A 63-year-old woman visiting her sister in Florissant was gored by a buck mule deer Monday after trying to coax the animal to come to her, the Colorado Division of Wildlife said today.

Joan Nutt was treated for lacerations caused by the deer’s hooves and antlers at Pikes Peak Regional Medical Center in Woodland Park, DOW spokesman Michael Seraphin said. Most of the injuries were to her elbow and lower arm, but she also had cuts and bruises on her hands, upper leg, stomach, and hip.

She was recovering at her sister’s house Tuesday but declined to comment on the incident.

The attack occurred around 5 p.m. outside the home at 893 County Road 31.

“The deer got close, lowered its head and charged the woman,” Seraphin said in a news release.

Nutt told authorities she had gone out in the yard to call the deer so she could pet it when it “started to come on her.”  She grabbed hold of an antler to try to fend it off, but it knocked her down before she could get away.

The deer, which had to be chased away by deputies and medical personnel, was tranquilized and euthanized after wildlife officials decided it was a threat to people. The remains were sent to the DOW wildlife health lab in Fort Collins for examination.

Nutt’s sister’s family was familiar with the deer and said it was a frequent visitor to their property.

A driver on CR 31 spotted the deer stomping Nutt and stopped to help, scaring the deer off and calling authorities.

Paramedics had to repeatedly chase away the deer while treating the woman.

“There was no direct evidence Nutt was feeding the animal, but this deer’s behavior was a clear indication that someone in the area had tried to domesticate a wild deer and treat it as a pet,” said wildlife officer Aaron Flohrs.

“While habituated deer can appear docile, these big game animals are extremely powerful,” said Shaun Deeney of the DOW. “In almost every case when people try to ‘help’ wildlife and feed them, it always turns out bad for the animal,” said Deeney.

Nutt’s brother-in-law, Ervin Stohl, told the DOW the buck came to their house every afternoon. He said while there is usually a bunch of females nearby, there weren’t any does Monday and “the buck was angry.”

Wildlife officials warn that deer or elk can be dangerous any time, but males are particularly aggressive and unpredictable during mating season.

In September, a 47-year-old woman was injured when she was attacked by an elk near Evergreen. She spent several days in the hospital with a broken pelvis. The elk involved in that incident was never found.

Elaine Brush of Colorado Springs, right, walks around City Hall Tuesday, October 13, 2009, along with about 50 people who held a “Rally Against Greed” in support of President Obama’s health care plan. Mark Reis, The Gazette Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Mark Reis