Crap!

[Rob]

I have hunted on a friends property for several years. Called him this past weekend to ask permission to hunt this week. He told me he had shot 3 button bucks & a forkhorn so far. Of course, I've been on Kentuckyhunting .Com for a couple of years now & have been reading all about QDM, so I'm thinking, "couldn't he have done a little better than that?". Especially given that the guy has a degree in Forestry from UK & is a Master Instructor in Hunter Safety.

Anyway, got out in the woods while it was still dark. Sat down with my back to a tree, up on the crest of a ridge that runs down into a little brush flat. Sat there for 3 1/2 hrs & didn't see anything except squirrels. Then, I heard a shot about 1/2 mile off, in the field behind me. Immediately, I heard a 4-wheeler start up & take off, coming my way. Next, I heard somthing crashing thru the woods, also heading in my direction, so I stood up & got ready.

Here comes this big doe, running down the deer trail. Big ears, long neck, pointy nose, must weigh about 140 lbs. I let here get about 25 yds away & mouth bleated. She puts on the brakes, comes to a halt, & i put a Core-Lokt right behind her right shoulder. Almost immediately, I hear another shot, from a hunter I didn't know was there, not 75 yards away from me. The doe takes off, runs by me, & crashes on the end of the ridge.

The guy on the 4-wheeler drives up to the end of the field behind me, leaps off with his gun in hand, runs to the lip of a big bluff at the field margin, & shoots down into the valley. Then, he gets on the 4-wheeler & takes off again, probably headed down into the valley, were he shot, I guessed.

So, I sat tight for about 15-20 minutes, since there has been a lot of gun play in a short amount of time, & I don't want to take any chances. I got out my thermos & had a big cup of coffee. By the time I had finished the coffee, the woods were quiet again, so I pack up all of my stuff, get out my knife, & walk down to where the deer was laying.

I had been wanting an "eatin' doe" & this one looked to be a beauty. I was a happy dude! Well, elation soon turned to disgust when I looked down to discover a white fur covered scrotum & 2 little bone bumps on the deer's forehead. I had taken another button buck! I rubbed those little buttons, hoping that they'd go away, but they just wouldn't. Man, I felt terrible. I had told the landowner I would help him thin out his does & now I'd taken yet another baby buck off the property.

I drug the button thru the weed & briar choked flat & up to the logging road where I could get my 4WD pickup & got him loaded. The land owner came to meet me on my way out. I told him I thought I was shooting a doe & he said he had thought the same thing with the buttons he had harvested, so not to feel badly. Then I took the little guy to be turned in to summer sausage & burger & jerky. I thought those sounded good, after the big piece of Humble Pie I had just eaten.

[SixPack07]

Sometimes it's tough to tell in all the excitement, but you'll be eating well nonetheless.

[drew]

I did the same thing a few years ago.....it happens. At least you got something good to eat. That is a big button.

[Feedman]

The landowner has killed 4 bucks???????? Is he checking the buttons in as Does???
Whatever happen to the guy on the 4-Wheeler??

[8E Duece]

Dont leave us hangin,what was up w/the dude on the 4 wheeler?

[oldforestor]

If Button bucks do not have a visible polished antler-ie covered with fur, they qualify for an antlerless <doe> tag. Happens to the best of us.

[Valley Station]

140 pounds and big floppy ears --Corelock behind the shoalder doesn't equal 50lb button buck down.????
Did you find the doe?? Somebody else shoot the button??
I'm confused???

[CPA Hunter]

No joke, I shot a 90 pound button about 10 years ago at T-Ville quota hunt -- real, field-dressed weight. The biologist did not seem too surprised, but I was.

[Wildcat]

It happens. I've been lucky so far and never have taken a button but you never know when my trun will come.

[Kinger]

I accidently shot a button buck several yrs ago in ALA, since then I only shoot a doe when 2 or more are seen together. This is not fullproof, but so far so good. At least during the rut, little bucks don't hang around together very often.

I hear a lot of clubs have a rule that you can only take a doe when there are 2 or more together for this reason.

