My Buddy DK is still alive (photos)

Saskman · Jul 16, 2009

I have seen and photographed this same mule deer now every year since 2005. He has made it through many hunting seasons and a couple pretty good winters. I was very pleased to see him last night and got one of the better photos I have taken of him. He has proved to be very elusive and although I have seen him numerous times I have only been able to take a few photos of him and not all are of great quality. It has been nice to see him grow old through the years. This year he is growing his smallest set of antlers to date and I am afraid this may be the last year he is around as he is getting up there in age. Here are several photos of him over the years. As I said they are not all of great quality but I am just happy to have been able to document him over the years. I have one set of shed antlers off of him from 2005 which I have attached a photo of.

These first three are from 2005

2006 this was a dry year and he shrunk a little. His kicker on the right side was almost not there.

2007 I was in position to get great photos but a whitetail doe spooked and sent DK and his buddy crashing away before I could get a good shot

2008 a very poor photo but I only saw him this once and it was almost black out. He started showing his age a lot this year.

2009 He has really gone downhill this year and I am afraid it may be his last. I was sure glad to see him last night.

His sheds from the first year I photographed him.

NeverStopHuntin · Jul 16, 2009

AMAZING!! I always love looking at your photos but the character of this buck topped with having several years of him makes these some of the best.

hobbes · Jul 16, 2009

Awesome photos. Looks like from 06 to 07 he was doing some fighting to gain the three cuts in his right ear. He looks like a tough ole bird. It is almost sad to see him start to look like its his last year, but pretty cool to know he's been sharp enough to continue to elude everyone. Gotta respect a animal like that.

www.newcobowhunter.blogspot.com

rmanwill · Jul 16, 2009

Very cool pictures and buck!!! Nice to see him for several years. If this is his last year, at least he has been around for numerous years and hopefully passed along his genes!!! Thanks for sharing.

ForkWest · Jul 16, 2009

VERY COOL! Amazing to be able to keep tabs on him for so many years. Sounds like a lot of good genes have been given out of the years.

How do you think he was able to make it through so many seasons?

legacy · Jul 16, 2009

Way cool!

sageadvice · Jul 16, 2009

Congrats!!!! and much Thanks!! Excellent Presentation!

Joey

MrB · Jul 16, 2009

Great pictures! Wow, now that is a old buck. If he is not at least 10 years old I would be stunned.

Thanks for sharing!
Mike

jdh · Jul 16, 2009

Great series of shots Cam. Thanks for sharing. It is very rewarding to see the same bucks year after year and see 'em make it through the hunts.

jdh
www.muleyphotos.com

appleman · Jul 16, 2009

Really nice history on a way cool buck-he looks really nice this year-in the face and body and it will be interesting to see how his bones turn out this year-!-if we do?

LESGO54 · Jul 16, 2009

great pics. u did good keeping up with him

need4x4 · Jul 16, 2009

I am no expert, however, I was thinking that he looked very mature way back in 2005.

This is a very cool set of pictures and a great experience for you.

Amazing what you see when the animals have a little space to grow up.

Thank you for sharing with us!!

ELKOHOLIC · Jul 16, 2009

Great pictures! You've got it good up there.

Gator · Jul 16, 2009

Very nice set of photos.He still a great buck.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

apollosmith · Jul 16, 2009

Coolest post ever! Thanks for sharing the photos (you seem to be a great photographer) and the stories behind them. Here's to another couple years for old DK!

Founder · Jul 16, 2009

Awesome, awesome!!!

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

BCBOY · Jul 16, 2009

Cam,
That is an amazing set of pics of an amazing Canadian Giant! It is indeed something special to follow a buck like that for so long. Even though his antlers look weak this year, he still looks very healthy and his body looks to be in good condition. I hope you get to see him a little later in the summer and see what his regressed rack finishes at. Thanks for taking the time to share these pics with us.

iliveinthewoods · Jul 16, 2009

very cool! if you don't mind me asking will you tell me what camera and lens you use? Your pics look great!

mulebuck · Jul 16, 2009

Once again Sas, killer pix and great work staying with him.

For me, after watching a buck for that many years you kinda get attached to them as though they were a pet.

Saskman · Jul 17, 2009

>VERY COOL! Amazing to be able
>to keep tabs on him
>for so many years. Sounds
>like a lot of good
>genes have been given out
>of the years.
>
>How do you think he was
>able to make it through
>so many seasons?

He is still living in a draw only zone that doesn't get tremendous pressure, which is probably one reason why he is still around. He also just seems to be able to disappear when the season comes. I have no idea where he goes. If he was a little farther north in one of the CWD zones he would be gone years ago.

Saskman · Jul 17, 2009

>very cool! if you don't mind
>me asking will you tell
>me what camera and lens
>you use? Your pics look
>great!

Most of the photos were taken with various Canon bodies from a 10D to 30D to 50D. All of the photos but the one of him this year were taken with a Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS lens. This year's photo was taken with a Canon 300 f/2.8L IS lens with a 1.4X teleconverter.

SaddleSore · Jul 17, 2009

The photos from 2005 and 2007 are really good. Great post and thanks for sharing.

Roy · Jul 17, 2009

Nice job Cam - that secon browtine and all the nicks in his ears sure give him away don't they! Yes - he is getting a little long in the tooth. 2005 looks like it was his peak. A true giant - especially because of his longevity.

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)

30buck · Jul 17, 2009

ONe of the better post i've seen, That buck is awesome, What a feeling i bet you got when you seen your old friend last night. KEEP UP GOOD WORK>

cjboz · Jul 17, 2009

Heck of a buck, I have been watching a good buck the past 2 yrs. and I feel somewhat bad about hunting him this year. I have spent may hours looking at him in the binos. We are kind of buds I guess you could say. I guess it is like Lonesome Dove when they have to hang Jake for being a horse thief.

Does DK stand for DeerKing?

Moondog · Jul 17, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Jul-17-09 AT 11:32AM (MST)[p]Great pics. He is definitely an old warrior now. Kinda hope nobody gets him even though it might be more merciful for him.

DUKFVR · Jul 17, 2009

THANKS for the GREAT pics!! He is a TRUE Old Warlord!!

Gator · Jul 17, 2009

Saskman
Why didn't you get him in 05, what deer did you take in 05?
Just a nosey SOB. LOL

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

cbeard · Jul 17, 2009

Very nice!!!!

Saskman · Jul 17, 2009

>Saskman
>Why didn't you get him in
>05, what deer did you
>take in 05?
>Just a nosey SOB. LOL
>
>
>"I have found if you go
>the extra mile it's Never
>crowded".

I took the following massive old buck in 2005 that scored 210 non-typical. I had seen the two together and said which ever one got close enough first I would take. I had DK at 88 yards the day before I took this guy but could not get any closer for a shot. I attached a photo at the bottom of the two of them together.