Whitetail Buck: on the hoof, on the ground (graphic)

November 6: I photographed this young buck with an odd mini-rack; he was in good shape. After tolerating my photographic efforts for a minute, he got nervous and ran off, in good health.

Very unique. I would get a tag for it and do a euro mount.

Amazing photo's Tom, you caught the circle of life that happens. It looks like in the last shot though the skull got cracked or a antler broke because the tines are touching, but I agree as mentioned try to do a european mount due to his uniqueness.

Thanks for sharing Tom. Nothing easy about surviving in the woods, and these photos well illustrate that fact.

Breaks my heart to see something like this, but that's life. I saw a lot of this in Africa. What I also found interesting was what a beating some of the predators take: e.g. lots of scars on some lions. Thanks for sharing this interesting story.

Great story Tom, I also have a young buck I have been keeping track of for 2 years now,..and everytime I think he's gone for good....He show's back up again. Your 's was not so lucky but in the end you know what happened to him and the story has an end. Truth... you already have a mount ....its in the first Image

Very unique little buck you captured, and so glad you got that first pic before his demise

blackchrome wrote in post #17381734
Amazing photo's Tom, you caught the circle of life that happens. It looks like in the last shot though the skull got cracked or a antler broke because the tines are touching, but I agree as mentioned try to do a european mount due to his uniqueness.

Have to agree, looks like some kind of blunt trauma to the right side of head. I see a whole lot of rocks all around him where he lies. Anywhere near a roadway??????

You captured his last days.
Kind of bittersweet.
Well done Tom.

Thanks for the replies and insights, and for showing interest in the fate of this young buck.

Hillbillygirl wrote in post #17382670
Have to agree, looks like some kind of blunt trauma to the right side of head. I see a whole lot of rocks all around him where he lies. Anywhere near a roadway??????

It was by a roadway, but it is a gravel road . . . a dead-end gravel road that no one drives fast on. In fact, he was killed right near a cattle guard. But he definitely died via coyote predation. It snowed right before he met his demise. The morning after he was killed, the footprints in the snow told all.....a pack of coyotes cornered him against a cattle fence. They closed in from two sides, and trapped him on the inside bend where the fence turned a corner. He had nowhere to go to escape ...... a lot of blood, along with his tracks and those of the coyotes, completely covered an area about 15 feet by 15 feet. The coyotes in this area have learned how to use the inside corners of the fences to capture deer and pronghorn, and do so with regularity.

Pondrader wrote in post #17382526
Great story Tom, I also have a young buck I have been keeping track of for 2 years now,..and everytime I think he's gone for good....He show's back up again. Your 's was not so lucky but in the end you know what happened to him and the story has an end. Truth... you already have a mount ....its in the first Image

I agree, well said Jeff.