Another odd incident involving a buck getting its antlers in a twist occurred Tuesday in Cook County in northeastern Minnesota.
According to a news release from the Department of Natural Resources, state conservation officer Darin Fagerman of Grand Marais received a call Tuesday of a buck with its antlers wrapped up in a hammock.
"It was dark and the deer was extremely tangled in the hammock, but the buck was still on its feet and able to move," Fagerman said.
Fagerman and the caller cautiously approached the buck a couple of times to see if they could position themselves to free the animal, but each time the buck turned and kicked its hind legs in their direction.
Fagerman said the hammock was so wrapped up on one of the buck's antlers that there was little hope of releasing it without injuring himself or the caller. Killing the deer was "the last thing I wanted to do, but I was running out of time and options," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Approaching the deer with his flashlight and sidearm, Fagerman shot but missed when the deer moved. It proved to be a saving shot.
"The gunshot startled the buck, which then pulled straight back on the hammock, exposing about two inches of the antler just above the base of the head," Fagerman said. "Thankfully, the buck stayed still and I was then able to shoot the antler off. The deer, wasting no time, then ran off into the darkness," Fagerman said.
"Conservation officers never know what they may encounter," he said.
