Thank You

Mainah · July 12, 2007, 08:25 AM

Greetings from Maine. I've been checking in here for about a year, ever since I got my first hunting license. I'm an older rookie- 42. I didn't grow up with hunters, this site has been a fantastic source of information. Thanks everyone.

Why did I take up hunting? A couple of years ago I woke up, got a cup of coffee, and brought my dogs (at that time a ten year old German Shepherd and Border Collie) out into the front yard. We live on four acres in semi-rural Maine.

The Shepherd took off into the bushes, there was a pretty big ruckus, and he came out with a huge doe on his heels. They squared off about fifteen feet from me, she went up on her rear legs and started kicking him.

He backed down, she ran over to the Border Collie (who for the first time in her life was standing still) and gave her a couple shots. The Shepherd came back for more, chased the doe off into the woods, and then came running back with the doe in hot pursuit.

Meanwhile I'm yelling at the deer. I got her attention, and I swear that we locked eyes. My wife opened the front door, I turned around, and the deer came towards me, so I charged her (in my boxers, still holding the coffee).

The doe ran off, but only about fifty feet. I got the dogs inside, then grabbed an axe handle from the shed and chased her into the woods.

Within a year I had a new 870 and I'd completed hunter safety.

Sorry for the length of this post, but it tells you why I'm here.

fisherman66 · July 12, 2007, 08:32 AM

I just want to make sure I understand. You took up hunting as a means for self defense from bambi? That's a riot.

Welcome aboard!

Mainah · July 12, 2007, 08:59 AM

Not exactly. I tell my friends that if anything like that happens again I'm confident that I could take a deer in hand to hand combat. I figure that I've seen a deer fight, but they've never seen me fight. So I've got an edge there.

Seriously, I think I would of taken up hunting anyway. I've always enjoyed the outdoors. And I think that if we had more hunters in Maine we might have less Lyme Disease.

But I will concede that my doe permit application might have a little to do with self defense.

PTR 91 · July 12, 2007, 09:40 AM

Clubbing bambie, sounds funny. Yup the deer in Maine sure are bold arn't they?

davlandrum · July 12, 2007, 10:10 AM

Do you think she may have had a fawn stashed in there? You don't mention what time of year.

If they start charging me, I might have to rethink bowhunting altogether...or brush up on my defensive hand-gun skills....

Art Eatman · July 12, 2007, 11:43 AM

Just guessing, but from the behavior it sounds like she was protecting a fawn. Odds are, absent a fawn, she'd have gone away and at speed.

Yeah, you scared her off. All well and good. But if you'd been close to that thicket when she first charged out, shame on your unlucky self. You'd have had gashes all up and down the front of you in a heartbeat.

99.99% of the time, a deer's impulse is to run. That's their primary survival instinct. But beware that other 0.01%.

Don't ever get around anybody's "pet" buck, particularly in the fall of the year. (I know, those are not common housepets; low odds.) A fair number of folks have wound up as members of the "200 stitches club".

I'm NOT saying that woods-wandering should include any particular concern about BadMadDeer. Up close and personal, just use common sense when dealing with something that's a lot faster than you are.

Art

BIGR · July 12, 2007, 07:03 PM

I know of one hunter that was chased by a crazed six point buck at deer camp. It seems funny but he was weaponless and some of his camp buddies finally heard his shouts for help. When they came to his rescue he was standing on top of an outside table. They shot the deer and had fresh camp meet laying at their feet. Deer can do some strange things.

Enjoy your hunting and watch out for those mean deer.

FirstFreedom · July 12, 2007, 10:06 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJUvLInmo0U

Of course, there are certain species that can be trained to "sic 'em" against threatening deer to protect your homestead:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRBVh...elated&search=

Anyway, glad you deciding to take up our sport of hunting these *dangerous game*.

FrontSight · July 12, 2007, 10:53 PM

Hahahha, check out this one. not a mule deer, tho, but whatever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kivxo...elated&search=

stinger · July 12, 2007, 11:30 PM

Mainah,

That is the funniest thing I've heard. While reading that I could really picture all of this taking place. You've experienced what fewer than 1 percent of 1 percent of all people ever will. You were out there in boxers and a cup of coffee, hillarious.

Don't think you could take a deer hand to hand. They are simply too powerful. They are the size of a man, but with sharp hooves (and antlers in the male version.) They also have Olympic class stamina, power, and speed. You don't. That video of the two guys wrestling with the deer would have turned out VERY different if that deer had antlers. He seemed to be toying with them, but if he decided to, he could have caused massive damage.

