Tag: dead deer

Mountain Lion Really Killed This Buck

Mountain Lion Dragging Buck

Have you seen the game camera photo of a mountain lion that killed a buck at or near a feeder?  It seems quite amazing that the lion and his kill were caught on camera. However, the mountain lion dragging buck photo appears to be legit. It’s rather lucky photo for the owner of the game camera, but not as fortunate for the buck.

Readers of this site know that I normally write about deer management and anything related to hunting white-tailed deer. In addition, I do my best to get the facts correct before publishing content that I feel is accurate and helpful to hunters and landowners managing the deer and habitat found on their hunting properties.

Well, about a month ago I wrote an article that featured the photo below. It’s a perfect game camera photo of a mountain lion dragging a dead buck directly in front of a feeder. It seemed so perfect, I stated that surely the photo was a fake. As it turns out, the mountain lion dragging a buck photo is not fake. Rather, it’s an actual, amazing trail camera photo taken on a ranch in South Texas.

 This photo caught a mountain lion near a feeder after killing a whitetail buck

Mountain Lion Kill Caught on Camera

Every deer hunter that has spent any amount of time in the woods, or more appropriately around a campfire with other hunters, has heard stories related to mountain lion sightings.  This can include the alleged black panther sightings that your buddy/uncle/friend/nephew claims he saw, too. The stories always get better as the night goes on.

One of the best things about getting outdoors and into the wildlife woods is that you really never know what you are going to see. And speaking from experience (and the mountain lion photos further below), there are some amazing things going on outside all of the time. After all, nature never really sleeps.

Photos, like campfire stories, are not always truthful. Before writing the first article about this photo of a mountain lion dragging a buck, I did a little research regarding the photo. If this photo had been faked, it would not have been the first. To make a long story short, someone initially admitted that they had “made” the photo. Just to get some attention, someone actually claimed to have faked a real-to-life photo. Wow.

Mountain Lion Dragging Buck After Kill

As it turns out, the real owner of the mountain lion photo saw the article, contacted me, gave me the real story that took place on his South Texas property and even provided me with additional photos to corroborate the mountain lion kill.

The ranch owner even said he found the whitetail buck’s head and remains about 6 weeks after these game camera photos were taken. He confirmed that the buck had been killed by the lion.

The photos below are in time succession and show a deer fleeing the area prior to the buck being killed. You can even see the drag marks in the dirt after the mountain lion walks right in front of the game camera.  A truly remarkable occurrence, especially since it was caught on film. A special thanks to Chet Markgraf for his story and these photos!

Photos Document Lion & Whitetail Buck

Mountain Lion Kills Whitetail Buck

Mountain Lion Dragging Buck in Photo

Mountain Lion Attacks Buck

Mountain Lion Kills Buck at Feeder

Video: Mountain Lion Kills Deer

Another Way to Kill Deer: Gates

The white-tailed deer is an amazing animal. Deer really live a tough life and must navigate a multitude of obstacles along the way, just to stay alive. From the time they are born, deer have to survive the elements, escape endless pursuits from coyotes and mountain lions, not to mention diseases or possible deaths from wounds and injuries. Then, there are the deer hunting seasons. But deer populations continue to thrive.

With all that in mind, some of the things that deer — and probably most people — do not suspect as a hazard are gates and wrought iron fences. Elaborate gates are often built entering properties. But deer will try to jump them. It’s important for gates to be either very high, so that deer do not attempt to jump them, or very low so that deer can easily jump them.

Whitetail Deer Killed by Gate

Both gates and fences are put around rural, residential and commercial properties. Fences often mark property boundaries, but they are often erected to protect property and keep animals in or out. It’s also important that they be constructed with safety, both human and wildlife, in mind. Improper construction only means that deer will regularly get caught in fences.

Then there are other human-created deer death traps like roads, highways, and interstates. Just add automobiles and 18-wheelers to start the killing. And yes, hunters get to take a few to with archery equipment and firearms during the regulated hunting season. But the occasional residential gate? Who would have guessed?