I know all don't always make the summer. Looks like he woulda been decent. Found this morning.

How close is the nearest highway?

1/4+ mile.

Flip him over so we can examine the other side, also rear end shots would help

Good question. You will most likely never know for sure.

The grandson was about to puke as it was.

Car
Disease
Lightning

Don't look like death was immediate. Area in between legs appears to be disturbed as if he was flailing. Poor fella'.

Are the neighbors there this weekend ...asking for a friend

Shame he does look like he was gonna be a good one

That's the buzzards opening the paunch.




'Don't believe Budreaux be dare dis weekend.

What I can tell from that one photo(more photos would help) is that it appears that deer just laid down in that spot and died. No struggle, not predator take down, no trauma from an auto collision or any outwards sign of health issues. To me, if it had been coyotes there would not be much left of that deer. Birds go for the soft tissue areas of the eyes, tongue and rear end first. They will go to a bullet hole also for ease into the body cavity. You can tell where the birds were working on the deer first by how the ground is beat down. The ground around the deer did show any signs of him struggling to get up, just the deer laid down and died. If he had a fever or was injured I would think he would have been in a shady area when you found him. From talking to friends about it in the past one disease where you can find them dead in random locations in the wide open like this is Anthrax. Don't think it is Anthrax though but we are getting to the right time of the year when it starts to show. With some of the other diseases, they seem to seek out a cooler spot in the shade or in water for the fever associated with it.

He was in a shady spot, but not tucked under a tree.

He was the LOSER of the fight with BIG BOY! ! ! We do need to see the other side, lots of blood on that right antler!

Well he is in the middle of his velvet antler growth this time of the year....so...yeah there would be a lot of blood on his antlers with the soft tissue/velvet being eaten first. Deer will eat their own velvet when they strip it off also.

I think you may never find out. Sometimes it is better if you don't. The velvet gone on the antlers was probably from varmints or buzzards.

'Gotta acquiesce to my "elders" on this one. I've learned from my family's drama - there's some things I'll never figure out, but I'm way better off in the long run.

Must have had dirt on the Clinton’s

Could be a poacher,,,,,bullet hole on other side, no exit wound.

This time last year is when Anthrax took our herd and this deer has a similar look. Body intact, eyes gone, and some body fluid on the ground around the animal

It was quick whatever it was!
The deer looks in good shape, so my guess would be hit by a car and 1/4+ of a mile isn't anything for even a bad hurt animal to travel.
I would rule out disease if there is no history of anthrax or any other in your area.
Was the deer headed in the direction of a nearby water hole?

Any game cameras around?

I had one like that last year. I had pictures of him at 9:30 am fighting with a smaller buck in the middle of the pictures. He was found dead a couple hours later just out of the picture area. He had one eye pushed into his brain. I assume the smaller guy killed him.

I don't think an antler in velvet would pierce the brain.