Will these bucks return?

[dbl lung]

Not sure what happen to a buck we named Turkey Foot. He is an awesome buck with a G-2 split twice which looks like a turkey foot. Estimated gross score is 160ish, his sheds with a 16 inch spread last year were 147. Between myself and 2 neighbors we had nearly 500 pictures of him from July 2011 to early November 22nd. Now we have nothing of him. None of the other neighbors have heard of the deer being shot. There are quite a few cameras out and food is plentiful in the area. I can not imagine this deer leaving and not returning. Could it happen?

There is another "Big 8" (150ish for sure) that was stuck with an arrow by one of the neighbor also. Not sure where he went either. He did not bleed much and there was white hair so he was thought to be grazed low or not a killing shot. But at any rate he is another buck who appeared to be living in our area and now no pictures.

Both bucks are probably 5 year olds if that factors into your thoughts.

[MnBOWhntr]

Not sure what happen to a buck we named Turkey Foot. He is an awesome buck with a G-2 split twice which looks like a turkey foot. Estimated gross score is 160ish, his sheds with a 16 inch spread last year were 147. Between myself and 2 neighbors we had nearly 500 pictures of him from July 2011 to early November 22nd. Now we have nothing of him. None of the other neighbors have heard of the deer being shot. There are quite a few cameras out and food is plentiful in the area. I can not imagine this deer leaving and not returning. Could it happen?

There is another "Big 8" (150ish for sure) that was stuck with an arrow by one of the neighbor also. Not sure where he went either. He did not bleed much and there was white hair so he was thought to be grazed low or not a killing shot. But at any rate he is another buck who appeared to be living in our area and now no pictures.

Both bucks are probably 5 year olds if that factors into your thoughts.

My guess is both bucks are dead.

[Grassbag251]

MnBow said something that made sense!!!!

But you never know I guess. Pleanty of stories out there of deer traveling to the moon and back during rut. I know you said you got his sheds and knew he was around last year, but are you sure you were in his core area?

[Stump]

With an estimated 2-5 sq mile radius that they say is a bucks rut roaming range, that could take those bucks a long way away. Hopefully they both show back up for you.

[Grasshopper]

I would not give up on either buck, but especially Turkey Foot. It's been a mild, open winter. Deer are unstressed and food and travel are easy. He could be anywhere...And just because your cameras aren't getting him doesn't mean he isn't around.

Normal winter patterns are out the window right now. I have acres of food plots that are barely being touched and I'm hearing the same thing from other guys that I respect.

One goofy example: The other day I decided to glass a soybean food plot from my truck, parked 600 yards away. I watched four does come out and paw around in a plowed cornfield only a few hundred yards from the beans. They ignored the easy stuff and decided to dig around in the dirt for a few odd corn kernels.

Whitetails...I hope you have 'em figured out, cuz I sure don't!

[MnBOWhntr]

MnBow said something that made sense!!!! But you never know I guess. Pleanty of stories out there of deer traveling to the moon and back during rut. I know you said you got his sheds and knew he was around last year, but are you sure you were in his core area?

Ok so who is trying to start sh*t now??

If you have over 500 pictures of turkey foot he must live in your area. The rut was done long ago and he should be back home even if he is an extreme wanderer. My guess is he was either poached or traveled a great distance during the rut and was shot by someone you don't know. Have you done any recent scouting and looked at tracks to see if his are showing up anywhere? Could be he has just avoided your cameras and is still in the area but I still feel my first guess is correct.

[dbl lung]

The 8 ptr is a wanderer. There are pictures of him about 2 miles up the road by another hunter. I also have 2010 pictures of him.

Turkey Foot was living in our valley. The last pictures were at a water basin on Nov 22nd early in the morning. Judging by the pictures he was chasing a doe. Considering 2 years worth of pictures he was living within a 1/2 mile area. My neighbor has standing beans and corn so if we ever get snow I would think he would show himself in those fields.

There is another big 11 ptr living in the area. He was 146 last year with a 15" spread as a neighbor has those sheds. Could it be that buck chased this other bigger buck out of the area?

If pictures are taken I will post.

[Swens]

There's a chance one or both are still alive. I've had pics of this 150+" buck for the last two years and until December 3rd I hadn't had a pic of him since late August. I was glad to see him come back home.

[Dor]

There's a chance one or both are still alive. I've had pics of this 150+" buck for the last two years and until December 3rd I hadn't had a pic of him since late August. I was glad to see him come back home.

This is common. I would NOT be surprised to see either of those bucks come back.

[JEG]

I think the safe bet would be Turkey foot might show up but the big 8 probably wont? Just a guess, keep us posted.