Well Deer...

[KCDakar]

I was going to get my tune up on the GS done today and needed something from the barn so I was on my way over and heard something move fast around the back of the barn. I had my camera and thought if it was a Deer I would catch it before it went over the fence. I ran around the barn only to find,,,nothing?:wtf: Where did it go?

As I walk over to see where it was bedded down I hear a splashing sound. And this is what I see...

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425252260_rSN5U-L.jpg

It is a Buck and he fell through and hit his head so hard that he is almost drowning. He lost one of his antlers in the mishap.

This well is the oldest well we have. It is about 15' deep and about 7' round and hand dug around the turn of the century. We have three on the farm. It is how we get or water.

So now I am calling 911 and getting things done so we can get him out. The water is cold and he cannot stop swimming or he will drown.

I have no rope that will help. I have no wood to build a ramp or ladder. I am walking around the farm trying to figure out what to do and come across an old dog tie out cable with a large ring on it. I make a loop like a lasso and put it over his head.

It was at this time that it got very fun. Think rodeo and I was the underdog...

He did everything he could think of to pull me in so he could kick my a$$ and I was thinking he just might get that done. Now remember nobody is here with me. I did this because he was not looking so good. I thought I would just try to help. He thought otherwise...:shrug: I finally got the great idea that if he succeeded and I fell in NOBODY would find me! So I stepped back and let the cable hang loose and he calmed right back down. Sheesh.

So it was at this time that I look up and see the all volunteer fire dept. drive right on by the driveway...:slaphead: They took some time to get back but in the mean time things were going ok. They pull up and they had to go take pics. Mr Deer did not care to much for their idea. I told them so... Then someone who I called for help sent some of his crew over and they showed up, and wanted to take pics...:gaah:

So now we have...

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425254259_GkMhz-L.jpg

And...

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425260924_zZAid-L.jpg

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425261512_8xtpf-L.jpg

All standing around looking at each other going, what do you think we should do? One calls his Boss and asks him. One calls the Dive Rescue Squad. One said I'm going to go get the Backhoe and pull him out. They all said to call the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife officer because it is a wild animal and they don't want to get in trouble. I said what ever happens it needs to happen fast...

I call Wolfvet and ask her if we have anything here at the farm that I can use to tranquilize Mr Deer so if and when we get him out he doesn't kick our a$$es and run off with a steel cable around his neck and get hung up and die that way.

She said no. I said but we have two dart guns and we have nothing to put in them? Yep. Great...

So I called the local vet who was out on a call what the dose is and if I could run down and get some. And Wolfvet started to call the Zoo to find out the dose too. And while all that was happening the two hired hands just reached down and grabbed the now very tired and cold deer by the horn and took off the cable.:wootrock:

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425262189_bJ92e-L.jpg

It was at this point we all came to realize the only safe way for Mr Deer to get out of there was to dig one side of my well out tell it was below the water line and let him climb out. To do this meant the end of my well but save his life.

So the digging started...

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425263214_C9Ji9-L.jpg

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425263677_qmCgD-L.jpg

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425264634_Lo6jP-L.jpg

This guy held him so he wold not get hurt.

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425266431_K5C9B-L.jpg

Mr Deer did not like any of this!!!!!

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425267621_hsUyn-L.jpg

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425265590_bKCTT-L.jpg

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425266060_nvoDP-L.jpg

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425266886_dAL6n-L.jpg

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425267237_L5eWk-L.jpg

Then it was time.
He was beat and so scared. You can see it in his eyes....

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425268066_78wLB-L.jpg

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425268446_8qSHB-L.jpg

Then he was out. He ran and hit the fence once then found the gate and he was gone before I could take a pic.

I figure he has a 50/50 chance. I wish him well. No pun intended.

This is what my well looks like now as I will back fill it tomorrow and it will be gone for good. I will miss the water that it provided the farm but nobody would touch the well in this cold and by spring it would have all caved in and been more of a danger.

http://dakar.smugmug.com/photos/425269895_isrG8-L.jpg

After all the commotion I forgot to call Wolfvet back and tell her the news. :slaphead: So my phone rang...I didn't need to look at it to know it was her and I had boo booed. :hiding:
Turns out she had got all the info and loaded up her Dr bag and was on her way home to help... Man did I deserve a beating for that one! She took it well and turned around and went back to work. She said she was not looking forward to rush hour traffic anyway.

I love you drear!:redface1:

I am sad about the well though happy for Mr Deer, and very tired. It took a call to Inky and Co. and her singing me a silly song over the phone to cheer me up. Thank you for being there my friend's...:hug2:

[sweptwingnut]

WOW! That was an eventful day. You did good kiddo! :thumbup:

[MtnRider]

One heck of a story there......glad everything turned out "well"

[Inky]

You are a Saint.................Saint Dakar. You guys saved him. Well done.

No pun intended, but it was fitting.

