Mike Mittin have you topped last years yet?

[Warden609]

What a great deer. Thanks for the pictures and story!

[HornHunter]

Mike
any CWD in the area?

sounds more typ of EHD, lots of EHD here in eastern Co. has even taken some domestic animals

[YORNOC]

I've GOTTA move.....

[maineac]

Amazing animals.  Maybe the yotes chased the big boy into the pond and then kept him there by circling.  Hard to know, nature is not very forgiving.  Looking forward to the stories at the end of the season.  Good luck!!

[Herdbull]

We have not had any CWD in the area and the only confirmed EHD was in the next county. It just seems strange to have a single isolated case. I know other areas and states have been hit very hard this year, so we should consider our selves blessed. Mike

[HornHunter]

Mike
agreed a single EHD case doesnt make sense-- but in the wild world a lot of things dont add up.
The EHD here has taken a toll on the most mature deer

Unless your game department is testing for CWD there probably wont be any confirmed cases, you simply can not tell looking at the condition of a deer if its CWD.

3rd possibility is predators-- an there it would be coyotes, could be the buck took to the water to avoid them after being chased, being exhausted he drown, far fetched I know, but i have seen a full grown bull elk that ran into a huge snow drift to get rid of coyotes, the coyotes finally won

regardless of what it was a true loss, I hate seeing a mature animal die like that sounds weird but I would rather see a buck live an outsmart me then die from an unknown, nature is cruel

[Herdbull]

Yes, I know what you mean... we just want the game we hunt to live and die with respect. In this case I got the chance to live with him and him with me. I might say that I lost the dreams I had of him, but his memory will live on.

[Keefer]

Mike,
 That bucks spirit lives within your soul and as Uncle Barry told his encounter with the "100 year old man" you also have a related story with the unknown story of a Buck you were pursueing to harvest and got the chance to see cam photos and you were trying to catch his life on film..It was what we call a "God wink" and for you to be that person to notice what looked like a log floating and then decided to get a closer look...Well I think that this is one of those "God Winks"...We will never know why or what happened but with your career in trying to help find that cure for cancer some really nice blessings have come your way...I see a man that cares about others and sometimes a shower of gifts are givin to those He calls His...God Bless Mike and Thanks for Giving us a look in your respect for life....
                      Keefers <><

[SheltonCreeker]

What a great animal. I feel blessed just getting to see that bucks photos. I love big mature whitetails. I hate that his death is unresolved. Good for you Mike for the positive out look you have and the cherished memories! Good Luck the rest of the season. Hope you connect one of the other mature bucks on your property!

[Herdbull]

Well, I really did not expect all of these great comments.... but then again judging from the quality of the folks that visit this site, I'm really not surprised. So I will leave you with a few more pictures of the great buck I found floating in the lake.
This photo is one from summer 2012.
 

This one is from fall 2011 as a 4 1/2 year old. We never found his sheds, but it was a very early spring and the grass and bushes greened up quick.
 

I like this one hitting my mock scrape and licking branch started with Smokey Preorbital gland Lure. I hope the great buck was not too mad at me for starting it under an Osage Tree with all those thorns in his face.
 

Thanks ,   Mike

[wapiti792]

Great pics Mike! EHD has been hard on us here downstate. Many confirmed deaths in our county. We lost some great bucks in that 4-6 year old range. I am in fact seeing alot of great 2 1/2 year old bucks that hopefully will make it through the gun season. As it is I only control about 200 acres. Can't do much with them after they leave the property.

That buck is an all-time great deer. So sorry he met his fate that way. I would have preferred seeing you with your bow laying on top of him. You do a great job of filming and hunting my friend. I am amazed at the footage you get every year (and the bucks you pass as well as kill).

[jonsimoneau]

Mike your place looks nasty thick with all that honey suckle. Looks like it would be tough to walk in. Let alone hunt!

[Keith Zimmerman]

At least you have some closure.  The wondering where he went is tough.  Good luck.

[Lost Creek Bows]

Mike,I was looking at the picture of the Great buck you were hunting. I couldn't help but see the same thing I've seen on all 7 deer I've found dead from EHD this year. Look at the bucks picture and all the deer I have found and including your buck is they were all missing hair on the front legs at the first joint. Its a positive sign for EHD. Good luck with the rest of your season. Chad

[Herdbull]

Chad, Were all of your deer found in water? I assumed the hair had slipped from bacteria in the water. There were also signs of turtles feeding on him post mortem.  I will look into your observation since I have never heard of that symptom or how the virus causes it.

[Steve O]

If that is true, that buck in Mike's first post trail cam photo is toes up too.  So sad.

[buckeye_hunter]

Originally posted by Steve O:
If that is true, that buck in Mike's first post trail cam photo is toes up too.  So sad.

I saw that too....  :(

[Herdbull]

Here is the latest photo of that first buck, the one I passed up. I don't see anything wrong with his knees, or hair.

 

Here is another one of him.
 

[Steve O]

Looks good there, no knee problems in October.

[Herdbull]

Here is a close one of him.