Some fish tales are hard to believe. But Tom Satre has the photos to back up the story.

Second Chance Ranch told the story on Facebook:

Satre told a reporter in Corvalis, Ore. that he was out with a charter group on his 62-foot fishing vessel when four juvenile black-tailed deer swam directly toward his boat.

“Once the deer reached the boat, the four began to… circle the boat, looking directly at us. We could tell right away that the young bucks were distressed. I opened up my back gate and we helped the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals onto the boat.”

“In all my years fishing, I’ve never seen anything quite like it!”

“Once on-board, they collapsed with exhaustion, shivering. We headed for Taku Harbour. Once we reached the dock, the first buck that we had been pulled from the water hopped onto the dock, looked back as if to say ‘thank you’ and disappeared into the forest.”

After a bit of prodding and assistance, two more followed, but the smallest deer needed some help so they hauled him ashore in a wheelbarrow.

“My daughter, Anna, and son, Tim, helped the last buck to its feet. Anna later told me that the experience was something that she would never forget, and I suspect the deer felt the same way as well.”

(SEE more photos if you are a member of Facebook)

Thanks to Sloan C. for sending the link via our Facebook page!