull) chewed off around his nose area! and his bones were flat out scattered andmany I couldnt find.. oh hisbackbone was trashed too? literally torn into chunks..??? this sound like a wolf kill

He was a nice buck.

Thats a darn shame, He was a good one. I know you will have your eye on a few that are still kicking by the time season rolls around.

sux

That's rough Troy. Bummer to lose a buck that big.

Nice playoff beard

Dang Troy, that's a heck of a buck. That's a shame to find him like that.

Wow,that sucks.Great find though.

Ouch Shed!! That deep snow and predaters doesn't fare well for these deer and elk. Bad combo do dought. Sorry to hear about it! That was a sweet buck.