[SixPack07]

My uncle avoids this problem by not letting us shoot does period. There are a few land owners around that do the same thing. I know everyone thinks that does have to be shot for good QDM, but not shooting them has worked fine for us. We have lots of big bucks running around, and all of the deer are in great shape. The does are huge, probably bigger than the year and a half old bucks, but the bucks catch up and pass them in a hurry. I figure if the population gets too high, don't the deer know to move on? There haven't been any signs of over-browsing in the area, so as long as it is working, I guess I won't be able to talk him into letting us take a couple does.

[WATERDOG]

If a button is standing by himself at a distance or in the woods its really hard to determine his actual size. Its alot easier if there is a doe with him to compare size.

[Rob]

Feedman,

As soon as the guy who was on the 4 -wheeler shot down over the bluff, he jumped back on the 4-wheeler & took off fast. I assumed he was circling around to get to the bottom of the bluff. The area where he shot is only about 100 yds from where I was hunting but it's on land I don't have permission to hunt so I didn't cross the fence & go over there.

Valley,

I shot a yearling button buck that I thought was a 2 1/2 yr old doe. Where I hunt, the habitat is excellent & the herd population is well below carrying capacity. I believe the conditions are right for a significant number of doe fawns to enter estrous & conceive, usually in January, probably some even in February. As a result, a significant portion of fawns are relatively late born. These deer are noticibly more immature, both as fawns &, less so, as yearlings, when compared to the remainder of the deer in their general age class. This difference is most apparent when looking at yearling bucks, some of whom are basket racked 8 pointers (probably offspring of mature does that were bred in Oct or Nov) ranging on down to buttons (probably offspring of moms who were bred late, say in Jan or Feb). The 4 buttons that the land owner & I have collectively harvested probably fit in the latter group.

Anyway, I plan to double my efforts not to shoot any more baby bucks from now on. Hope it pays off.

[MsuFinProf]

Sorry to hear that Rob. It can happen to anybody. I did the same thing a couple of years ago. Might I suggest glasses. You know, a person of your age doesn't see as well as they used to :D

[plowboy]

Yeah, I now know the feeling. My "eating doe" dropped in "her" tracks, I was real proud of my shot till I picked up "her" leg to turn around and then spotted that little furry sack. It really bothered me, my first button.

[GSP]

Sorry to hear that Rob. It can happen to anybody. I did the same thing a couple of years ago. Might I suggest glasses. You know, a person of your age doesn't see as well as they used to :DI'm surprised he can still get out and hunt at his age!:D

[turk2di]

The landowner has killed 4 bucks???????? Is he checking the buttons in as Does???
Whatever happen to the guy on the 4-Wheeler??
Good questions! BTW- Congrats on the deer.

[Rob]

Man, didn't anyone ever tell you that you were supposed to be nice to older people? But, if you must know, I have been using Mossy Oak's new line of camo for geriatric hunters like me, called Break-a-hip. It makes my walker almost invisible.

And MSU, better watch those age comments. If memory serves me, you have a few gray hairs shining thru yourself. Your just now getting ready to tie the know, too. In a few years, when your limping after three or four kids, this dog you just let out of the box may come back & bite you in the butt!

Of course, we can't all be the epitome of physical fitness that GSP is. Gov. Patton is just luck that Tina didn't see GSP first. If that had happened, Patton would still be in the Governor's mansion & GSP would have probably been in a nursing home!

[aceoky]

Rob, it's VERY hard to tell (at gun ranges especially) :D

I think, however, I can make you feel better!

I once, filled my buck tag on a "doe"!!

It was a four pointer!! (It's antlers almost touched,(I mean less than 1/4" between the tips) and I never even noticed them, low-light, about 250 yards)...I was all set to get my big "doe" to the freezer, walked up, and was "sick" to say the least!

Since then, I've been more watchful on how close the ears are (on even small racks they are more spread out(or at least look that way) to make "room"for the antlers). That being said, it could still happen again(though I hope it's not when I've filled my buck tag already! THAT would be a nightmare!!!) :(

His head was also down(feeding) in my defense(making them even harder to see in low light):)

At any rate, it's an easy mistake to make, and no sense in "beating yourself up" over taking an ethical shot(now for those who shoot and then decide IF it was a deer, that's another point altogether!)

Hope this story(though painful to tell) helps somewhat!