Shawn, no marks on him at all other than my arrow. He looked normal and healthy. A nice heavy rack for such a young looking deer.

I just read something about deer having EHD??? and dying near water...some parasite that kills them from the inside out...just an FYI

Way to go Kenny!  That is a great way to start off!  

Alright KENNY    Congrats brother!

(You too Joe)

So what is the asterisk for? You did a good thing.

Good storytelling!  Nice Deer!

Yea was going to ask the same question.  Is the asterisk there for what reason?

That's what I was thinking it was. Joe and I discussed it, and with the situation as it was and the heat, I didn't take a chance on making my family sick. It was very hard to do but I disposed of all but the head after checking it in. I've never done anything like that before, but I've never been in this situation before either. It's really bothered me, but I feel I did the right thing.

Tim, because I feel it was not killed in the way I envisioned my first Trad kill. You know, deer comes walking in, stops broadside at 15 yards, I shoot he/she runs 40 yards. The end. Not, sick deer, can't get away, shoot it to put it out of it's misery.

Thats to bad.  It is better to be safe than sorry.  Good loooooong story!

I gotta go to bed. Work tomorrow. Thanks, all, for the kind words,

Your first trad kill was an act of mercy and character. I'm putting a gold star by it not an asterisk. We're more than takers of game we are caretakers of it and you fulfilled that role admirably.

     

It sounds like you did the right thing, for the deer and your family. I understand, we all have our own mental image of what we feel is the perfect way to harvest a deer, I think you helped out a sick critter. Way to go!

Kenny,  Charlie Lamb has nothing on you!  Congratulations on the buck.  Good way to start, and made a good story too.  If that disease EHD is in your area, or rather Joe's area, I'd check with DNR in that area just in case.  I know it doesn't affect humans as a disease, but I do not know if consuming the flesh of an animal sick with it would be ok.  Someone there in DNR should be able to tell you.  I don't wish to rain on your parade but don't want you to get sick either.  The deer runs a high fever and goes to water because of thirst from the fever,I think.  The common name for the disease is Bluetongue.  
Good luck,
Bill

I second that David, I would have done the same thing. Way to go Kenny.

Danny

Congrats on your first!! Nice buck, and great hunt with friends, memories for a lifetime    
No astericks needed, didn't look like the buck was on steroids  :D

Wow! A bunch of you gugs type faster than I do.  I was typing while a bunch of posts went up.  Yep Gold Star from me too.  I think it was a mercy situation, and am relieved that you disposed of it too. If you hit it under those circumstances, you'd have gotten it under better too, and you didn't Know it was sick when you shot so doesn't that count?  Good job and good on you, but I'm sorry as we all are you couldn't get the meat.
FWIW, I did the same thing once on a nubbin buck.  Someone had shot it "for camp meat".  That seems to justify shooting for the head in these parts, NOT me!. It had the whole right side of it's head missing from a gunshot and was walking down the creek trying to get a drink I suppose.  I kept watching as it just wasn't normal behavior, and when it turned its head and I saw it, I had to do it. Being a Vet. I didn't think it was wise to eat it with it having an obvious infection,so I discarded the carcass as you did. Again Good on you and better luck next time.
Bill   I wonder how many posts behind I am now.  LOL

Forgot to add that this is a viral disease not a parasite.  Transmitted by biting midges.  The midges bite humans too, but we don't get sick.  I call them sandgnats, and other names having to do with the fact their parents were never married.  They feel like a white hot tiny needle sticking me. GA had an outbreak of Bluetongue virus about 25 to 30 yrs ago. I found dead deer  and bones all over where I hunted that year.

ya did good Kenny,,, made us wait too dang long but it was worth it. i'm sure that young buck was led your way. you did very good bro,,Congrats!!!

Congrats Kenny! He looks like a super buck to me and a great one for your first trad kill. We all want that perfect setup that we all have in our minds but after years of hunting i have found that it doesn't happen like that most of the time. I know you hate to waste the meat but i honestly would have done the same thing. It's just not worth taking the chance.      

Kenny,
    You did a good thing there, Congrats! Now you'll just have to get a doe for the freezer. Good story!
Denny