But don't worry, you'll never be attacked by a deer again. Enjoy the hunting nontheless.

Mainah · July 13, 2007, 07:02 AM

You're right Art, it was June, and I'm sure she had a fawn in those bushes. My uncle lives in Northcentral PA, he loves that story. He told a neighbor about it, and the guy just raised his eyebrows.

Next year the neighbor comes flying up to my uncle on an ATV. Told him that he'd just seen a black bear kill a fawn, and then watched the mom drive the bear off. Said he believed my story now.

I'm just glad it wasn't a moose.

Smokey Joe · July 13, 2007, 11:53 AM

Mainah--Gotta watch them deeah. (My motha was a Mainiac, so I undastand the lingo.)

Quote:

Up close and personal, just use common sense when dealing with something that's a lot faster than you are.

Good general advice. Applicable to deer, firearms, steam locomotives, etc, etc. One of the commonest lines from accident survivors is, "I was amazed by how fast it happened."

fisherman66 · July 13, 2007, 12:40 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nD5zjUbWp...elated&search=

I'd turn down the volume on yer speakers. Or...perhaps I'm getting old.

indybrad · July 14, 2007, 01:32 AM

Those shepards can be instigators. Got to watch those dogs.

Mainah · July 14, 2007, 10:04 AM

Yeah, he asked for it. Like I said he was ten at the time, if it had happenned when he was a few years younger it would of been way uglier. He'd always chase after deer when we saw them, but he'd come back when I called him, he never ran them. Afterwards I could tell when he got a whiff of one, he'd come right to my side and stick to me like velcro.

The poor Border Collie didn't do anything, but she ended up with a muddy hoof print on her head. Fortunately neither dog was injured.

Fat White Boy · July 21, 2007, 08:32 PM

"Not exactly. I tell my friends that if anything like that happens again I'm confident that I could take a deer in hand to hand combat. I figure that I've seen a deer fight, but they've never seen me fight. So I've got an edge there." Mainah

Reminds me of the time a friend of mine got hit over the head with a beer bottle by a 200 pound lesbian. After he got up, he said,"Let me go, I think I can take her!"

July 12, 2007, 08:25 AM	#1
Mainah Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Posts: 1,119	Thank You Greetings from Maine. I've been checking in here for about a year, ever since I got my first hunting license. I'm an older rookie- 42. I didn't grow up with hunters, this site has been a fantastic source of information. Thanks everyone. Why did I take up hunting? A couple of years ago I woke up, got a cup of coffee, and brought my dogs (at that time a ten year old German Shepherd and Border Collie) out into the front yard. We live on four acres in semi-rural Maine. The Shepherd took off into the bushes, there was a pretty big ruckus, and he came out with a huge doe on his heels. They squared off about fifteen feet from me, she went up on her rear legs and started kicking him. He backed down, she ran over to the Border Collie (who for the first time in her life was standing still) and gave her a couple shots. The Shepherd came back for more, chased the doe off into the woods, and then came running back with the doe in hot pursuit. Meanwhile I'm yelling at the deer. I got her attention, and I swear that we locked eyes. My wife opened the front door, I turned around, and the deer came towards me, so I charged her (in my boxers, still holding the coffee). The doe ran off, but only about fifty feet. I got the dogs inside, then grabbed an axe handle from the shed and chased her into the woods. Within a year I had a new 870 and I'd completed hunter safety. Sorry for the length of this post, but it tells you why I'm here.

July 12, 2007, 08:32 AM	#2
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	I just want to make sure I understand. You took up hunting as a means for self defense from bambi? That's a riot. Welcome aboard! __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

July 12, 2007, 09:40 AM	#4
PTR 91 Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2007 Posts: 264	Clubbing bambie, sounds funny. Yup the deer in Maine sure are bold arn't they? Last edited by PTR 91; July 12, 2007 at 10:12 AM.

July 12, 2007, 10:06 PM	#8
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Now here's an arse-whoopin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJUvLInmo0U Of course, there are certain species that can be trained to "sic 'em" against threatening deer to protect your homestead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRBVh...elated&search= Anyway, glad you deciding to take up our sport of hunting these dangerous game.

