Longtime bowhunter/police officer places himself in grave danger to free a trophy-class whitetail buck from a backyard batting cage. By: Travis J. Faulkner Outdoor Life Online Editor
On an early November morning, Jason Harvison of the Brentwood Police Department near Nashville, Tennessee received an unusual call from panic stricken residents of a nearby suburb. Somehow a massive rut-crazed buck had managed to completely entangle itself in the netting of a backyard batting cage. Outdoor Life Online EditorWith the rut in full swing, this bruiser buck boasted an enormously swelled neck, high testosterone levels, and a very short temper. In other words, you weren't dealing with Disney's version of Bambi and under the circumstances this was one whitetail that was not going to be easy to work with. Many people on the scene suggested simply shooting the deer to avoid possible injury. The ill tempered buck had already broken several aluminum rods from the anchored batting cage. Fortunately, Jason Harvison was a long time bowhunter and was not going to allow such an animal to meet its fate this way. Officer Harvison risked his on safety and nervously began trying to cut the netting away from the long tines of the buck's rack. Outdoor Life Online EditorWithout warning, the buck suddenly regained its range of motion and violently knocked the officer back against an aluminum pole. Next, the buck fiercely charged at Harvison who at the time was leaning forward with his head down from the initial impact of the first blow. With the intensity of a runaway train the buck butted heads with Harvison and knocked the officer out momentarily. Outdoor Life Online EditorAfter regaining consciousness, Harvison, despite the advice from bystanders, stood by his decision to free the buck at all cost. With help from a local game warden, workers on scene were able to pin the deer down and cut the netting away from its rack, saving the buck's life. Outdoor Life Online EditorWithout question, officer Harvison's brave actions and selfless act reflect the true respect and admiration that hunters have for wildlife and the outdoors in general. It would have been a lot easier and safer to just shoot the deer and take the impressive rack home as a conversational piece. However, Harvison's decision to free the buck and place himself in danger clearly proves the fact that there is much more to hunting than simply killing an animal. Outdoor Life Online EditorI can't help but wonder, what would an anti-hunter do under similar circumstances? Outdoor Life Online EditorI can't help but wonder, what would an anti-hunter do under similar circumstances? Outdoor Life Online Editor
Longtime bowhunter/police officer places himself in grave danger to free a trophy-class whitetail buck from a backyard batting cage.
