Alabama Man Loses Eye to "Pet" Deer

by
posted on November 12, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wilder_ah2015_fs.jpg (38)

The phrase "adding insult to injury" gets thrown around a lot, but it's not often that I've seen a story that embodies the meaning of the phrase as much as a recent one out of Alabama. According to reports, a Marshall County, Ala., resident was recently rendered blind in one eye by a "pet" deer he'd been keeping—and that same man now faces a series of charges for illegally housing the buck that wounded him and six other whitetails.

69-year-old Julius Dunsmore had reportedly entered the holding pen in his yard when a large buck he'd been raising attacked him. In addition to a series of puncture wounds and bruises, Dunsmore lost vision in one of his eyes.

The story doesn't note how Alabama's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officers discovered Dunsmore's "pets," but it's safe to guess that they were alerted after he sought medical attention. Dunsmore will face hefty financial repercussions on top the life-changing physical toll he's already paid—he could be fined as much as $500 for each of the seven whitetail he'd been raising. That'll put a bit of a dent in the wallet.

The deer, meanwhile were immediately confiscated by the state. They were euthanized, as it was deemed impossible for them to be reintroduced into the wild. Officials were concerned that the whitetail would immediately return to human-populated areas, leading to further complications.

Blood samples were taken from the animals, and laboratory tests are pending. The primary concern is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which, according to the report, has yet to strike Alabama. Wildlife officials were concerned that some of the whitetail could have been illegally imported from nearby Tennessee.

What the buck meant by the assault—if it was even an intentional attack—is impossible to say. As our readers know, wild animals aren't meant to be pets—they're unpredictable, and can play host to diseases and pathogens that we don't quite have a handle on yet.

Fortunately for Mr. Dunsmore, he survived his close encounter. Unfortunately, he insisted on learning a simple lesson the hard way.

Latest

SPD Ptototype
SPD Ptototype

#SundayGunday: Henry Special Products Division HUSH

This week on #SundayGunday, we’re checking out the HUSH Series, from Henry’s new Special Products Division, SPD for short.

New for 2025: Federal’s Personal Defense HST .44 Rem. Mag.

Federal Ammunition has recently added a new HST .44 Remington Magnum “Light Magnum” load featuring a specially designed hollow-point bullet, ideal for those seeking HST performance for self-defense with magnum revolvers.

Utah Wildlife Board Updates

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few new and updated rules, some of which are necessary after recent legislative changes—including the wildlife management area license requirement for certain counties and the new process for regulating hunting guides and outfitters—along with a few other proposals during a public meeting Thursday.

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Moose

This month's Member's Hunt comes from John R. Bean of Tucson, Ariz.

Breeding Duck Numbers Decline Again in ND

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 78th-annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.66-million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023.

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.