July 12, 2007, 10:53 PM	#9
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	Hahahha, check out this one. not a mule deer, tho, but whatever http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kivxo...elated&search= __________________ To kill something as great as a duck just to smell the gunpowder is a crime against nature. - Alan Liere Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw

July 12, 2007, 08:59 AM	#3
Mainah Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Posts: 1,119	Not exactly. I tell my friends that if anything like that happens again I'm confident that I could take a deer in hand to hand combat. I figure that I've seen a deer fight, but they've never seen me fight. So I've got an edge there. Seriously, I think I would of taken up hunting anyway. I've always enjoyed the outdoors. And I think that if we had more hunters in Maine we might have less Lyme Disease. But I will concede that my doe permit application might have a little to do with self defense.

July 12, 2007, 10:10 AM	#5
davlandrum Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Lane County Oregon Posts: 2,547	Do you think she may have had a fawn stashed in there? You don't mention what time of year. If they start charging me, I might have to rethink bowhunting altogether...or brush up on my defensive hand-gun skills....

July 12, 2007, 11:43 AM	#6
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Just guessing, but from the behavior it sounds like she was protecting a fawn. Odds are, absent a fawn, she'd have gone away and at speed. Yeah, you scared her off. All well and good. But if you'd been close to that thicket when she first charged out, shame on your unlucky self. You'd have had gashes all up and down the front of you in a heartbeat. 99.99% of the time, a deer's impulse is to run. That's their primary survival instinct. But beware that other 0.01%. Don't ever get around anybody's "pet" buck, particularly in the fall of the year. (I know, those are not common housepets; low odds.) A fair number of folks have wound up as members of the "200 stitches club". I'm NOT saying that woods-wandering should include any particular concern about BadMadDeer. Up close and personal, just use common sense when dealing with something that's a lot faster than you are. Art

July 12, 2007, 07:03 PM	#7
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	I know of one hunter that was chased by a crazed six point buck at deer camp. It seems funny but he was weaponless and some of his camp buddies finally heard his shouts for help. When they came to his rescue he was standing on top of an outside table. They shot the deer and had fresh camp meet laying at their feet. Deer can do some strange things. Enjoy your hunting and watch out for those mean deer.

July 12, 2007, 11:30 PM	#10
stinger Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: west texas Posts: 772	Mainah, That is the funniest thing I've heard. While reading that I could really picture all of this taking place. You've experienced what fewer than 1 percent of 1 percent of all people ever will. You were out there in boxers and a cup of coffee, hillarious. Don't think you could take a deer hand to hand. They are simply too powerful. They are the size of a man, but with sharp hooves (and antlers in the male version.) They also have Olympic class stamina, power, and speed. You don't. That video of the two guys wrestling with the deer would have turned out VERY different if that deer had antlers. He seemed to be toying with them, but if he decided to, he could have caused massive damage. But don't worry, you'll never be attacked by a deer again. Enjoy the hunting nontheless.

July 13, 2007, 07:02 AM	#11
Mainah Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Posts: 1,119	You're right Art, it was June, and I'm sure she had a fawn in those bushes. My uncle lives in Northcentral PA, he loves that story. He told a neighbor about it, and the guy just raised his eyebrows. Next year the neighbor comes flying up to my uncle on an ATV. Told him that he'd just seen a black bear kill a fawn, and then watched the mom drive the bear off. Said he believed my story now. I'm just glad it wasn't a moose.

July 13, 2007, 12:40 PM	#13
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	http://youtube.com/watch?v=nD5zjUbWp...elated&search= I'd turn down the volume on yer speakers. Or...perhaps I'm getting old. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

July 14, 2007, 01:32 AM	#14
indybrad Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 229	Those shepards can be instigators. Got to watch those dogs.

July 14, 2007, 10:04 AM	#15
Mainah Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Posts: 1,119	Yeah, he asked for it. Like I said he was ten at the time, if it had happenned when he was a few years younger it would of been way uglier. He'd always chase after deer when we saw them, but he'd come back when I called him, he never ran them. Afterwards I could tell when he got a whiff of one, he'd come right to my side and stick to me like velcro. The poor Border Collie didn't do anything, but she ended up with a muddy hoof print on her head. Fortunately neither dog was injured.

July 21, 2007, 08:32 PM	#16
Fat White Boy Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Posts: 1,276	"Not exactly. I tell my friends that if anything like that happens again I'm confident that I could take a deer in hand to hand combat. I figure that I've seen a deer fight, but they've never seen me fight. So I've got an edge there." Mainah Reminds me of the time a friend of mine got hit over the head with a beer bottle by a 200 pound lesbian. After he got up, he said,"Let me go, I think I can take her!"

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