This evening I snuck into a corner to place a camera on a new corn plot I planted in the spring. I have been watching a few nice bucks foraging on my sweet bets, turnips, clover and silver queen corn. I had just set up my stand on their trails last weekend so wanted to leave the camera there to see which way to expect them on opening bow day.

As soon as I parked my truck and slowly closed my door, at least 3 hounds were about 50 yrds deep in the woods going nuts after what sounded like more than one deer. I waited to see if one would come out into the field, but they went the other direction, so I strapped the camera to a tree and locked the gate as I left, just wondering if I would catch the 8 pt I had seen on several occasions on my camera.

About a half mile away I had just taken a left hand turn and got up to about 45 mph when "BOOM" right out of my left side I got slammed by a nice buck, but the wierd thing is he hit my tire, and then the corner of my bumper and didnt do a penny's worth of damage to my truck. I instantly pulled over...it wasnt the 8 pt I had on film, but a huge 7 pt still in velvet with its left leg shattered and shoulder severely damaged.

My instincts were to put it out of its misery, pulled out my knife and cut its throat. a couple yahoos stopped by and asked if they could have it,but they had no idea what this dear had meant to me. I remember it from last year, and couldnt believe he lasted the heavy hunting in the area. His rack, of course still in velvet was coming along perfect and would have been a wall hanger if I would have gotten him where I expected to on the trail by my hanger!

Here are a few pictures of him.





Finally, looks like a BBQ is in order sometime soon!


arty00 05:

That sucks man. Well at least ya didn't hurt your truck!

yummmm backstrap!!!! are we invited?

Hope you got a road kill tag from the athorities before you moved him from the crash site.

Yep. Required to report it to the law, and if it's their determiniation the animal needs to be put down, unless it's already dead, they'll give it to you. No report, no damage? Wouldn't look good. Not saying there was any bad intent on your part partner, just remember CYA. Especially with a buck in velvet. Here in Virginia, any damage over $1,000.00 needs to be reported to the DMV as well.

You did the right thing, put him out of him missery. I would never call the authorities in this situation, a total waste of time.

Here's is how it would go in Maryland - You call the authorities, the whole time the deer is suffering, the authorities will finaly show up, look at the animal and not know what to do (because they all morons up here). All the while the animal is suffering, when you could have taken him out of his missery and been on your way.

Total BS, who believes you should call the authorities, just take care of business and save the animal any suffering. Just like you did, congrats and enjoy your first kill of the season.

Man that sticks, but I don't feel sorry for ya, you got fresh vension out of it

It took a whole 90 seconds to determine what I was going to do. I watched a kid die in my arms as we waited 17 minutes for an ambulance after he flipped his truck in front of my house, could you imagine how long a deputy or ranger would have taken? Too long for me to see all that beautiful meat spoil and the thing still kicking around like a fish out of water. It took another 30 seconds to throw him in the back of the truck....gone. I've never been aware of any laws like you mentioned, but Im sure they are there, for whatever purpose!

A neigbor killed a 150 black bear and called the deputies about 3 weeks ago and the next morning the bear was still in the ditch. Took about an hour of daylight before the yahoos started cutting off ears and claws. Only thing that was officialy reported was the $3000 damage to her BMW.

Nah, I dont feel the slightest bit of regret for what I did. Although I spent the better part of my Saturday night dressing and butchering...after a 13 hour day of lawn work and chores! Im gonna miss that opportunity at him come bowseason, but his inner- loins were good for breakfast!

At least your truck is okay and your not hurt. You still should have reported though because in Ohio, you can lose your hunting privileges.

I called the authorities this morning and they said not to be concerned

In Texas you would be arrested for picking it up, calling in would be futile. They would rather see the buzzards, and yokes eat it than a human. Silly, but that's the way they are.