lw308
New Member
I'm sure there are many stories about deer getting caught in things but here is something that happened to me a couple of years ago:
I was shooting squirrels with two colleagues on the estate where we worked. As we walked through one wood I noticed a large fallow buck about 80yds away and assumed our shooting had disturbed it. However upon returning that way a while later the buck was in the same place and appeared to be quite agitated, tossing his head and prancing on the spot. We approached the buck and realised that he was tethered to a large branch of an oak tree by a makeshift rope swing. The rope was attached about 20 ft high with a thick stick tied to the bottom as a seat, the buck had obviously been giving this a good old thrashing and knotted the rope firmly around his antler, he was in good condition, uninjured and probably hadn't been trapped for long.
I decided that we would free the buck and quickly explained my plan. I would catch hold of the antlers then my colleagues would cover his head with a coat and we would pin him down and cut him free.
This agreed I cautiously approached the buck, he eyed me warily but didn't move away. I siezed my chance, leapt forward and grabbed both antlers... At this point I realised I had seriously underestimated both the strength of a full grown fallow and my colleagues understanding of the plan! The buck and I wrestled furiously as my mates observed wide eyed from a safe distance, only my 10 month old lakeland showed any willingness to help, baying wildly at the bucks legs. Eventually after quite a struggle I managed to topple him and pin him down, my colleagues finally came to my aid, and we cut the buck free and released him. Upon his release he bolted about 50yds then turned and stood watching us indignantly, seemingly unconcerned about his ordeal!
Sadly A couple of weeks later whilst working in another part of the estate we found another rope swing, this one with a skull and antler attached and scattered bones beneath it.
Does anyone have any other stories of deer getting themselves into trouble like this?
I was shooting squirrels with two colleagues on the estate where we worked. As we walked through one wood I noticed a large fallow buck about 80yds away and assumed our shooting had disturbed it. However upon returning that way a while later the buck was in the same place and appeared to be quite agitated, tossing his head and prancing on the spot. We approached the buck and realised that he was tethered to a large branch of an oak tree by a makeshift rope swing. The rope was attached about 20 ft high with a thick stick tied to the bottom as a seat, the buck had obviously been giving this a good old thrashing and knotted the rope firmly around his antler, he was in good condition, uninjured and probably hadn't been trapped for long.
I decided that we would free the buck and quickly explained my plan. I would catch hold of the antlers then my colleagues would cover his head with a coat and we would pin him down and cut him free.
This agreed I cautiously approached the buck, he eyed me warily but didn't move away. I siezed my chance, leapt forward and grabbed both antlers... At this point I realised I had seriously underestimated both the strength of a full grown fallow and my colleagues understanding of the plan! The buck and I wrestled furiously as my mates observed wide eyed from a safe distance, only my 10 month old lakeland showed any willingness to help, baying wildly at the bucks legs. Eventually after quite a struggle I managed to topple him and pin him down, my colleagues finally came to my aid, and we cut the buck free and released him. Upon his release he bolted about 50yds then turned and stood watching us indignantly, seemingly unconcerned about his ordeal!
Sadly A couple of weeks later whilst working in another part of the estate we found another rope swing, this one with a skull and antler attached and scattered bones beneath it.
Does anyone have any other stories of deer getting themselves into trouble like this?