I just had to add my mishap with a dead deer. Nowhere near 200 lbs, the buck was found dead in the pasture with an arrow in it's heart. Don't know why the hunter didn't get it-maybe he/she didn't look far enough. Anyway, the carcass needed to be moved as the cows were getting a bit too curious, so I saddled up my cow horse, and brought extra rope as my plan was to drag the carcass to a cow-free area and process it.
Bigshot is good cow horse. At 1500 lbs he has dragged many a calf to safe ground. So, he was amicable about dragging a deer, and knew the job well. Since I couldn't lift the carcass, I tied the rope to its hind legs and cued Bigshot to start pulling. All I had to do was simply walk with the horse (too lazy to climb in the saddle only to have to get down again), and all was going well.
Well, the bull took offense at the removal of the body. Normally as placid as a calf, Black Bart came at a trot to see what was going on in his pasture. He knew Bigshot enough not to bother him so he eyed me.
I slapped my hat at him, and he turned his attention to the dead deer which was still moving across the grass thanks to Bigshot. In a fit of displaced rage, Black Bart attacked the deer. Bigshot stopped and looked at me for direction. I hopped in the saddle and watched the bull go at the deer. He was head butting the carcass as hard as he could. Kneeling on it and slamming his head into the rib cage of the dead animal. He even tried to bite it.
With incredible accuracy for a dead beast, an antler gouged Bart in the eye. The bull bellowed and intensified his attack only to get his head hung in the curve of the antlers of the dead beast. Bart forgot his anger and was now afraid. I urged Bigshot into a canter in the hopes of preventing further injury to the bull. Bart thought the deer was running from him and gave chase. Although this time he didn't get close to the dead deer, he put on a good show for the cows watching in amazement.
Bigshot thought the bull was after him, and momentarily forgot his manners, and bucked one time so high that he jerked the dead deer in the air. The bull stopped to watch the deer get air time and decided to stop the chase. On the other hand, Bigshot charged ahead at a full gallop. Momentarily discombobulated by the buck, I found my balance just as Bigshot rounded the last corner. I dropped my heels, settled my seat bones, and said 'Whoa' in a low voice.
Bigshot heeded the cue by going into a sliding stop in mid turn. His rear end fishtailed sending the carcass shooting past us and into the side of the truck, creating a nice size dent. Once there, the deer neatly folded his legs and lowered his head to the ground as if he fell asleep.
Never could get the insurance company to believe this story.
