Originally Posted by Turkey_neck
We only own 40 and control another 80. We’ve let tons of bucks walk but only see probably 40% or less make it to 3 or older. Either they get shot by neighbors or disperse to other areas to never be seen again.


At my hayfield, I have several small areas of hardwoods, and deer love to eat the wateroak acorns when they fall. For the last 2 months, I have had a 10 pt that is a stud visit this area every night along with several 8's and 6's. The hayfield has houses on the north boundary line and the folks that live along the line will kill a deer in a heartbeat! I am pretty sure some of the families there feed the deer and enjoy watching them come and eat. The deer use the hayfield woods as a staging area before feeding in the backyards of the locals. I have not had a picture of the 10, 9, or good 8's in over a week. I know they are after does now and this makes them an easy target for the locals who could care less. So far no one has killed any of the deer as they would be all over Facebook if they were killed.

There is also a gene that grows huge spikes on this hayfield tract. Last year the best young deer I had was a spike that was similar to the one I saw yesterday. He was killed by a young boy whose family land borders me. I hated to see the deer killed as I was seeing him on a regular basis and I "thought" he would have great potential. The boy's family owned the land he was killed on so I had to be happy for the boy on his kill. With beams like these young deer have, when they grow points they will be good ones-I hope!

I can't stand a thief.