Locked and loaded: Robert Edwards and grandson tag team to get entangled bucks

Robert Edwards of Newcomerstown had returned home from work one afternoon when he loaded his late father’s muzzleloader with powder and maxi balls molded by his father and headed into the woods.

He hadn't spent much time hunting and muzzleloader season was ending the next day.

“As I arrived at my hunting spot, right away I noticed a mature buck with his head down. I made my shot when a second buck that was not visible jumped up. Both deer were locked together and ran about 30 yards and dropped as the buck I shot expired," said Robert, who is known as Big Al.

"I began to ease forward when the second buck stood up again trying to free himself and dragging my buck into the creek. I knew I had to do something, and I could not shoot the other one without a second deer tag, so I called my son, Alan, and got no answer. I then tried my daughter-in-law Angie and told her what was going on and that either Alan or the grandkids needed to come with their tags to shoot the other buck.

"They were 20 minutes away, but Alan and Andrew jumped in the car and headed to the spot where the deer would remain in the creek. I continued to watch the two bucks thinking gosh you cannot make this stuff up and I was still in disbelief of what I was actually seeing before my eyes. I have been hunting my entire life and only saw things like this on television,” Robert said.

Nine-year-old Andrew arrived and took the shot and struck the deer, but did not kill it.

“I then went back to the house and reloaded the muzzleloader and with Andrew’s next shot, the second deer was down," Robert said. "Their antlers remained locked, and we knew were going to need assistance getting them out of the woods, and luckily a few friends showed up to help us.”

It is known that bucks normally fight during rut (mating) season, which generally runs from October to December, but they are also known for continuing to show their dominance all year while in bachelor groups to establish a pecking order between them. This is crucial as it is usually the eldest, most experienced doe leading a herd and it is usually the most seasoned buck who has first access to territory and available does.

Once the antlers are locked, it is rare that they can separate. Sometimes they can free themselves by breaking off part of their antlers, but for the most part they need human intervention to survive. If they are not separated, they often become vulnerable to predators, starvation, dehydration or exhaustion.Wildlife authorities suggest if you encounter a situation like this, do not try to separate them, as they can be aggressive, scared or injured. However, in the case of the Edwards, they were able to shoot both bucks.

"This is not Andrew’s first deer, but he was excited for me to load the pictures to his tablet so could show his friends of this unique experience at school the next day," said his mother and Robert's daughter-in-law, Angie.

Alivia, Andrew's 12-year-old sister harvested her first buck on the family farm with her parents. Eight-year-old Aubrie Edwards also hunts.

"I was never into hunting, but Alan and I had been dating for six years when I went on a wild boar hunt with his family to Tennessee," Angie said. "It was a special trip as we were going in memory of his late brother ,Tom Edwards, who had passed four months prior. This was a trip they had always planned to take but never got the chance. I was honored to go but I was not hunting, however that quickly changed when they talked me into heading into the woods where I harvested my first animal, a wild boar sow, and a week later we were engaged”.

Andrew questioned his grandfather on whose house the bucks and their antlers would be hung at, and Grandpa replied, “your house.”

"What an experience to have my family there to see this with me," Robert said. "My grandson shot the second buck with his late great-grandfather’s muzzleloader not to mention with maxi balls my dad formed. This is something our family will never forget and thank goodness we have the pictures to prove it.”

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Edwards family take two bucks after antlers become locked