Very Sad Day

[sapper]

After a week of not seeing my 4 does and one young stag (Fallow Deer), which in the woodlands I stalk nearly 3 times a week, checking with game keepers lndowners and such, they all seem to have just gone.

So Today spent from the early hours though to 17:00hrs tracking their route, Then for some reson I checked the natural pond they visit for group drink.

When shock hit. There he was Bold as brass. But motionless.
So watching for a few moments still no movment and made my way around the pond from the outside using bush and brambles for cover.

The Does I get within 6 feet of, but him 100 feet min, to iffy to try closer.

I made a sudden movement so he knew i was there and nothing.
hacking my way through 6-8 of bramble bush with a knife (Military issue type as used by rambo) to get real close only to find He was a gonna.

No blood marks or stains in his coat, no visable head indury. This buck was real heavy but he definatley was not shot.

So now getting pond water tested in case of poisons. as badgers sett is only 1200 feet away and they use it, as do most of the other critters there.

So I lost the Buck not knowing wether if any of the does have been mated. just got to hope he did his job and young will be around july.

Took photos but not sure where to post them.

[Blackbrook Eye]

Hi Sapper, welcome to WAB, post your photos to the forum Gallery, I for one would be interested, although not happy, to see them. Regards, Keith

[Wild-Woman]

This is very sad indeed. I'm glad you're having the water tested. Keep us up with what you find out.

[Biomotors]

Worth getting a vet to take a blood sample/biopsy, as it could have been at the water, desperate to drink, if it had already been poisoned. Slug pellets and rat poison are the two possibilities which spring to mind.

Thanks
Dominic

[Bullseye]

By this time of year they'll be pregnant,it could be natural causes if he had a very "hectic" rutting time.Think thats what happened to my favourite buck after watching him for three years.

[sapper]

Thanks everyone.

Didnt think of blood sample so will do that tomorrow. So far the only thing attacking him are birds for his coat. Still unsure about uploading pics some may take upset. but if you want them as sad as they are I will email them to anyone.


my email... sapper.uk@btinternet.com

and will let you all know about the test result asap.

[Jason Green]

Sorry to hear that

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by sapper

Thanks everyone.

Didnt think of blood sample so will do that tomorrow. So far the only thing attacking him are birds for his coat. Still unsure about uploading pics some may take upset. but if you want them as sad as they are I will email them to anyone.


my email... sapper .uk@ btinternet.com

and will let you all know about the test result asap.

if poison is a serious suspect you need to dispose of the body as these poisons will persist up the food chain otherwise.

for what its worth tho i doubt the water is poisoned or you would have seen more casualties amonst the bird and mamal population.

i would suspect either that he had a collision with a car and came off with only internal injuries - which is more common than you might think, or that he was chased by dogs and had a heart attack from stress.

btw if you put your email addy on forums its a good idea to break it up like i did in the quote as otherwise auotmated spm bots can pick it up and send you lots of unwanted mail.

[sapper]

Thanks EEyore for the tip. will watch for bot stuff

will check every thing out i think, even though tonight I have been told they have had a lot of shoots on latley around here, so they shoot the birds and scare the rest

I love this site and you all are so friendly

glad i found you all.

[Jason Green]

Have you seen the other Does since?