Check it out, nine point buck with a gorgeous rack; I'm rich!
I've been smelling this unfortunate city deer for months on my rail road trekking, just been waiting for him to air out a bit more. He put off a powerful stank. I finally investigated weeks ago and much to my delight, a whole deer was just laying there for the taking, harvesting, decapitating, what have you.Today Kerrie came over and when I told her about my plan to go get it she said "Let's go right meow!"
There's no time like the present, so off we went. Kerrie wanted this Pit Bull skull which I'd also had on my list, so I separated his head and gave it to her. She hates dogs and she also didn't want to touch it, but she was a pretty good partner, taking pics for me, carrying the shovel and "nasty-bag". Thusly, I told her she'd earned her Nature Gangster cred.
Doesn't she look like a straight THUG here?
Look at this rack! I haven't even decided what I'll do with this; do I keep the skull intact or cut off the antlers and mount them on a super-fly plaque of my own creation?
Skin is tough and sinewy and I was only able to remove one foot today. I couldn't find my utility knife and no, I wasn't going to use my pocket knife. I eat with that and even I am not that gross. A fresh deer, sure...but not this guy.These little cloven hooves are just so pretty and sweet. My mind races with ideas of what I could do with all four!
I assume he was hit by the train. It seems like a safe assumption, but his location was way off from the raised tracks, down a woodsy gulley and up against this fence. Still, a train could certainly throw him that far.This is how I discovered him, you can imagine my delight.
After we were done, we loaded up our prizes in the back of the truck and headed home feelin' like a million bucks.Life is short, take time to stop and pick up the roadkill.
4 comments:
He is beautiful, death and all. One day early this spring I was working out at my place, minding my own business, doing some dishes in my old- timey washtub sink outside, and this gorgeous buck, all manly and proud, comes walking out of the woods like he owned the place (which he pretty much does), and looked at me right there- right in front of me- then huffed real loud and turned and walked back into the woods...
I, too, cannot resist some lovely roadkill. A couple years ago I found what was surely the father of all otters in the Laurel River near where I live. He was huge. I talked real pretty to his corpse, then skinned him out- taking care to preserve his face and precious whiskers- then I brain tanned his magnificent hide and I keep it in the house to remind me of all things wild and beautiful and awesome.
He is beautiful, death and all. One day early this spring I was working out at my place, minding my own business, doing some dishes in my old- timey washtub sink outside, and this gorgeous buck, all manly and proud, comes walking out of the woods like he owned the place (which he pretty much does), and looked at me right there- right in front of me- then huffed real loud and turned and walked back into the woods...
I, too, cannot resist some lovely roadkill. A couple years ago I found what was surely the father of all otters in the Laurel River near where I live. He was huge. I talked real pretty to his corpse, then skinned him out- taking care to preserve his face and precious whiskers- then I brain tanned his magnificent hide and I keep it in the house to remind me of all things wild and beautiful and awesome.
Aw Dana, Dad gave me an otter skin for my wedding gift. He has 'em bad at the Farm, so he hunts them all winter long. They are just adorable. If we'd had them when I was growing up I surely would have caught one and tried to make it into a pet. And I love that sound deer make, kind of like a horse but more fast & gruff. I have a lot of roadkill stories. I look forward to making many more in the future!
Dusti--
what the hell is on that shovel? It looks feline. Is that a freaking LION?????
Post a Comment