No Photoshop conspiracy theory here. Gordon Murph killed this big-nosed buck in Escambia County, AL last January. David Murph said of the weird critter his uncle shot, “Other than the swollen face, he was healthy. He had plenty of fat on him. I've been told that back in October, a neighboring club got pictures of this same buck on a game camera, and he had the swollen nose then.”
The buck had a disease that is being tracked by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the Univ. of Georgia. Scattered cases of big-nosed deer have been reported across the South and up to Delaware. Scientists say it appears to be a bacterial infection. It is affecting few deer at this point, and they don’t see any grave impacts to herd health yet.
But officials want to know more. If you or a buddy were to shoot a Big Nose this fall, take it to the nearest wildlife agency so they can extract tissue samples. Don’t freeze the head, because that ruins the samples.
Then mount that thing as is--imagine the looks and comments your Buckwinkle would get!
That's just nasty!
Jim
Posted by: jstreet | May 28, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Wow! I was thinking some moose got busy with a deer. Very strange. Mike, keep us posted on this one.
Posted by: Doug In Wisconsin | May 28, 2008 at 11:12 AM
look at that poor buck glad they got him must have hurt pretty bad
Posted by: ian in wisconsin | May 28, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Thats cool! At my local sport shop they have one that looks just like this. Its mounted on the wall, except the rack is bigger. The deer was taken a couple of years back here in Michigan i believe.
Posted by: Scott | May 28, 2008 at 02:22 PM
I know what it is, it's that Deer Cocaine! Apparently people from Dixie all the way to Deleware should lay off using that stuff.
Seriously though, that is pretty wild looking right there.
"Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat...."
Posted by: Dean Weimer | May 28, 2008 at 03:55 PM
I have seen many a bucks have a swollen face like that at camp. Maybe not in this particular case, but I can tell you that mounting a buck that has been hung upside down off a meat pole resembles this picture very closly.
I have had to cape many bucks that were hung up to dry and have resulted in many more hours of taxidermy work then would of normally been necassary!!! It effects some and not others but could easily be avoided by using a drag buddy to hang your buck or doe up instead.
Just my .02 and experciences with the "swollen face". Dave
Posted by: Syfert | May 29, 2008 at 07:39 PM
I even sent the picture to a taxidery friend-
"I have had a few of these and mine were caused by hunters hanging their deer up and putting bags of ice in the chest cavities. When the ice melts it goes straight to the head. When you cape it out it will be like caping it under water,water will just puddle. Mine had very cold water running out of it.
As far as tanning & mounting, it can cause you slippage on the face. As soon as I see the client bring this in , I explain to him right then of the possible problem."
Posted by: Syfert | May 29, 2008 at 07:42 PM
dude that is so not real jk were did u shoot it at
Posted by: kyle | November 03, 2008 at 12:06 PM
that is a Big Asssssssssssssss nose
Posted by: | November 16, 2008 at 09:02 PM
YOU'RE A F. BASTARD.
WHY DON'T YOU SHOOT TO YOURSELF ?
AND ASK YOUR HEAD NOT TO BE frOzeN, because that ruins the samples.
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