What did this deer die from?
 

Today I decided to do some scouting for deer season saturday.I was on a hill, andI saw a buck in some thick briers and weeds below me. I thought he was laying low, and then would slip out behind me when I walked by. I watched him for a minute, and then he must have winded me, because he got up in a hurry, and started to run. He only made it about 10 steps before he fell over, kicked a few times and died. I thought this was weird, so I went and got the farmer of the land I hunt on, and we went to look at it. There was no gunshot wound or anything. ( First gun season ended yesterday). I thought it might be hit by a car, but there was no bruising on the buck. We gutted to see if there was anything wrong on the inside, but there wasnt, and everything seemed normal about the deer. It was old, I was thinking 4.5 or 5.5. scores roughly 130-140 in.It was a real fighter, missing two tines, and the ears torn to shreds. I didnt take the meat, because i was afraid there might be a health problemwith the buck. I will be doing an antler mount ofjust the antlers however. Does anybody know what this buck could have died from?

RE: What did this deer die from?
 

could just be old age, some dont make it past 5.5 years

RE: What did this deer die from?
 

That's what I thought at first, but it seems kinda wierd that buck would die of old age the day after gun season.

RE: What did this deer die from?
 

He may have had a hemmorhage in the brain.

RE: What did this deer die from?
 

He was probably ready to die anyways, just running from all the hunters finished him off, if thats the case hes a smart one and suceeded in getting away but old age caught him afterwards!

RE: What did this deer die from?
 

If you really want to know I would take a look at the brain and see what it looks like. If he was a big of a fighter as you think he was he may have had considerable brain damage from another buckIt can get pretty messy so you would have to be really curious.

That is a really unique situation, however. Let us know what you determine to be the culprit and if you get a buck on Saturday.

RE: What did this deer die from?
 

good call, plus it would be wierd that he just got up and fell over when you happend to see him. I would think if he was going to die of old age he would of died laying there.

RE: What did this deer die from?
 

i would think it was the stress from fighting

RE: What did this deer die from?
 

Probley either its old age or stress of fighting

RE: What did this deer die from?
 

Prolly a little of both!