You feed, nurture and never get to see them on hoof. Got photos of this guy but, never saw him this season with my own eyes. Pulled him out and could not find any evidence of trauma other than at his rear where something had started to gnaw on him. Definitely no exit wounds and could not find any evidence of entry. HFed to the south & the west with good trustworthy buds to the the east (3/4 mile away) and Klappenbach a mile away north. We have no real idea other than Mother Nature can be harsh.

That's a pity.

Indeed. Such a waste.

oh i bet that smelled pretty ripe. But yeah it happens sometimes. we've on occasion found a decent buck even that died from un-determined injury...we didn't shoot him though. even this year we found what was left of what seemed to be younger deer in a spot or two. died in velvet pre-season. not sure why. but it happens. some kind of natural mortality. it otherwise seems to be a good season for us. plenty deer in good looking shape.

more than anything i hate seeing them on the side of the highway. that to me is really a waste. tearing up vehicles, mess along the roadside. a mess that could have been fun if punched out on someone's hunting license instead. i guess that too is unavoidable at times though.

That is a shame. I've seen this with cattle. He probably got a wound of some sort. Wound got infected and he developed a fever. He waded into the water to cool off, passed out and drowned. The damage to his hind quarter looks unilateral so is likely post mortem.

We believe it was pretty fresh when discovered - stiff but, fresh as there was no smell when I pulled him out of the water and on to the bank after the evening hunt. Came back the next morning after hunting and the smell was beginning to start. Had hoped the yo yo's would've got on him and help to lighten the load, but no. The only trauma seen on the deer was at the rear. We are thinking he must've gotten poked there. It's our best guess at this point. Looks like only birds got on him and they need a starting place.

A mature 140's 10 point. He needed to go "gone gone" anyways. Sure would've been a good 'un for a SIL or guest.

we pulled a buck like that out of a tank one side broken badly probably got horned in the ribs but to stinky to look very hard, I say tank, more like a maverick co mud hole, not much rain lately

Falls in line with the belief that injured deer will go to water. Not sure if it's true but I've seen it time and again.

saw the skull and hang in a tree. good conversation piece while in camp.