A sad day

Yesterday my cousin John and myself packed in a few more things into out remote camp for the upcoming muzzleloader hunt. I've showed you guys video of the good 3 points I've been seeing and there's also a couple good 4 points that I'm hoping can make it one more year. Next year some of these bucks could be great. Anyway, it looks like there's a lion in the area and I found this buck a few hundred yards out of our camp. I also have video of this same buck. I can't tell you how sad I felt when I came across this guy. Here are a few pictures of it.

First the rib cage which was a 30 feet uphill from the head and neck.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo189/ackc10_album/Deadbuck.jpg" alt="" />

Sorry about the grossness of this next picture but was wondering why or what caused the big hole in its face?

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo189/ackc10_album/Deadbuck1.jpg" alt="" />

Here's another view

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo189/ackc10_album/Deadbuck2.jpg" alt="" />
3,919
skysthelimit
These ones hurt. So sad.
0
Default Avatar
That's too bad. Time to go cat hunting.
0
killerbee
gang, thats to bad ridge :>/ but it happens alot more than people realize, especially here in oregon where we cant use dogs to hunt cats :>/
0
MuleyMadness
Sucks bad, cougars kill a lot more deer than people realize...agreed. Tis a bummer, and the coyotes are wreaking havoc on the fawns in some of my favorite areas also. :>/
0
Default Avatar
I would be interested to hear opinions on the missing face too!

I think there is a possibility he was shot in the face and the coyotes did the eating (maybe a cat too).

It could be a cat that likes the eyes and face parts I guess but I think the condition of the skull is pretty rare for a cat kill.

I hope I am wrong as being poached would make a sad day even sadder for your hunting spot.

Bill
0
stillhunterman
"huntindad" wrote:I would be interested to hear opinions on the missing face too!

I think there is a possibility he was shot in the face and the coyotes did the eating (maybe a cat too).

It could be a cat that likes the eyes and face parts I guess but I think the condition of the skull is pretty rare for a cat kill.

I hope I am wrong as being poached would make a sad day even sadder for your hunting spot.

Bill
 I guess there is a possiblility the deer was shot in the face and the critters picked it apart. But, lions will eat the brain and soft tissue of the face and sinus areas as well.

Ridge, without revealing your area, can you describe the area surrounding the kill? Are there cliffs nearby, or good typical cougar ambush areas close? It looks like pretty open rocky country for a ways but hard to tell from the pics. Cats will usually drag their kill to a more secluded area to feed. Kinda strange to be left out in the open like that, but who knows?
0
Default Avatar
I know people we hunt with bait cougars with doe heads. I have given him 3 heads and he has gotten 2 cougars with them. So maybe the cougars took the chunk out of that bucks head
0
Loafer
That was a real pretty buck. Heres proof cougars don't only eat the sick and elderly like some would like you to think.
0
ridgetop
"huntindad" wrote:
Ridge, without revealing your area, can you describe the area surrounding the kill? Are there cliffs nearby, or good typical cougar ambush areas close? It looks like pretty open rocky country for a ways but hard to tell from the pics. Cats will usually drag their kill to a more secluded area to feed. Kinda strange to be left out in the open like that, but who knows?
 There's a patch of aspens with thick brush about 30 feet away. I was wondering maybe the buck was just starting to rub off his velvet and was distacted when the lion attached. I think the coyotes have been dragging the carcass around out in the open. Another thing, remember the cactus buck and the 26" 3 point (missing G-3s) I have on video. About a month ago,they were with this buck about a mile away from were I took the video and have been seening them lately. I was wondering why they would all of a sudden move a mile away about 3 canyons over and hang out with other bucks. Now I think I know why. :-k I found this buck dead about 1/2 way between the two locations.
0