Return of "horsehead"

[JHbowhunter]

I had reported on the thread about winter kills, that right after the big 35+++" storm, one of my favorite all-time deer vanished.  A very old, fat, and dry doe that was coming earlier and earlier to the winter food pantry to beat rush hour and all the annoying bucks - I have no idea how old she is but started noticing her head and very fat jowls over the past several years.   Because she is barren and does not have fawns, she never stomps or snorts -which is cool. I really thought given her age and the conditions, she was the first coyote casualty because she had gone missing for 11 days.  2/4 was last picture of her. I was very happy to pull into my driveway on 17th at 2pm to see her feeding.   I even went out to feed the birds and let my dog out, and she had no fear of me or the dog whereas every other deer would bolt for sure.     @Nomad had even said "I bet she returns" but I was convinced "no way".   It's amazing how we can get attached to animals we would never kill, yet others become "targets". 

Given no acorns at all to fatten the herd up for winter, or food on ground to help get them through, I decided to amp up a winter feeding program whereas I am usually done or minimal by this time.  I made a couple of cheap and easy feeding troughs, lined with heavy window screen.   I am feeding them tractor supply cattle sweet feed and corn.     This helps keep the food dry and from getting frozen into the ground. 

Anyway - sorry it's not a picture of a giant rack buck, it's just a doe, but a very special deer to me.   She is a true survivor, and clearly has not lost any of her weight.  I hope she makes it! 

 

 

[electric10162]

Funny how we get attached to seeing deer. My GF thinks I'm nuts

[Rusty]

She looks nice and healthy!  

[JHbowhunter]

it's interesting to watch the lifecycle of deer from fawns through an old matriarch such as horsehead.   Once they go barren, and no longer have fawns to guard, they become less interested in the herd mentality.  She will on occasion, come in with other does and fawns but they all defer to her. Mostly she is alone.   Sad perhaps - she basically has "no family".   She has zero tolerance for bucks and all it takes is a spike to approach let alone a rack buck, and she is out of there. She has had a lifetime of being chased and poked and wants no part of it!  The fact that she has no others to worry about feeding, she just spends her life keeping herself fat.  Whereas your typical long nose mother doe with two fawns, will stand off and guard while her fawns eat. 

Edited February 19, 2021 by JHbowhunter

[Lunatic]

She is also a demanding bitch. First day without feed and she starts destroying things 

[SPEARFISH]

I say shoot it

[JHbowhunter]

3 minutes ago, Lunatic said:

She is also a demanding bitch. First day without feed and she starts destroying things 

no the pics show that a couple of dinks did that night before...

[JHbowhunter]

1 minute ago, SPEARFISH said:

I say shoot it

no way - I would rather give up hunting.  She gets perpetual "free pass". 

[Tuck]

Awesome story and happy ending!

[Nomad]

Glad to see she is back!

I'm feeding corn and sweet feed here also.  I have 40+ turkeys that are here along with the deer.  I put 25 pounds out in the morning and the turkeys have it gone by afternoon.  Then I put another 25 pounds out in the evening for the deer.

[hammer4reel]

Get some high protein pellets in that feeder ..

12% cattle/ sheep sweet feed  is 3 times healthier than the corn .

or even kick it up to the sportsman choice 20% . 

Will def help in this lean year 

[JHbowhunter]

2 minutes ago, hammer4reel said:

Get some high protein pellets in that feeder ..

12% cattle/ sheep sweet feed  is 3 times healthier than the corn .

or even kick it up to the sportsman choice 20% . 

Will def help in this lean year 

I buy that stuff - just ran out need to get more. Already fed them like 20 bags this winter... 

[Lunatic]

I once killed a buck with a head like this

Edited February 19, 2021 by Lunatic

[Buck154]

I told you also that she wasn't dead. Cool to see her back

[deadonshot2]

I understand your thoughts on horsehead. I adopted two different fawns last year. I was putting a ladder stand together and had a fawn approach me and walk two full circles around me. I stood taking pictures and she never spooked. She was always first in to food block and hung out with me almost entire time I was in tree. She was regular visitor this year also. In fact she met me on my first visit to set up my camera this past season. She get a pass her entire life also.

The second fawn was one that still has spots during 6 day shotgun of 2019. She was feeding opening morning. I was in ground blind with the nasty weather that year. I hear a deer drive and decided to get out of blind to see if anything came running down the ridge. She never spooked and continued to feed 12 yards from me. Then she walked around and walked up the trail until she got a few yards from me. Then she casually walked around me and back to the apples. She was also a frequent visitor this year as well. She has the life time pass also. Amazing how distinct both of their personalities are.