Hunting question (Tennessee)

[Richard]

Wife is pretty emotional right now.

I don't mind hunters, she does.

We just had a hunter (who was parking in a no-parking area) trespass onto our land and shot what she says, was a baby deer.

I wasn't there, I didn't see it.

I went to try to find him and he was gone. (she confronted him on the property)

Seems he went straight to his truck and got out of here before anything else happened.

Though I DO mind his illegal parking (we have numerous parking spots on our road so nobody has to semi-block the road as he did), I don't mind his hunting on the adjacent public ground. Personally, I'd like to see the hunters clear all the deer out so we don't hit them with our cars!!

(just trying to paint the picture that this isn't an anti-hunter thread)

Brings me to my question: Wife says he shot (with an arrow I think) a "baby deer". I need to call Wildlife Resources, report his license plate (I called it into the Sheriff when I saw him illegally parked, so they have it). I told her the Wildlife officer, who's likely a hunter himself, might ask her how she can be sure it was a baby deer and not a grown.

(she went ballistic on me for that one!)

My question is, during bow season (or any other) what are the size restrictions, if any, on what you can kill?

If he did kill a baby, is that illegal?

Are baby's still babies at this time of year?

 

[dusty3030]

The fawns are 6 months old or so at this point. Shouldn't have spots. If antlerless is open in your county then it is legal.
As far as the trespass, that stinks. Is your line posted clearly?

 

[MNBobcat]

Wife is pretty emotional right now.

I don't mind hunters, she does.

We just had a hunter (who was parking in a no-parking area) trespass onto our land and shot what she says, was a baby deer.

I wasn't there, I didn't see it.

I went to try to find him and he was gone. (she confronted him on the property)

Seems he went straight to his truck and got out of here before anything else happened.

Though I DO mind his illegal parking (we have numerous parking spots on our road so nobody has to semi-block the road as he did), I don't mind his hunting on the adjacent public ground. Personally, I'd like to see the hunters clear all the deer out so we don't hit them with our cars!!

(just trying to paint the picture that this isn't an anti-hunter thread)

Brings me to my question: Wife says he shot (with an arrow I think) a "baby deer". I need to call Wildlife Resources, report his license plate (I called it into the Sheriff when I saw him illegally parked, so they have it). I told her the Wildlife officer, who's likely a hunter himself, might ask her how she can be sure it was a baby deer and not a grown.

(she went ballistic on me for that one!)

My question is, during bow season (or any other) what are the size restrictions, if any, on what you can kill?

If he did kill a baby, is that illegal?

Are baby's still babies at this time of year?

The whole trespass thing depends on your State laws. I found a synopsis here: 39-14-405 - Criminal trespass. :: 2010 Tennessee Code :: US Codes and Statutes :: US Law :: Justia Of course the laws may have changed since it was written.

So it appears that if the person left the property as soon as they were asked to leave, that its possible they may not be found guilty of trespassing. You're going to have to decide how much stress you want to go through with trying to prosecute this guy or if you just want to let it go. I would especially think twice if you haven't clearly posted the property.

Regarding "shooting babies" I doubt that any of this year's fawns would be considered a baby at this time of year. Once the spots are gone they are considered a doe, I believe, and eligible to be hunted. You could read up on your state's hunting laws to confirm one way or the other.

By the way, I took a photo a couple days ago of a deer born this year and it has no spots. I'm pretty certain you're correct in that the deer isn't considered a baby and can be hunted.

 

[Richard]

It depends on who you talk to (said a bit as a joke)

We get some less than high grade hunters out our way. They've killed two of our dogs, gutted deer on our gravel driveway (wife really went bonkers on that one), trespass, pull the posted signs down, pull the no parking signs down and many times, leave their beer cans behind.

Whenever I've caught someone trespassing, I always get the innocent "Oh, I didn't know where I was on the map" (in spite of them standing in recently cut farm fields, aiming into another recently cut farm field) I don't think TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) is in the business of keeping farm fields manicured.

When I visit with them (I try to meet every one near their vehicles or near the property line so they know someone knows who they are), they sometimes get belligerent with me, pointing at their map stating they know exactly where they are and they've not been trespassing. (did I accuse you of that while you were standing on public ground? Nope, I'm not a dummy)

So when they are on the public (TVA) side of the property line they 100% without fail "know" where they are yet, whenever they are defacto on our side of the line, it's 100% "poor pitiful me, I'm lost" (yeah and I own the Brooklyn bridge!)

