Deader 'en a smelt

More on the origins of that phrase later.

Indeed it pertains to the condition of the deer that we encountered last night.

Today's report:
A mature buck, with recently shed antlers
Body condition thin
Open wound in right shoulder
Broken bone visible inside the shoulder wound
No fresh bleeding observed in snow around the deathbed
No signs of animal disturbance

I did not attempt a necropsy to determine further causal factors.
No time to do any detailed investigation on my lunch break
And it is still below zero
-9 at the time the pix were snapped.