fisher16
10-30-2006, 10:33 AM
Chesapeake anglers net whitetail buck
A group of Chesapeake Bay anglers got more than they bargained for last week when they netted a whitetail buck (http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/84-10252006-732357.html) that was struggling to stay afloat near Solomons Island.
Don Fitzhugh was fishing with his wife and three other anglers when they spotted the deer with its head barely above the water.
"This deer had no business being out there; he was very disoriented," said Fitzhugh. "Frankly, he was really down for the count. This deer was just desperately trying to stay afloat."
One angler snagged the buck's antler using a fishing net and the boat's occupants held on to the animal while the craft motored slowly to the shore.
When they released the deer near the shoreline, it slowly stumbled onto dry land.
"As he stood there, he turned sideways and looked at us. As he turned around, he started to bark at us. He barked three times. We all looked at each other and said, "I swear this deer is saying thank you,'" Fitzhugh said.
OK, I know it's an awfully syrupy, warm and fuzzy story up to this point, kind readers.
For the record, let's just imagine that the real happy ending to the tale came for the blackpowder hunter who was waiting in the woods on last Thursday's opening day of Maryland's muzzleloader deer season.
A group of Chesapeake Bay anglers got more than they bargained for last week when they netted a whitetail buck (http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/84-10252006-732357.html) that was struggling to stay afloat near Solomons Island.
Don Fitzhugh was fishing with his wife and three other anglers when they spotted the deer with its head barely above the water.
"This deer had no business being out there; he was very disoriented," said Fitzhugh. "Frankly, he was really down for the count. This deer was just desperately trying to stay afloat."
One angler snagged the buck's antler using a fishing net and the boat's occupants held on to the animal while the craft motored slowly to the shore.
When they released the deer near the shoreline, it slowly stumbled onto dry land.
"As he stood there, he turned sideways and looked at us. As he turned around, he started to bark at us. He barked three times. We all looked at each other and said, "I swear this deer is saying thank you,'" Fitzhugh said.
OK, I know it's an awfully syrupy, warm and fuzzy story up to this point, kind readers.
For the record, let's just imagine that the real happy ending to the tale came for the blackpowder hunter who was waiting in the woods on last Thursday's opening day of Maryland's muzzleloader deer season.