The tale of "Limpy Deer"

[OUTSIDER]

I was reading the post about "mercy kill" and it got me thinking about a deer we have on the farm.

On my property we have a deer, her name is "limpy deer". She has an injury to her front left leg. It cannot straighten out all the way and therefore she limps. She is a medium sized doe, and very very pretty, more so than other deer. She appeared with this injury 8 years ago....she was 1.5 at the time (we think) . Well now she is at least 9.5 years old, it is the same deer, she has a distinct personality, and limping habit. My dad archery hunts almost every day on the farm and he has NEVER seen that deer from a tree stand, only have we ever seen her from the house where we don't hunt and where we feed deer. I think when deer get an injury and survive they become a different animal altogether. She is amazing, and to our knowledge has had three fawns. She usually keeps the fawn till they are 2 years old (which is very odd) then discards them to breed again. Heres the good part, we have her (9.5) two of her offspring one is estimated to be 4.5 years old (nice buck whom we cannot kill he is totally noctournal...even in velvet) and a one younger doe. They all travel together and are all smart. I just think its amazing what an injured animal can endure and how they can keep going .

[jcs3344]

Last year where i hunted me and everyone else that hunts there saw a 5 pointer that had a huge knot on his right leg and could barely walk. Dad was the first one to see the deer and almost shot it because he looked bad and was really skinny. Even though he can barely walk he was still "chasing" does that year. As the year went on he started gaining weight even during the rut when they lose. We never thought he would make it but a guy some him opening day of rifle and said hes a pretty good 8 pointer now but still has the limp and huge knot on his leg. Who knows, in a couple of years he might be a real brute

[buckee]

We used to have a doe on the farm we hunt, that we called Gimpy. She lived to be a ripe old age too, and was very healthy other than the limp. We decided from the start not to shoot her, because of her handicap, and it was always a pleasure to see her. She also had many fawns over the years, until one year, she just disappeared. I think maybe a car got her, up on the main road.

[Airman312]

they do become survivors, that's for sure...it seems all their senses become all the more keener and alert

[Jorden]

That reminds me of this deer we have out where I hunt. She had her left front leg shot off at the shoulder probably close to 10 years ago and she is still going strong. She even has two fawns every year.

[toddyboman]

Yup deer are very good survivors

I saw this buck 3 years ago one morning as he came through the woods he had a very bad limp. At first I thought better shoot him and put him out of his missery but the shot never came about. As I watched him I noticed he did not have a hoof on his back right leg..

Well as the rut got closer I saw him and he was chasing does with not problem. I saw him again the next year and he was still going strong. These are the last pictures I got of him in Jan of 2006. he developed a neat looking rack. I have no clue if anyone ever shot him or what happened to him. But I did not see anything of him this year Maybe I will soon....

Here some pics of him..

[Adjam5]

The deers willingness to survive has always ceased to amaze me. They make due. Finding water after a injury is like going to the Dr. for them!

I have taken out a few gimped leg deer myself, one a buck with a messed up rack. ( left rear leg injury).

We have gotten on the trail cam a 6pt buck with a broken front leg. He is getting around fine. Regardless of his injury. I said I would take him out if he wandered by my stand, but that never happened.

[wtnhunt]

Have seen quite a few over the years that had broken, shot partially off, or damaged legs. Watched a doe one year that had one front leg about 4 inches short of reaching the ground, I would assume it was shot off. It was black looking at the end(probably infected), every time I saw her was during the rifle season at that time does were not legal with rifle, but saw that doe several times that season and she always seemed to get around quite well.

[Bowtech_archer07]

Those are some really cool stories. Deer can definitely perservere after some brutal injuries or deformities. It truly is amazing.