Results of fierce rut competition (Pictures)

[Straitshot]

Many bucks who once had decent racks only a few weeks ago are now sporting evidence of the fierce competition that took place during the rut. The nicer bucks I was seeing the end of November have all but disappeared. Three out of four bucks I saw this last Saturday had badly damaged racks. With only a little over a week left for hunting season this year I am wondering if I will see the other one I am looking for.

   

[far rider]

Great pic, what a shame. Hope he won the ladies favor.

[Mudd]

That is a great picture. It shows how much of their reserves get used up chasing the ladies. I guess there could be worse things to use up your energy for..lol
God bless,Mudd

[kennym]

I've seen the same here.

Did you take the pic from your stand? Nice pic!!

[Straitshot]

Yes I took the picture from my tree stand. I always carry a camera. I sat another stand the following evening and the deer I saw also had damaged racks. I am thinking now that perhaps I should have tried to take this nice 8 pointer I saw three weeks ago. I let him walk thinking I would see something better. There is still a little over a week left. Just need to be at the right place at the right time.

 

[kennym]

I carry a camera too,but our deer seem to like darkness after the gun season!

Nice pics!!  

[A.S.]

Louis, those are some dandy bucks.....broken or not!!!

Good luck for the rest of the season.

[Woodduck]

Nice pictures! Thanks for sharing. They start running deer with dogs in Oct. and they're nocturnal, in a lot of NC, too.

[mwmwmb]

Originally posted by kennym:
I carry a camera too,but our deer seem to like darkness after the gun season!

Nice pics!!    

I have the same problem.

[Straitshot]

Allen, Thanks. I have hunted a ranch that my uncle works on and have for about the last 8 years or so. It is a tremendous place and has always had nice deer. My uncle is now 87 and has developed some health problems so is very seriously thinking about not going to the ranch any more after this year. When he quits my opportunity to hunt there will also disappear. I suspect this will be the last year I will get to hunt there so I really want to make the best of it and enjoy it as long as possible. With mostly private land, hunting can be very expensive here. Because my uncle worked on the ranch I have been permitted to hunt on a place I otherwise could not afford. It has been a terrific ride and I knew sooner or later it would end. I just wish it could have lasted long enough for my only grandson to have had the pleasure of experiencing it. It has truly been a blessing.

[ron w]

I'd shoot any of those boys....in a heart beat!!

[Wary Buck]

That 4x4 is a GREAT photo.  Nice job.

[bowhunterfrompast]

Great pics...they sure can do some damage.

[Don Stokes]

Some years back my brother heard a fight going on near his stand, just out of sight. The next day we found a massive 11 point buck dead, with antler holes in his chest and neck. He must have weighed at least 250#. I would sure love to have seen the one that killed him!

[Dave Pagel]

What kind of camera do you use?  I have an opportunity to watch a lot of deer on the farm I hunt, but I am always hesitant to grab my little Sony even though many of the bucks I see are off limits.

Dave

[leatherneck]

Originally posted by kennym:
I carry a camera too,but our deer seem to like darkness after the gun season!

Nice pics!!        

Ditto here as well!!!! They do this drive thing here in  Ohio and the deer are usually pretty wound up for a month. Then comes muzzleloader and they get wound up again.
Nice buck you have there. I'm a firm believer that you let him walk because you didn't want to shoot him. Why shoot a buck just "because" I always ask. I don't care for the statement we hear from time to time, "It was the last day and I wanted to fill my tag". If I won't shoot a buck on the first day, I won't shoot him on the last. Trust your gut, it knows best. That 8 will be a beast next year. Good luck!

Mike