I run my setter a couple of times a day and I take my daughter's cockapoo along on one of those runs. Last night after supper the three of us head out the back into the ponderosa and bitterbrush like any other day. As we leave the yard I see a doe a hundred yds or so straight out which is also not unusual. We turn left and start quartering away from the doe, Duffy shuffling along 10 or 20 yds out and Ben running his pattern farther out. Everything is good. Well, almost.
A minute later over my right shoulder I notice the doe angling across to intercept us. She's about 20 - 30 yds away on a trot toward the cockapoo. I yell and she stops, Duffy looks around and sees her and barks. She makes a beeline for him and goes right in - hoofs blazing!! The dog is now just trying to get the h--- out of there but she's on him - jab, jab, right cross and finally the big left hook!! Down he goes and he's not moving. I charge at them and she backs off. I get to the dog and he's out, no response, I'm thinking she's killed him.
By this time Ben has heard the commotion and he comes running in. The doe circles around me and starts at him. I whoa him, he stops cold and I step between him and the doe. (No, I wouldn't have done that for the cockapoo but don't tell my daughter.) She takes a step towards us and stops a few yds away. By now I've picked up a piece of wood. I yell and take a step towards her and hurl it at her which finally moves her back some.
A neighbor has been watching all this from a couple hundred yds away, and now her boyfriend has heard the commotion and stepped out on the deck. He sees me throwing the stick at the deer and yells about harassing deer and calling the game commission!! I tell him to kiss my a-- and call who ever he wants, I could use some help here! His girlfriend (my neighbor) yells at him to go back in the house, which he does.
So now I'm heading back to the cockapoo. I'm figuring I'm in the "recovery" phase, I gotta tell the daughter he went down fighting, etc. I see him wobble to his feet and stumble around, clearly dazed but alive. Looking back now it was pretty funny watching him try to figure out where he was, the look on his face as he tried to figure out what happened, etc. Over the next few minutes he got his wits back, and we headed back to the house. The dog is fine this morning and I can't find a tender spot on him, no missing teeth, etc. He must have just taken a clean shot on his thick head that knocked him out on the spot!
Only thing I can figure is she had a fawn in the area and when we first turned to quarter away from her we were headed toward the fawn. I'd never seen a deer really go at an animal, it's pretty impressive. I don't see how a single coyote could stand up to it. I'm glad she stopped and didn't come in on the setter or my shins and knees would be pretty banged up this morning!
Careful folks, it's a jungle out there!!
Lucky Guy
And it's Doe Frazier by a knock out!!
Every time we'd roll and I'd hit air and get a breath I'd hear laughter from my 2 hunting pals and an OSP gamie who stopped to watch the festivities..... 
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