Having a problem getting the link to migrate but at kstp.com there is a story of a wisconsin hunter that was setting up stands and ended up getting close enough to pet a young buck. Crazy stuff.
That was pretty cool, bet his heart was racing just the same as if he was going to shoot it Never know what a wild animal is going to do at any given time, I would have stood up as well. Question is, if you watch that same deer from stand the entire season and he becomes known to you, could you shoot him in a year or 2 if you can keep tabs on him and he matures?
About 5 years ago I was at my friends cabin near Siren Wisconsin when we had a 1.5 yr old buck walk up to us in the backyard. Everyone took turns scratching its head. I felt bad knowing we weren't doing it any good by being friendly with it but by that time I think it's fear of humans was gone and it didn't matter. The kids enjoyed it and since I was a guest I didn't try scaring it away. We talked about how it wasn't going to live through the fall because of it's tameness. More than likely some good intentioned yet not well informed animal nut had been feeding it off their porch since it was a fawn.
I've seen a few videos like these - but first time with a buck. Pretty cool like others have said. I wouldn't be able shoot it, though. That being said, last year my husband's friend was coming out of the woods. He had a buck standing [broadside] in the field. He crouched down and started walking towards it - it never moved. He stood up, drew and hit it...at a short distance, like 10 yards. Dropped not even 30 yards from that. He's allergic to deer hair - so husband went up to help him - rolled it over and it had a tag in its ear...guess that's why it wasn't afraid of him. (He was so proud, thought he was being sneaky). Deer got out from a farm. Called PGC - they came and took the head to do a sample for a disease. It tested positive and all the meat had to be disposed of. They did give the rack back to him, though.
A couple years ago I had a button buck that would come visit me each sit ( I may or may not have had something to do with his mama disappearing Anyway, I would bring an apple or something to toss to him occasionally and he would literally hang out for sometimes the entire hunt. I have video of me talking to him about all kinds of things. He'd look right up at me and cock his head as if he was listening intently. That was a really fun season for me.
We had a young deer walk out on us while we were skeet and target shooting. Got to pet it and my buddy couldn't resist this pic.
I had a button buck visit me every day during gun season a few years ago. Stuck his head right into my pop up. Nothing like having the real thing as a scent bait or confidence decoy. Sort of like having coots or herons among your duck blocks.
Be like my buddy who let his buck this year go ahead and get done with his business with the doe he was with so he could die happy
