Talk about not holding a grudge!

Wardens, wildlife biologists work together to free two locked bucks that
part as friends (we think) By Joanne M. Haas/DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement
It was Sunday night, three days before Valentine’s Day, when DNR
Conservation Warden Alex Brooks got a call from a citizen concerned about
the welfare of two big bucks just seen doing the tango with their antlers
locked together not far from Lake Delton in Sauk County.
Warden Alex knew trying to find the two big boys in the dark Sunday night
would not be the best idea since they likely would be pushing and pulling to
break free with all their might.
“It would be very hard to find them in the dark on Sunday with how much
energy they still had in them,” Warden Alex said. This was to be a Monday
morning job for him and Warden Rich Maki, another member of the warden team
serving Sauk County.
“The next morning, we went out with the caller to his property looking for
the bucks at the last known location,” Warden Alex said.
The two wardens and the caller walked all over the area but didn’t find any
signs of the bucks. And this was in the Monday morning daylight! Imagine
what it would have been like in the Sunday night darkness.
As they trekked about in search of the two bucks traveling together — sorta
— a couple came upon the search party and said they got photos of the
locked bucks to share with the wardens.
OK, maybe the photos were going to have to be all they found on this chase
to find the buddy bucks. “We were all about to call it, in hopes that the
bucks had gotten separated,” Warden Alex said.
As fate would have it, another car pulled up as the window goes down. “Are
you guys DNR?” Nods. And, with genuine excitement, the car’s occupants
relayed what they had just seen — two bucks with their antlers locked
together on the other side of the hill. So, with that compass correction,
the two wardens and citizens trekked on over to the other side.
Yup, there they were — two bucks caught in antler angst. One was a
10-pointer, the other was a 9-pointer, both still full of energy trying to
get apart from one another. “The bucks had traveled onto adjoining property,
which the landowner was notified of and met us.”
Time to call in reinforcements from the DNR Wildlife Management section
where the wildlife biologists work. Sure, they can come – and help figure
out the best steps to solve the situation.
By now, it was 2 p.m. Imagine trekking the woods and fields for a few hours
and how that can get a bit tiring on your legs. Now imagine how tired the
bucks must have felt after hours of this tug-of-war routine.
The DNR wildlife biologists tell us this is not a good situation for the
deer. Not only does a locked antler situation cause exhaustion in the deer,
it also puts a lot of stress on their muscles — including the most
important one — the heart!
The wildlife biologists, in close consultation with their DNR wildlife
veterinarian and wildlife health colleagues, determined this was a case for
calming the deer with an immobilization chemical just long enough to safely
separate them.
DNR Research Scientist Mike Watt got out the dart projector and carefully
approached the two tangled bucks.
“Mike Watt was 2 for 2 on shot placement,” Warden Alex said of Mike’s expert
aim. “The first buck went down fairly quickly. After the second dart
placement, the second buck went down as well and we were able to slowly
approach them.”
The team of wardens and biologists moved swiftly and smoothly to safely
separate the bucks. With the removal of one antler tine, the unified bucks
became two again.
Next came the reversal agent to ease the freed buddies out of their slumber.
DNR wildlife biologists Nancy Frost and Travis Anderson held the heads of
the bucks while the darts were carefully removed by Watt. Watt also attached
ear tags to each buck to indicate they had been immobilized at one time.
“Without them (DNR wildlife staff), this wouldn’t have been able to happen,”
Warden Alex said. “We are glad that we were able to work together and keep
these two bucks in the gene pool. ”
Warden Alex says the caller also was very satisfied with how the DNR team
worked together to help the deer as he, too, wanted the bucks to survive.
“Within minutes they (bucks) got up – and walked away together,” Warden Alex
said.
Now there’s a life lesson. Whatever got these two bucks in a tangle, they
let it go and walked away together. No grudges in this wildlife story!
It must have looked like a Valentine’s Day card – friends forever… well,
at least for awhile.
Thanks to the citizens, wardens and biologists. Teamwork strikes again!
If you have information regarding natural resource violations, you may
confidentially report by calling or texting: VIOLATION HOTLINE:
1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367. The hotline is in operation 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. Trained staff relay report information to conservation
wardens.