I was shed hunting Saturday and found an old friend guarding the open ridge line where he often stood proudly, watching us come and go on the road to camp. Except, this time was different. He was bedded, head laid back, skin shriveled and dried. He looked oddly undisturbed in his death. Old age and a long life had taken it's toll. Although saddened by his passing, I was relieved to have found him, dead at home. I had held his sheds for many years, but now it was time to hold the final prize.
He disappeared in mid December and we figured the neighbors had finally gotten him. He was still an active breeder, but he had slowed down this last year. He reminded me a lot of the old bull and the young bull on top of the hill joke. He chased does, but didn't push them hard. He didn't have to. Everyone knew better than to mess with him. The arthritis in his hips was apparent. He walked with the stiffness of an 80yo man. Even before his death, he never reverted back to looking young. Surprising for a buck that we figure to be 11.5 years old based on when we first started watching him. He was regular, a homebody. We fed him for so many years that we hated to kill him. We contemplated letting guests kill him over the years, but it just never happened. Dad and I found him and no one had to kill him. Here is the year by year life of Tuft 8, 2008-2016.
3.5, 2008...I originally thought 2.5 in 2008, but seeing how is body looked in 2009 made me go back and change my opinion. Oh, and frontal shots are the worst to age off of. They always look young & thin.
4.5, 2009...more on 2009 later
5.5, 2010
6.5, 2011
7.5, 2012
8.5, 2013
9.5, 2014
10.5, 2015
11.5, 2016
Death and jaw
Why call him Tuft 8? Well, in 2009 he was nameless until he jumped a fence and tore a tuft of skin on his belly that hung straight down. He became known as Tuft 8.
Another key feature to his body was his rump. The hair wasn't as long as the surrounding areas, so it appeared as a bald spot kind of.
I have thousands of pictures and video of him. We watched and enjoyed seeing him for many years. He was never anything special antler wise. He was a protein hog but never made any big jumps. In fact, I think he was within 5 inches score wise from 2010-2015. We found his sheds yearly but missed a few as well. Maybe I will happen upon them in the years to come and think back of all the memories Tuft 8 had to offer. Enjoy!
He disappeared in mid December and we figured the neighbors had finally gotten him. He was still an active breeder, but he had slowed down this last year. He reminded me a lot of the old bull and the young bull on top of the hill joke. He chased does, but didn't push them hard. He didn't have to. Everyone knew better than to mess with him. The arthritis in his hips was apparent. He walked with the stiffness of an 80yo man. Even before his death, he never reverted back to looking young. Surprising for a buck that we figure to be 11.5 years old based on when we first started watching him. He was regular, a homebody. We fed him for so many years that we hated to kill him. We contemplated letting guests kill him over the years, but it just never happened. Dad and I found him and no one had to kill him. Here is the year by year life of Tuft 8, 2008-2016.
3.5, 2008...I originally thought 2.5 in 2008, but seeing how is body looked in 2009 made me go back and change my opinion. Oh, and frontal shots are the worst to age off of. They always look young & thin.
4.5, 2009...more on 2009 later
5.5, 2010
6.5, 2011
7.5, 2012
8.5, 2013
9.5, 2014
10.5, 2015
11.5, 2016
Death and jaw
Why call him Tuft 8? Well, in 2009 he was nameless until he jumped a fence and tore a tuft of skin on his belly that hung straight down. He became known as Tuft 8.
Another key feature to his body was his rump. The hair wasn't as long as the surrounding areas, so it appeared as a bald spot kind of.
I have thousands of pictures and video of him. We watched and enjoyed seeing him for many years. He was never anything special antler wise. He was a protein hog but never made any big jumps. In fact, I think he was within 5 inches score wise from 2010-2015. We found his sheds yearly but missed a few as well. Maybe I will happen upon them in the years to come and think back of all the memories Tuft 8 had to offer. Enjoy!
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