[Luna Tique]

:worthy: Well done Dakar :clapping:
http://lunatique.smugmug.com/photos/425454445_iEGNE-M.gif (http://lunatique.smugmug.com/gallery/6394670_NAmsS#425454445_iEGNE)
Take a bow

What a great story
Even though I am sorry this has cause you the loss of your well

http://lunatique.smugmug.com/photos/425440866_5NUi7-M.gif (http://lunatique.smugmug.com/gallery/6394670_NAmsS#425440866_5NUi7)

[KansasKawboy]

Dang girl you never have a dull moment do you? Good job. :thumbsup: To bad about the well and the FD. :mgbanghead: :hug2:

[Lady of the NightHawk]

Good job Dakar!!! I have done the :slaphead:at my job of driving right past the driveway when going to emergency. But I have only one question for that FD... What in the world was the dive team going to do?!?! I am on the dive team at the FD and I can tell you that in that small area that deer would have tried to drown anyone going in with it :chin: Man I hated to see your well get all bogered up like that. Glad the deer is ok.

[KCDakar]

They were not going to go in! :rofl:

The DT has slings and rope. And the knowledge on how to use them. They were hoping that we could lift him out and not wreck the well. But they would not have been able to get there in time so we went with the backhoe.:shrug:

[waterlilly]

You saved one of Santas

Rein Deer, your the best.
Actually this was a great story hope you put it on ADV for everyone to read also.

[ridingAK]

I was thinking the same thing about the dive team! I'm glad you clarified that! Sorry about the loss of your well, but good Karma :zen: for saving the life of the deer.

[Unforgiven]

Wow Dakar! That was quite the day! What a nice thing you did for that deer. You definitley earned some good Karma coming your way. :meditation:

[KCDakar]

It was brought to my attention that I need to clarify something about the well...

The well is a hand dug well from the mid 1800s. It is an open well that would have had a windmill on it to help pump the water to a watering holding tank for livestock to drink from. The windmill is LONG gone.

The well was covered with tin like you would put on the side or roof of a building. It was never meant to be an OPEN to the air well (like a pond is) as it would fill with contaminants and make the well water bad to use and fill up the well so less good water was available.

It was also never meant to be walked on by a human let alone a 250 pound running, hopping, jumping deer! He had to have hit it in a one and a million hit because it took out all of the tin and steel bars I had that held it up.

This well was only used now as water to be used for fire suppressant as we have no hydrants for over a mile from here. It was one of the reasons our INS was as low as it was. They understood that the fire truck could come put their load of water on and as the tanker was going back to get more they had 8000+ gallons that they could pump from the wells here and keep fighting the fire until the tanker could get back.

This is a great concern to me as I have had a fire here.

It was asked of me if we could make it a pond. No as there is no room for one. The fence is the property line and the barn is less that 35 feet away. As to Drilling one here to replace it it would cost thousands of dollars that I do not have.

I truly am glad that I was able to save the deer. It never crossed my mind to do otherwise. And I would do the same thing again if need be. But the loss of the water and the well along with that part of the history of our farm will sorely be missed.

[indianscout]

Wow Dakar, what a story! Would like to think that I would have done something simular. But no good deed goes unpunished so I guess you could say "All's well that ends well"? :hiding:




Bless you Bro!:yahoo:


:lol:

[Inky]

I'm sure something amazing will happen in the future for you and the well. It's difficult to keep up historical stuff. Maybe it's time had come and gone.

You are a smart lady, you will figure it out! How about one of those tacky plastic tanks for storing water. You could stick that on the back of your bike and take it home! Then we could paint it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Turkey Day!

[letsxplor]

Wow, would be cool to see that dear again later on - you could sure recognize him cause of the antler - and know he survived.

Good for you Dakar!

[bikerbunny]

Wow-what an amazing story-thank you for sharing it with us

[Maleficent]

Poor thing! I would love to see a pic of that deer in the spring. I'm sorry about the loss of your well. Helping an animal in trouble, though, that's a beautiful thing. Most would have saved the well.

[SheRidesABeemer]

wow, what a story, very exciting. I'm going to go on the deer forum and get the rest of the story. :cool:

[indianscout]

I was a little concerned when you tried to rope it. Was thinking that perhaps you hadn't read my posting in the comedy section about roping a deer! :hiding:


Someday, it'll all the good will come back to you.


:thumbup:

[demenshea]

Well well, now that is some serious excitement!! (can't help it with the wells)

BRAVO to you for taking such time and care to free the beast from a very sad death. You are now an official animal angel (or should i say again an official)

You are an amazing human being and I take pleasure in being an internet pal! U da she!! :clapping::clapping::clapping:

[KCDakar]

Hey Bro,
Come down here and help me figure out how to hookup and insulate my poly tank in my shop so it doesn't freeze and or flood the shop when full.

I need a good carpenter...:popcorn1:

[TylerR]

I need a good carpenter...:popcorn1:

Don't we all...

And an electrician...

And a plumber...

And a housekeeper...

And a masseuse...

Oh hell, I need a wife!!! :D: :roflmao:

[Inky]

Amen to the wife thing!

[indianscout]

Hey Bro,
Come down here and help me figure out how to hookup and insulate my poly tank in my shop so it doesn't freeze and or flood the shop when full.

I need a good carpenter...:popcorn1:

Sounds more like need a good plumber.....:chin:

The only thing you need to know to be a plumber is:

Hot is on the left,

Cold is on the right,

Sh*t flows down hill,

Pay day is on Friday,

Boss is an *sshole,

AND DON'T CHEW YOUR FINGERNAILS!!!! :eek:



:lol:

[ridingAK]

:lol:

[msyzf2u]

I am just stumbling across this one... good freaking grief !!