Got this Allegheny County buck in between rain showers this evening 10/24/07. I have shot plenty of bucks bigger than this 8 point and passed two already that were bigger but this guy is one buck I am very proud of.  Here's the story and why.  

In my stand about 5:00 and within 30 minutes start to see deer movement.  Problem is a tail here and a back there then some legs.  At 6:00, knowing there are deer close I blow my grunt call a few times softly. Within 30 seconds I see a bigger bodied deer headed my way.

Binoculars up and I see it is a legal buck, not one I have seen before or in my trail cam pics. Nice body size and dark horns. The closer he gets I begin to think that I am going to pass if he comes close enough. No doubt he knew where that grunt came from, he was on a string.  

As I am looking at him in my binos I notice a large growth of some kind under his belly hanging down almost to his ankles.  I am thinking some kind of tumor. Otherwise he looks perfectly healthy.  I make up my mind then that if he comes close I will take a shot as this deer no doubt is or will soon be suffering.

He comes directly at me and I come to full draw waiting for the right shot.  He is standing under my tree now as I am holding full draw.  I begin to think that I am going to have to let down and he walks past me and stops at 10 yards quartering away.  

I begin to question myself but know what I should do.  The shot is perfect and just as he is going out of my line of sight I see him stumbling.  After 20 minutes my dad and I followed the trail right to him.  Maybe 50 yards if that.

I soon discovered this growth was not a tumor but an abdominal hernia.  His intestines and part of his stomach were hanging in a sac of stretched skin between his legs.  It had to hurt with every step.

I am proud that I put my tag on this buck.  It was the right thing to do even though it ends my quest for some of the bigger bucks in this woodlot.  Any deer tagged with a bow and arrow is a trophy in my eyes.  I would hope others would have done the same in my shoes.

Enjoy the pics.



 

--Last edited by dpms on 2007-10-24 22:30:04 --

Congrats dpms. Nice buck.

         
YOU THE MAN!!!

Nice Buck dpms, thanks for sharing the pictures and your story, and as others said you made the right choice!

good shooting    congrats    dd

Thanks guys!! I racked my brain last night if I made the right decision.  I am happy with it.

Now I can focus on the turkeys.  

Penns' a little sick and under the weather; maybe that would be a nice turkey to go after    

dpms please dont take my last post as slap to you and your humanitarian choice you made. I am poking fun at my other buddy.

Quote :

Lakehopper wrote : dpms please dont take my last post as slap to you and your humanitarian choice you made. I am poking fun at my other buddy.

Didn't even cross my mind.  Thanks again guys.

Penn, YOU ARE SO RIGHT as with a bow a flintlock should have a lot of target practice to get accurate.