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Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately #5491540 12/22/14 12:56 AM
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We have land and hunt in south central Taylor County, not far from Dentapusa and Jasb, Drop Tine and some others on here.
This season has been pitiful for deer hunting. We had good prospects on camera early to mid fall. I shot one good meat doe 6 weeks ago and that is about it. Still some activity at night, but just not the numbers we have seen before. I talked to my neighbors and got the same story. The deer just aren't there this year.
It has been dry and we did have a good acorn crop and I can think of other things that might contribute, but one thing I heard at 10 o'clock Saturday night while taking a leak off the front porch of the cabin sure got me to thinking. I heard a big cat, mountain lion off in the distance. I got my son out of the cabin to hear it to back me up and the hair stood up on his neck when he heard it.
We have been there for a couple of years and were told by people that a lion had been spotted there a few times in canyons and they have been confirmed in the area by the rangers at Abilene State Park, not far away.

I've heard they can make a sound like a woman screaming and let me tell you, once you have heard it, you know what it is.
I got to thinking if a lion has moved into the area, that would have to impact the deer activity.
We find deer kills each year in the creek beds of our property, I always assumed yotes, because the parts are scattered all along the creek and always left on the ground.

It makes you think a bit when walking to your stand at dark. I'm like JASB said, I'm about to piss on the fire and call the dogs for the season. Not holding much hope except for my son being able to hunt the late doe season. Usually they come back to the corn after Jan 1, maybe get some more grinding meat then.


Last edited by Sparky45; 12/22/14 12:57 AM.

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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5491566 12/22/14 01:14 AM
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I hunt in central Texas and we have the same problem of no deer. The area had more rain this past year than before and I guess that contributed to a bumper crop of acorns and forbes. Recently we are hearing more yotes and wonder if that may be our problem. Seems there are a lot of reports like this so maybe it is not yotes or mountain lion. Just natural foods??

Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Wilhunt] #5491607 12/22/14 01:31 AM
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Originally Posted By: wilhunt
I hunt in central Texas and we have the same problem of no deer. The area had more rain this past year than before and I guess that contributed to a bumper crop of acorns and forbes. Recently we are hearing more yotes and wonder if that may be our problem. Seems there are a lot of reports like this so maybe it is not yotes or mountain lion. Just natural foods??


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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5491642 12/22/14 01:44 AM
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We're near Glen Rose & the boys at a local feed store have heard reports & have pics of a few cats that've been shot recently.. And yea, we're not seeing the #'s we were seeing earlier in the year either...


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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5491662 12/22/14 01:54 AM
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the same in maddision and walker county.

Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5491691 12/22/14 02:03 AM
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has heard one on lease was on before. not an expert on them. They have a pretty good size range. confused2 seen plenty of deer though. like U. had bout 4 different bucks show up on cams before gun deer season & does. stand is were every year does seen with fawns. last year on hunts seen doe on two different hunts, this year hunted opening week end, seen squirrels, few night hunts hour or two, saw some bats flying around. tis 4 deer here, lots of hunters, could be they been taken. cams will tell after season over what servives. theirs always next year. hang in thar. best wishes flag



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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: dogcatcher] #5491717 12/22/14 02:11 AM
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Originally Posted By: dogcatcher
Originally Posted By: wilhunt
I hunt in central Texas and we have the same problem of no deer. The area had more rain this past year than before and I guess that contributed to a bumper crop of acorns and forbes. Recently we are hearing more yotes and wonder if that may be our problem. Seems there are a lot of reports like this so maybe it is not yotes or mountain lion. Just natural foods??


X2

cheers x3 tis like every one tells me bout the hogs, they'll be back scratch twas waiting for them this evening. deer corn is piling up on ground. flag



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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: dogcatcher] #5491724 12/22/14 02:12 AM
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Originally Posted By: dogcatcher
Originally Posted By: wilhunt
I hunt in central Texas and we have the same problem of no deer. The area had more rain this past year than before and I guess that contributed to a bumper crop of acorns and forbes. Recently we are hearing more yotes and wonder if that may be our problem. Seems there are a lot of reports like this so maybe it is not yotes or mountain lion. Just natural foods??


X2


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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5491727 12/22/14 02:14 AM
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There are mountain lions all over the west. They are not generally a problem for overall populations. Would be way down on my list of suspects for an overall deer decline in a given area.


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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5492365 12/22/14 01:55 PM
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Same here in Albany. I have two places 16 miles apart and no deer. I think that the drought has finally taken its toll.

Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5492437 12/22/14 02:26 PM
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I doubt if a lion ran your deer off. It just doesn't work that way. First, lions are constantly on the move and are snatch and grab feeders. They just don't stay in an area very long. The only time I have ever heard of a lion sticking around more than a few days or week is if there is an abundant EASY food source snd/or it is a momma cat with young. And when I just easy food source I mean like domesticated livestock like goats or sheep.

Secondly, we've had a couple of lions on our lease and even got cam pics. It doesn't seem to affect the deer. Deer are homebodies, rarely relocating. Many pics of deer back at the feeder 30 minutes before or after lion on cam.

Now pigs are another matter. If you have hogs, a cat will sure nuff run the hogs off. Cats LOVE hogs and will hunt and eat them over deer almost every time. The reason is that hogs are easier to catch, usually travel in groups, can approach them easier, and provide a lot of meat in a tiny package. Plus they seem to be "training" animals for young cats.

I think there are a lot more common reasons why you're not seeing deer besides a big cat.

Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: huntwest] #5492471 12/22/14 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted By: huntwest
Same here in Albany. I have two places 16 miles apart and no deer. I think that the drought has finally taken its toll.

what is going on confused2 with drought deer should be at water & baiting areas. no deer nor hogs showing up here eather, then plenty of brows here. dueling with android. post done gone missing. best wishes flag



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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5492483 12/22/14 02:48 PM
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Same has happened all over Texas.. just to good of weather for the deer to come to feed sites.

Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5492486 12/22/14 02:48 PM
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I wonder if that sound that sounds like a woman screaming..is really a woman screaming. peep

Not seeing any deer could not be from hunting the same feeder every time you hunt. Hunting that same blind no matter what the wind is. Getting out and spooking deer off when it is time to go. None of this has little effect on deer movement. rolleyes

I have less deer(specifically bucks by incidental counts) around my feeders today than in October. But it rained close to 6" since then. My problem is fresh new growth winter green that is everywhere. It is taking the deer much longer to get to my blind locations than in years past.


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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5492543 12/22/14 03:16 PM
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I know that "rescue" grass is all over the place right now. Lions are out there, but I believe the natural foods is the reason you're not seeing game 2cents


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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5492579 12/22/14 03:29 PM
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Lots of food, warn weather, coyotes or drought hurting fawn crop, and throw in hunting bad wind or spreading scent other ways, deer patterning you.

All things I'd consider before banking on a lion hurting a population too much. A lot of places have lion and great deer herds.

Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: 8pointdrop] #5492591 12/22/14 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted By: 8pointdrop
Lots of food, warn weather, coyotes or drought hurting fawn crop, and throw in hunting bad wind or spreading scent other ways, deer patterning you.

All things I'd consider before banking on a lion hurting a population too much. A lot of places have lion and great deer herds.


maybe not a lion killing off deer as much as pushing them out of the area
but I hear you and what you say makes sense

it's been a weird, tough year


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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5492698 12/22/14 04:06 PM
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Warm weather is killing me right now.

Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: stxranchman] #5492711 12/22/14 04:14 PM
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Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5497202 12/24/14 03:37 PM
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Been a rough one for sure. This has been the worst season for me out there in 8 or 9 years. I've had 1 mature buck this year and only had pigs come threw once which is really odd considering I use to be covered up with them. My other lease is known to have the big kitties but I haven't heard of any sightings out your way.

I feel like my reason for not seeing much Is because of increased traffic from rancher, bulldozer, cattle and new hunters that set up too many blinds. I've decided to let my local lease go and focus on my other one.

Last edited by DENTPUSHA; 12/24/14 03:44 PM.
Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5499869 12/26/14 03:05 AM
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Yall need to get to concho co. We see 40 deer every afternoon on our wheat fields, and there only about 50 acres each. Were just covered up cant shoot enough of them.

Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5500826 12/26/14 09:14 PM
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Grey foxes make some crazy noises ,
I doubt lions are causing yall to see less deer

Re: Maybe the reason I haven't seen many deer lately [Re: Sparky45] #5501136 12/27/14 12:48 AM
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Originally Posted By: Sparky45


I've heard they can make a sound like a woman screaming and let me tell you, once you have heard it, you know what it is.
I'm like JASB said, I'm about to piss on the fire and call the dogs for the season.



I guess it's over for you, the fat lady has screamed.

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