Black Magic Returns - 2007

This is one TOUGH deer, I've had lots of inquires about him and to be quite honest have ignored them on purpose. :-$

But I wanted to share now, since the hunting season is over in my neck of the woods and he has moved South for the winter (no I don't know where that is) but wish I did.

So he DID return in 2007 from his Archery wound in 2006, I got some pretty good film of him again (although not as good as the previous 2 years).

He is definitely smarter and not as friendly to me as he use to be. :) (can't imagine why)

His cheater on his right side has forked a bit and he was/is starting to shed or loose some of the black junk/blood.

Here is a couple of pics pulled from video.

ENJOY!!

BTW - He was hunted VERY hard and HEAVY almost the entire bow hunt by a couple of different people and last I heard was STILL ALIVE after the hunt was over.

Come on BLACK MAGIC, lets make it to 2008. :thumb
8,265
MuleyMadness
Sorry for not sharing early, but I had good reason not to and will likely do the same in the future on big bucks I find.

Also here is a short (shaky) video of him from 2007 also...
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AGCHAWK
No need to be sorry Brett! Man, I am really, really glad to hear that Black Magic made it through the last year!

Quite frankly, I don't think any of us would blame ya for keepin' him and his whereabouts a secret.
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The Ox
see no pics???
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bigbuck92
Brett i cant believe you. you lied to me when i asked if he was still kickin! jk. id probaly keep his status secret to. Glad that big boy made it
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huntenfever
Brett that is an awesome deer i give you big props on being able to find him year in and year out.
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bigbuck92
and BTW Brett do you have any estimate on who old he is?
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MuleyMadness
bigbuck92

I'd guess he is 6-7 years old.
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AGCHAWK
Yup, that's the infamous BLACK MAGIC! Man, he is impressive .

He's kinda won a sentimental spot in my heart. Unless you get lucky
and draw a tag for that area Brett, I hope he plays the string out.

Of course, I'd be tickled pink to hear that you managed to "bring him home"!
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MuleyMadness
My chances of getting him are pretty poor unless I get REAL lucky in the draw next year and he returns. But it usually takes makes points to draw this area and lets just say I'm less than half of max points. :>/

Every year the odds get worse and he gets hunted more and more. But you never know, can't quit dreaming anyway.

Never seen him during the Rifle hunt, but my little brother may draw and Rifle tag for the area next year?

Think I might have shared this before, but here is his Nephew also from this year. The first time I saw Black Magic this year he was with a BUNCH of bucks, the hit the trees and I went in after them.

Never saw BM again, but did turn up this NEPHEW...once removed. :))
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huntenfever
I like the gene pool
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killerbee
AWSOME! glad to hear he's still around! that is one of thosae bucks that is fun just to keep tabs on. thanks for sharing, and i can see why you waited.
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Default Avatar
Wow!!! those deer are something special. Has any one ever found a shed?
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AGCHAWK
BIGBUCKCRAZY, at least in the case of Black Magic, he is a cactus buck and does not shed his antlers.

As for the second one, he sure as heck looks like another cactus buck...and therefore would not shed his antlers either.
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Default Avatar
Thanks Hawk. I didnt realise that Ive never seen one before.
Do they grow continuously?
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AGCHAWK
No problem BIGBUCKCRAZY. I hope you didn't think I was jumpin' on ya about it. I have never seen one in real life either. Just pics.

As for them growing, MOST of the time they will continue to grow mass upon mass throughout thier lives. The growth is a bit slower than normal antler growth however. Because they are caused by testosterone inbalances due to injury, birth defect, etc the amount of growth is dependant on the exact problem.

Sometime their antlers are rather brittle and they'll loose portions of them. However, they will continue to grow...and normally in very abnormal ways (Black Magic is a great example).

I've seen pics of another cactus buck who's antlers were so brittle that they broke a good number of points off just packing him out. Not all of them are as brittle though and some harden enough that breaking isn't an issue.

Here's a pic of the one I was refering to.
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Default Avatar
Thanks Hawk.
Thats way cool! The first time I saw one I dont think I'd shoot. I'd never pull the glasses down till he was gone. Even cooler than the white one up by meeker! I think? It's a toss up/ :-k
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swbuckmaster
I would shoot that buck in a heartbeat. What does it score?
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