This story starts the end of archery season as my cousin wounded a nice buck near my and wanted me to search for the last place they had spotted it with tracking dogs.
That week had unfavorable flying conditions and it was 4 days later before I could get into the air. I flew my grid 2600' away from the last location they spotted the buck. As my last battery was dropping low I made one last ditch pass around a pond in the distance, as I flew closer I noticed there was something in the middle of the tank, thinking I had located the deer but the shape did not fit what I was looking for.
I screen shot the image and sent it to my cousin excited with the find, we figured his deer was sick and was challenged by another buck where they both became entangled and drowned in the water.
It was going to be the next day before we could get permission on the neighboring ranch to recover the deer, by this time I would be gone to my own lease to hunt although I was anticipating the recovery as much as he was!
Later that evening my cousin called with news I was not expecting; it was NOT his deer!
He said as he waded closer to them he realized the points didn't match his dark horned buck, disgusted and knowing his deer was still lost he left the rotting mess on the bank for the ranch owner.
Later that weekend they brought the skulls in for me to cleanup, it was a real challenge to get the antlers polished and skulls bleached but not getting either on the other!
The ranch owner is extremely pleased with the final product and should be quite the conversation piece!
That week had unfavorable flying conditions and it was 4 days later before I could get into the air. I flew my grid 2600' away from the last location they spotted the buck. As my last battery was dropping low I made one last ditch pass around a pond in the distance, as I flew closer I noticed there was something in the middle of the tank, thinking I had located the deer but the shape did not fit what I was looking for.
I screen shot the image and sent it to my cousin excited with the find, we figured his deer was sick and was challenged by another buck where they both became entangled and drowned in the water.
It was going to be the next day before we could get permission on the neighboring ranch to recover the deer, by this time I would be gone to my own lease to hunt although I was anticipating the recovery as much as he was!
Later that evening my cousin called with news I was not expecting; it was NOT his deer!
He said as he waded closer to them he realized the points didn't match his dark horned buck, disgusted and knowing his deer was still lost he left the rotting mess on the bank for the ranch owner.
Later that weekend they brought the skulls in for me to cleanup, it was a real challenge to get the antlers polished and skulls bleached but not getting either on the other!
The ranch owner is extremely pleased with the final product and should be quite the conversation piece!
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