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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Stare Down with a 10 Point Buck

I was driving out from our place in St Michaels and ran into a very rare sight - a 10 point buck!.  You can see him the picture I took from my car.  Well you can kinda see him in the center of the photo.  If you enlarge it it's a bit clearer.  Points on a buck refer to the number of branches the antlers have and is used as a proxy for the size, overall health and sometimes age (based on species) of the buck.

Seeing a buck this close to our house is uncommon and seeing one with this large a rack is very rare.  The interesting thing is he held his ground with me for about 15 minutes before ambling off.

When I was a youth growing up in Alabama, I used to hunt a lot and, no, it wasn't with a flintlock, I'm not that old.  I haven't gone hunting in years as sport just doesn't appeal to me anymore.  It's a great sport for those who do pursue it, but to me it's less like hunting and more like ambushing.

Of course seeing a buck this close made me re-think hunting as a past time but I think I'll stick with more manly pursuits like miniature gaming and sailing.  Besides I'd be violating the no hunting sign my wife made me post (on the left).  I suspect that, if I shot a deer on our property, my lovely wife's wrath would turn the hunter into the hunted!
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7 comments:

  1. The Angry LurkerJune 12, 2013 at 6:17 AM

    I don't understand the term 10 point?

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  2. jmilesrJune 12, 2013 at 6:20 AM

    10 points means the antlers have 10 points (5 per side). The larger the number of points, the bigger the antler set. It used as a proxy for the size and sometimes age of the buck.

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  3. MontyJune 12, 2013 at 6:43 AM

    Like some of us, he's become reckless in his old age! It is very cool to see that, up close like you did.

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  4. Steve-the-WargamerJune 12, 2013 at 8:44 AM

    Miles - you and me both - I saw a young male in the field by the side of the road on my way to work on Monday... getting more common, but most unusual here (in the UK) fantastic to see though.... different breed I'd say (ours are usually Roe around here)...

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  5. James BrewertonJune 12, 2013 at 10:42 AM

    some great wildlife spotting there Miles

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  6. DeanMJune 12, 2013 at 11:55 AM

    What an awesome sight to behold. And all the more so in this day and age. Regards, Dean

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  7. Doc SmithJune 15, 2013 at 12:14 PM

    Ten points is a nice big stag near his prime - given they are such cautious animals you are indeed lucky to get so close. I'm with you on the hunting thing. Used to hunt myself in my youth (bow hunting feral pig mostly) but never got into deer hunting. Some my friends still do and they swear that venison is the most tasty of meat - after its been hung in the shade for a few days to 'mature'. Apparently its very lean and better for you than beef but I personally don't go for the gamey taste (like kangeroo!) Each to his own but I think if I was lucky enough to live in such a beautiful environment where such creatures occasionally roamed I would rather enjoy just watching rather than hunting them. Leavened with the odd spot of wargaming of course!

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