Be that as it may, so if your understanding is correct, if we have no antlers as legal, then virtually all deer are legal that don't have antlers. This would include any of the most recently born.

This is going to be tough to tell the wife.

 

[Looking4new]

Better you than the rest of us!

 

[KubotaToy]

First off, I am no deer expert but love to deer hunt. I would say after 40 years of deer hunting in Tn. there are no "baby" deer this time of year, seasons are set to ensure that the current years fawns are around 4-5 months old before the season starts and will be around 75-80 pounds and can be hunted (I personally would not shoot a spotted fawn with a doe and have only seen a handful but if it is on it own, fair game, no pun intended). Here in Tn. a full grown doe may be 100-120 and a buck 125-150, so even a 4 month old "baby" doe would be hard to tell apart from a full grown one and they lose the spots around 3 months. Normally fawns are born sometime between late April and as late as early July in colder parts, seasons are different in different states for that reason, in the warmer states you get a little earlier season.

If I remember correctly some states like CT did have rules against harvesting spotted deer but for Tennessee deer hunting, no such regulation. The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is 2 per season, and one per day. Legal bucks must have antlers a minimum of 3 inches in length. Anything less than 3 inches is considered antlerless under Tennessee hunting regulations. Below are the limits and seasons.

Deer Seasons
Archery (includes crossbow)
Sept. 26-Oct. 30
Nov. 2-6
Antlerless: 4

Muzzleloader and Archery
Nov. 7-20
Antlerless: 4

Gun, Muzzleloader, and Archery
Nov. 21-Jan. 3
Antlerless: varies

As far as the trespassing, post your property well, make your lines obvious and maybe you can get them with a minor trespass ticket that will more than likely be dismissed in court. Have some experience with folks hunting the stand in my backyard a few years back.

 

[CalG]

Deer herds are "MANAGED" through the Game and Wildlife to keep the population in control. In some areas, they can be a real problem.

Ask your wife what she thinks of managing wildlife populations. Ask her what she thinks of veal.

The young ones are the best on the table. everyone knows that.

The other parts, I'll stay out of the discussion. I would like to see MORE recreational hunting. But, also , More Responsible hunters. A meet and greet with the land owner to gain awareness of the surroundings should be mandatory. Here in VT it's called "Hunting by Permission only". Seems to work. Way better than "No Hunting or trapping".

Bottom line, It's no sure thing that a "baby dear" would make it another three months in any circumstance. If the hunter proves responsible and takes the meat home, That is "Herd Management", A good thing. If your season limit is 4 animals per, You have a herd management problem. (You need more hunters!) Advise your wife, "It's for the best, there are more deer than the land can support".

 

[Toyboy]

This years fawns are hard to sort out from mature does if the spots are gone and they're by themselves. I've shot a couple over the years because of that, and felt bad when I saw it was a fawn.
We( my hunting pals) now have a rule to only shoot "long nosed" does if it's a single deer and you have a doe (antlerless) tag.
Here in Wisconsin, any and all are fair game during deer season providing you have the proper carcass tag... antlered or antlerless... for the animal.

 

[Richard]

I appreciate all the comments.

Wife is an avid vegetarian. I am an avid carnivore.

She goes ballistic when our cat brings a mouse home to kill.

She is just afflicted with a very sympathetic heart which has its virtues.....and frustrations at the same time.

Someone asked about ask her what she things of eating veal... I can already tell you the answer. She'd rather starve.

I would like it with some parmasian...

Guess we need to get the (emotional) battle gear out as it's that time of the year.

Funny thing is, we live on a plot of land that is surrounded on three sides by water so it's effectively, a peninsula. One way in, one way out. Farm is 250 acres, surrounded by another (guessing) 300 acres of TVA land. There are about 7 homes out here so it's pretty desolate. Nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile down the road.

It's now time to walk the dogs on a leash so they are protected.

I just find that ironic that we have to take the dogs out on a leash for their protection when we live (literally) at the end of the road.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I don't want to sound uncaring but if you go to the game wardens or what ever they are called in Tn, and complain about someone killing a baby deer they are going to roll their eyes at you as soon as they turn their backs and start mumbling about city people. Again I understand how your wife feels and the position you are in but I would leave it and address only the trespassing. :2cents: Ed