OT; Got My Deer

[JDGreenGrass]

JstPssng....Athens.?? I thought that town was in Greece.??

For crying out loud, I live in the next town over. Solon.

Shot my deer in Skowhegan.

Athens is good deer country. Good luck.

[JGY]

Originally Posted by RalphVa

Hooved rats seem to be attracted to diesel noise. Had two does and a faun a couple years ago that I'd been trying to dispose of, but every time I saw them they'd skedaddle. One day, I was backing the tractor out and saw the 2 does just down the hill. I just lifted up my 410 shotgun with a slug in it and took one down. The other one just stood there looking at her friend. I didn't have a spare slug; so, I put the tractor in park, jumped off and went into the other garage and got another slug. Loaded it and backed up and proceeded to go downhill. The other one was still there!

So, I lifted the shotgun again and shot it. Didn't get it as solid as the other; so it ran away. Only a little bit though. Found the bones and all from it a week or so later not too far away.

Over 3 years time, I took out 7, 6 and then 2. Been trying to get one last pesky does who seems to be eating everything this year. Have seen her about 3 times without gun in hand. Can't even get a shot at her.

Oh, you're probably wondering about the faun. Saw it near my veggie garden the next day. Took it down with a shot at about 80 yards (410 with slug again). It went down but not dead. I put another slug into its head. Something always drags the fauns away. Have to make sure to drag any bigger rats to areas where the vulturs can easily fly in and out. Within 48 hours, there are only bones.

Ralph

F.Y.I. (in S.C.)

Deer can be had -- legally -- with permit by local game warden when "crop destruction" occurs ANYTIME of the year.

Joe

[RalphVa]

Yes, I have a kill permit from the game warden. Wife reports my kills every year.

Ralph

[ttstraw]

Got my Doe a couple weeks ago here in PA during the early Muzzle Loader Doe only season, she was a nice size and will feed the family well.

[The Dougster]

As Eddie said, deer season opens in Texas tomorrow (Sat.) and as usual, we have an over abundance of deer. Lampasas is a two buck county beginning this year and must be either a spike or have an antler spread that extends beyond the ears.... Last Sunday morning I took my coffee out at sunrise and watched the bucks chasing doe. The were everywhere! I have watched and hunted deer all my life and have never seen anything like it.
Like most of Central Texas, we have a serious overpopulation of deer and I have threatened, that if they (my hunters, the ranch is leased for hunting) do not start killing doe, that I was going to cut their season short and bring in friends and family to hunt doe.
In this part of the state, hunters are allowed two bucks and three doe. The deer are in great condition considering the extreme drought conditions we've suffered this year. Under such conditions, I must be careful not to allow over grazing by both cattle and wildlife.

[JDGreenGrass]

Ralph....You're pretty darn good with that 410, eh.??

I don't know ANYONE who could kill a deer at 80 yards with a 410.

Darn, you're good.

I would think anyone in your situation would carry a 30-30 on the tractor.

[20 20]

So many city people{non-hunters pretending} comming into this area and ruining it for the local folks. They're fun to watch with all their fancy new outfits and gismo's though . Hate to say it, but hunting for some of us is comming close to an end, to many bone heads running lose through the woods with guns, shooting at everything that moves. VERY SAD

[EddieWalker]

Originally Posted by The Dougster

... we have an over abundance of deer. Lampasas is a two buck county beginning this year and must be either a spike or have an antler spread that extends beyond the ears.... Last Sunday morning I took my coffee out at sunrise and watched the bucks chasing doe. The were everywhere! I have watched and hunted deer all my life and have never seen anything like it.
Like most of Central Texas, we have a serious overpopulation of deer ...

I've only been to Lampasas one time, and when the sun started to set, the deer came out, and they were everywhere. It's the only place that I actualy became afraid to drive because of all the deer along the roads. There were several hundred of them, all in groups of a few to a dozen or more!!! This was on the road from the State Park on a big river, which I don't remember the name of it. back to Lampasas.

Because of the numbers of deer in that area, I've often thought of moving there. Maybe my retirement ranch.

When I moved here, I had no idea that the deer population was so small. We have them, and there are some good sized bucks here, but I doubt that I'll see a dozen deer during the entire two month season. Half that is a good year for me so far.

Eddie

[The Dougster]

Eddie, you could have been coming from one of several State parks... there is one, Colorado Bend State Park ( on the Colorado River) is the one nearest Lampasas and yes, it can be very dangerous driving after dark.
Last year, Da warden and I built an open air pavilion, which we enjoy sitting under to get out of the heat. We have two feeders withing 100-yards and one of the great pleasures in life is watching the deer come to feed. It's not uncommon for us to have a dozen deer around each feeder at sunrise and sunset.
As usual, we have many bucks, eight points or better with one especially nice buck. Quite mature by comparison. He has at least 10 points, and probably two more I can't see with an approximate 18-inch (or better) spread.... Have been seriously considering going after him.
Upon retirement, come on out. We have lots of room and you'll find way less humidity. lol

[ToadHill]

Dougster: One of the forests owned by Cornell University has required that all hunters with permits from them have to take 3 doe before they are allowed to shoot a buck. If the hunter fails to do this, they loose the privilege of hunting on the universities land.