I saw him after season .. where did he go ???

A question I ask myself every summer, usually more than once -- usually a lot.
 
Some get killed by vehicles ..  a few by poachers.   Some probably by exhaustion for rut and starvation over winter.
 
Some are alive but you never see them until someone kills them.   In my experience, an older buck's daylight area can be very small .. even a few acres.
 
 
But what about fighting ?  How many actual bucks get killed from fighting.
 
 
The picture below is a buck from the immediate area I hunt.  As you might be able to tell, it looks like the deer layed down and sorta went to sleep.  After my friend talked to the local WCO .. they said it probably has a puncture in its head from fighting and eventually it turned into an infection which worked its way to the brain.  Especially since both antlers are broken .. the brow tines of another buck could have done it easily.   We aren't going to be able to get up there for a while because of the weather.  My friend wants to skin its head to see if there's a hole.
 

 
 
btw... grouse gun there.

Good point -- if there was an area with higher population of coyotes that I know of on that mountain .. it'd be right there.

You're in the wrong spot there wild brook.   Not a lot of deer there.   You're 1 for 2. 

Kype,
How old do you think he was?  He looks young to me.

Ironhed

I bet a mountain lion got 'em. I hear the PGC stocked them there duud.

Hey, remember this one?

http://www.fishusa.com/Discussion2/viewthread.asp?forum=AMB_AP636824025&subject=Our+Cat+hunters+make+headlines&id=53141

Ironhed

No WCO testing.