2008.12.16
Michael Allen tags out with a big seven-pointer
Here's a shot of Michael Allen's third buck of the year, a great seven-pointer.
Here's what he wrote about the hunt:
"Short story on it I was set up in the same stand I killed my eight and ten out of. Was in stand for less than 15 minutes and had does surrounding me. Not too long after that bucks began to move chasing the few does that were under my stand. I passed on all of them cause to get the big boys you got to let the little ones go and it wasnt to long after things calmed down when this hog daddy stepped out and needless to say my Muzzy four blade done eating and put him down. I would also like to thank my hunting buddies and best friends Allen "Moe" Lazenby, JR Mitchell, and Mark for all of the advice and help throughout my previous hunting years."
(Note added by Mark Taylor on Dec. 18. As is noted in comments below, there have been some questions about where this buck was killed. Michael Allen says his girlfriend wrote the above submission and mistakenly assumed he shot it in Roanoke County, where he shot the first two bucks. Allen says it was shot in Franklin County, where the season limit on bucks is three. He assures me everything is/was legal. Based on the number of people I've heard from on this, and the tone of some of the comments, I wouldn't be surprised if Allen hears from a conservation police officer and gets a chance to officially clear up any confusion.)
Picture submissions typically slow down once we hit December and this year has been no different. Some folks are still out there hunting, but pressure has significantly dropped off. I expect there to be a little bump over the next couple of weeks as people do some late muzzleloader hunting over the holidays. That season always produces a few nice bucks but the real focus for many hunters, myself included, is to put another doe or maybe even two in the freezer.
Nice buck Mike again. That is a trophy seven for sure. What a way to tag out.
Comment by Jason B. — December 17, 2008 @ 2:09 am
buddy, don't think we can kill three bucks in roanoke. It said last two came from roanoke too. May want to ask around or maybe I read it wrong
-- Michael Allen just sent me an e-mail and said his girlfriend wrote the thing up about his seven-pointer and mistakenly assumed he killed it in Roanoke County, like the first two bucks. Allen said the seven pointer was killed in Franklin County. mt
Comment by Jason B. — December 17, 2008 @ 2:15 am
I'm a little confused on the story, but great deer. Next time you may want to write the story. As the son of a retired conservation officer, I know how they prey upon poachers and illegal killings of animals here in craig co. Becareful and congrats on the deer.
Comment by C.J. — December 17, 2008 @ 6:42 pm
HEY GUYS SORRY ABOUT THE MISTAKE ON THE STORY OF THE HUNT MY GIRLFRIEND WROTE UP THE BLOG CAUSE I DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT COMPUTERS BUT ANYWAYS SHE THOUGHT FERRUM WHERE THE BUCK WAS KILLED IS PART OF ROANOKE COUNTY. THE BUCK WAS KILLED IN FRANKLIN COUNTY(FERRUM) SO SORRY FOR ALL THE CONFUSION AND MISTAKE!!!!
Comment by MICHAEL ALLEN — December 17, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
Short story on it I was set up in the same stand I killed my eight and ten out of.
Must be a big stand.................
Comment by Bobby Olsen — December 18, 2008 @ 1:06 am
We got you on the ferrum part but it says "same stand as 8 and 10" Look, I know B.S. when I read it and I thought everybody knew ferrum was not in roanoke county. And the words that were used in the story doesn't sound like what a lady would write. Anybody can phone in a deer killed in a county other than what it was actually killed in.
I hope this is not the case, you seem like a far better hunter than I am. But what is law, is the law.
Comment by C.J. — December 18, 2008 @ 6:31 pm
Is it really worth all this. Its a deer. Im with mark, let the law officals sort it out and im sure its all just a big mishap. Even though you have confused us all and your story seems like a cover up, the deer you have killed this year is by far an accomplishment. I myself and others too, are hoping it was in fact killed legally and nothing fishy is going on. We do not need any more reasons for PETA or animal activists to hang us as sportsmen.
Comment by Jason B. — December 19, 2008 @ 1:22 am
This has been interesting, hasn't it?
I'm pleased that readers are paying attention, and are concerned when something appears amiss. That's the way it should be. Sportsmen are a key cog in enforcement of fish and game laws.
And I write that having been on the other end of this after that embarrassing debacle last year when I mistakenly violated a game law and then wrote about it on this blog.
I did a combo late muzzleloader deer hunt and turkey hunt. Since I didn't want to shoot a turkey with a muzzleloader, I carried a shotgun, too. It turns out it's a no-no to possess a conventional firearm on a muzzleloader deer hunt. I guess you have to account for those muzzleloader deer hunters who might carry a high-powered rifle or slug-loaded shotgun and claim it's their "turkey" gun. It seems like a somewhat obsolete law now that modern muzzleloaders are, for all intents and purposes, single-shot, high-powered deer rifles. But, a law is a law. As soon as readers pointed out my error I turned myself in. Better to face the music that try to cover up my mistake. I got a written warning. It probably helped that I had written proof that it was an honest (albeit, dumb) mistake, and that I immediately came clean. (Classic quote from one of my kids: "Daddy, why did that police officer come to visit you?")
That said, we can choose to believe Michael Allen. Or we can choose to not believe him. Personally, I always try to give folks the benefit of the doubt. Presumed innocent, you know?
Again, I would be very surprised if a conservation police officer doesn't look into this. I've spent enough time with them to know they will have little trouble figuring out what really happened. I sincerely hope they determine that everything is legally on the up and up and that there isn't anything fishy going on. I look forward to being able to post that good news on here and moving on.
Thanks to those of you who take extra time to comment, and thanks, everybody, for reading.
mt
Comment by marktaylor — December 19, 2008 @ 9:16 am