East Texas deer hunter's story smells more than a bit

An East Texas hunter claimed he shot and killed two undersize deer a few weeks ago in Smith County in self-defense.

Say, what?

The Smith County man argued that a commercial scent attractant had worked too well, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife game warden reports.

A logging crew found two deer heads on a shed hidden in the woods near the county seat of Tyler. After he heard a game warden was investigating, the unidentified hunter contacted the warden and confessed.

He told the warden he had been hunting in a ground blind and decided to spray a deer attractant out the window.

Minutes later, a five-point buck with a 9-inch spread appeared, took several steps toward him and charged his blind. The man shot the deer at 30 feet away. The hunter claimed he left the area to go to his truck and returned to collect the deer and his hunting gear.

That's when a six-point buck with a 6-inch spread came charging at him. The hunter said he was forced to shoot and kill the deer from 36 feet away.

The hunter said he put the deer heads on the shed with the intention of contacting the game warden. He didn't. Multiple charges are pending.

Domingo Ramirez Jr.: 817-390-7763, @mingoramirezjr

This story was originally published January 14, 2018 at 11:28 AM with the headline "East Texas deer hunter's story smells more than a bit."