R.I.P. "Big Rack" buck

[MarkBC]

This guy has shown up in my yard a few times over the past few years...
Apparently, he was well-enough known around Bend that he acquired a nickname "Buck Norris".

“Buck Norris” killed along Highway 97 in Bend

I first posted about seeing this guy in my yard back in 2012 and then again last year : "Big Rack!"

Both of the creatures in this photo on my back deck are now gone.
It's a shame that Mr. Big Rack went out being hit by a car -- not a cool way for such a magnificent wild creature to go.
(I don't know what happened to my Kitty -- disappeared one night last summer, probably taken by a predator.)

 

[ski3pin]

Say it isn't so!

 

[MarkBC]

Yep, apparently he was hit on the busiest street in town, about a mile from my house. He's estimated to be 9 or 10 years old.

Michelle Dennehy, spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, summed it up pretty well:
“Unfortunately, vehicle-wildlife collisions happen throughout Oregon and are more common around high density areas and in the Bend/Central Oregon area in particular,”...“While Buck Norris’ habit of staying within Bend city limits protected him to an older age, it finally put him at risk.”

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Nine or ten is pretty old for a buck, especially one with the fame of Buck Norris. I'm surprised that someone didn't try putting his rack on the wall.

With a bit of luck he will have passed his genes along, including what ever created that magnificent set of antlers.

 

[snuffy]

that sucks , i hope that someone has the cape and antlers..

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

that sucks , i hope that someone has the cape and antlers..

Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife usually keep these as exhibits.

 

[Lighthawk]

Sad to see ol' Buck go.
Those were truly magnificent antlers and he lived a long life.

From a dog point of view:
Callie would enjoy paying homage to ol' Buck if she could gnaw on those antlers.
Store bought antlers are very expensive and a rack like that would be worth quite a bit.

 

[takesiteasy]

R.I.P. old Buck Norris.

 

[Squatch]

Sad way for the old boy to go.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Oh man what a bummer.
I enjoyed your shots of him in your yard.
Frank