I am still attempting to wrap my mind around an eight point being a cull.
If he’s an 8pt, and young, he better have something that shows potential above and beyond. Tall tines. Wide spread. Extra heavy mass. Otherwise...........☠️
To be an old 8pt, you have to have one of the above to have gotten there. Once you are no longer passing those traits off, you are a burden on the cost of running the ranch. Which, is where I think Old Man is right now.
The other two youngsters are not wide, tall, or heavy and at 3.5 years.......blasé. So, no point in feeding them.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
I have a LE buddy of mine in need of meat for his family. I told him about Old Man and that I’d give the meat to him for burger. He said that sounded good. But, he wanted to be there when I took him. So, I guess we are going after him tomorrow evening.
The decision is made. The ball is in his court to give us the slip. I’ll be on the ground a little over 50yrds away with a WWII rifle and a buddy.
Game on.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
I have a LE buddy of mine in need of meat for his family. I told him about Old Man and that I’d give the meat to him for burger. He said that sounded good. But, he wanted to be there when I took him. So, I guess we are going after him tomorrow evening.
The decision is made. The ball is in his court to give us the slip. I’ll be on the ground a little over 50yrds away with a WWII rifle and a buddy.
Game on.
That sounds fair. This way it’s kind’a his doing if it’s his time... I’m really glad you have this all this consideration.
I cant wrap my head around an 8 point being a cull either. I have yet to see a live buck in the woods during deer season, and the handful of ones I have gotten a look at while being drug out were little basket racks with at most 6 points. In the last 3 years I have spotted a total of three does where I am able to go for deer season. None were this year. I really need some property so that I can avoid sitting on state land.
Im sure you will do Old Man justice if he gives you the chance.
The Lord’s covenant with man is at times a heavy burden...
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Though not in your shoes, I think you made the right decision. And, truth be told, I don't think it was entirely your decision. You did have some outside considerations going on.
Mike
"Walking away seems to be a lost art form." N454casull
This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made to take a deer. He’s been a fixture for so long. Reclusive in his haunts but reliable in when and where he’d show up. I knew if I checked my camera, I’d see Old Man. There and only there. I’m going to miss seeing him on camera. That.........sucks.
I’ll do some kind of write up tomorrow.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Ouch. I was away from my PC for the last day or so of this - off to help out my folks - but I've been rather invested in this one.
I've let pets go naturally at home and been glad they went that way. I've also taken them in for the final shot and been equally glad the hard times are over for them. None of this eludes the fact that the overall experience still sucks. It's not a true parallel on a wild deer, but I have to say you made the right call, and here's why:
The final pics from the feeder show an animal chugging along on incredible force of will, but you can see the chinks in that armor. Your pics of him on the ground absolutely show an animal fairly far along in final decline - that force of will wasn't gonna prop him up much longer. I seriously doubt another year would have happened if allowed and the next few weeks would have likely wrapped up with some combination of hypothermia, coyotes, or buzzards. In the "pets" analysis, you did your old friend a favor. It's a kick in the yams, but one you can rest easy with.
Given that this one isn't typical, skull mount, or something else?
Feeder went off at 5:01p and he showed up and he showed up at 5:03p. Stood on the outskirts just looking around for a minute like he always does. He never charges right in. Always looking, listening, smelling first.
When he turned quartering towards me, my friend started recording and I sent a 170gr Hornady RN through his shoulder.
He hunched up and took off. Plowing through a strip of brush, he broke out into another sendero. Turned right and made it about 20 yards before he was through. About 4 or 5 seconds from shot to finish.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
This buck was rode hard and put up wet. I’ll go down his list of injuries/ailments.
-Puncture Wound in right flank. That’s what caused the football size growth I saw and had pictures of. The cyst had burst and was still draining **** somewhat.
Amazingly, the abdominal wall was not compromised.
-Puncture Wound under left foreleg (armpit). Draining **** as well. Cavity went about 6” between the brisket and shoulder muscles.
-Puncture Wound front of brisket just off center of his sternum. This one not as deep and mostly healed.
-Missing hair in quite a few locations. Including the whole top of his nose.
-Missing/Worn front teeth.
-Two Broken Rear Molars (they were split in half down the center with inner portion hanging by guns into the middle of the mouth) and missing front molar on right jaw.
Because of this, his right teeth were not as worn down as his left teeth.
I estimated him at approximately 8.5 years on the hoof. Using the template at the barn, I still think he’s 7.5/8.5 years old. Actually younger than his body would suggest in my opinion. That kinda shocks me.
Don’t know what the black gums mean. He has that on both sides of his lower jaw and I’ve not seen that before.
-His hip and shoulder bones were relatively prominent. Showing weight loss of some measure.
-We didn’t utilize any of the rib meat as there was a yellowish film and foul smell over both his flanks.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Thanks for the update....Now this is me...just being me...but now that you have the hide off of him and I can get a look at him...I would be really hesitant to eat any meat off of him...he's obviously septic from all those injuries...Were it me, I'd just find a place and give him back to nature...
Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
Quick internet search lists a few causes of blackening gums, up to and including oral cancer. Probably a little tough to compute age based on tooth wear, as he was getting more on one side than the other. Split the difference? Boy had a bunch of problems regardless. Little wonder he was thinning.
Looks like the youngsters he held dominance over the last 3-4 years sensed weakness and vented their prior frustrations on him. Being what he was, he was obliged to give it one more go than he was really up for. Impressive.
Yeah, it was time now that you have looked much closer, his mouth looks inflamed, dental problems are a sign of poor health, concur with Jayhawker, I would be hesitant to eat that meat, a butcher would be a good phone call to make.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn away from their ways and live. Eze 33:11
His quarters and backstraps were clean and red. Had to cut a little meat off the front shoulder that had the puncture wound under it. But, the rest was alright.
I think the coloration and smell along the flank were from the two puncture wounds.
A buddy was with me who I was giving the meat to. He helped me clean the deer and said he’d still take the meat. So, it’s his.
He also took a doe after I shot Old Man. We had sighted in his new rifle in just before the hunt.
170yrd heart shot.
And two deer for his families freezer.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Replies
Im sure you will do Old Man justice if he gives you the chance.
"The Un-Tactical"
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Mike
N454casull
Well done Sir.
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
I've let pets go naturally at home and been glad they went that way. I've also taken them in for the final shot and been equally glad the hard times are over for them. None of this eludes the fact that the overall experience still sucks. It's not a true parallel on a wild deer, but I have to say you made the right call, and here's why:
The final pics from the feeder show an animal chugging along on incredible force of will, but you can see the chinks in that armor. Your pics of him on the ground absolutely show an animal fairly far along in final decline - that force of will wasn't gonna prop him up much longer. I seriously doubt another year would have happened if allowed and the next few weeks would have likely wrapped up with some combination of hypothermia, coyotes, or buzzards. In the "pets" analysis, you did your old friend a favor. It's a kick in the yams, but one you can rest easy with.
Given that this one isn't typical, skull mount, or something else?
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
Now that's a cool idea! A few pics from the past to the present would tell a nice story.
Looks like the youngsters he held dominance over the last 3-4 years sensed weakness and vented their prior frustrations on him. Being what he was, he was obliged to give it one more go than he was really up for. Impressive.
Nice shot. Just what he needed.
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
Mike
N454casull