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What do I look for? #6975410 11/28/17 10:00 PM
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Any thoughts would be appreciated we have about 400 acres under high fence around Concan, Texas (under high fence since about 2003), this year we are hardly see any animals (whitetail, axis, or even pigs). We have cameras set out at our 4 feeders and 2 other cameras at random spots. We do not live at the ranch but go there, at different times... This has been going on for several months now. As in over the Thanksgiving Holiday I think we saw maybe a total of 5 different animals (1 blackbuck buck, no Axis, 1 White tail buck and 3 white tail does. We feed year round and the place is not over stocked. Not sure if we have someone doing some MAJOR poaching or if some has any ideas it would be appreciated. We even thought may some disease but not seeing any signs of carcass, bones etc... and the couple that we did see looked healthy.

Any thoughts as what is happening would be great, also we dont over hunt example last year we toke a total of 2 white & 1 axis.

Thanks

GrammyB

Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6975420 11/28/17 10:11 PM
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My advice, even though I have a hard time doing it myself is, quit hunting feeders. I'd imagine animals on 400 acres high fence get pretty accustomed to the natural routine, and know something is up when y'all are there.


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6975423 11/28/17 10:17 PM
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I love your question. A great example of how animals can be hard to hunt or find on 400 acres whether it's high fenced or not.

welcome to the forum.

This has been the case in many parts of the state this year if you read posts in the deer hunting section. Ample forage from good spring and summer rains. Very moderate warm temperatures make deer sightings much more rare.

To get a better indicator of what you have I would move your trail cams to the water sources.


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6975433 11/28/17 10:22 PM
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have you walked your fence line lately to see if there are any openings? I agree with Pitchfork, move game cams to water source (and one hidden at the gate to see if there is any traffic when you aren't there)


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6975439 11/28/17 10:26 PM
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Thanks for the reply's we have one of our random cameras on one of the water sources and was discussing adding a camera on each water source just we can see what is coming to water, we know that the is amble food acorns etc... this year but is seems very strange. We have had this place since about 1998 and have had some years were the natural vegetation was as good as this or even better and we still spotted several animals, sure hope you guys are correct. I will also check out the post in the deer hunting section.

Thanks

Grammyb

Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6975444 11/28/17 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted By: GrammyB
Thanks for the reply's we have one of our random cameras on one of the water sources and was discussing adding a camera on each water source just we can see what is coming to water, we know that the is amble food acorns etc... this year but is seems very strange. We have had this place since about 1998 and have had some years were the natural vegetation was as good as this or even better and we still spotted several animals, sure hope you guys are correct. I will also check out the post in the deer hunting section.

Thanks

Grammyb


I can relate, been on the same ranch the last ten years and it seems like 2/3 of the deer we usually see have left! But we know they haven't, lol.


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6975447 11/28/17 10:32 PM
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Go in search of trails. It's not too difficult to figure out what trails get used regularly. I've found many during spring and summer, and have, of course found more in fall and winter.


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6975449 11/28/17 10:33 PM
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It aint just your place. I hunt a large free range ranch and my deer sightings are down probably 70% this year. Feeders are usually a dinner bell when they go off but this year I have had up to 20 pounds under some feeders at times. If not for pigs it would probably be worse. It seems to be slowly getting better the deeper into the season we get but things are waaaaay out of whack compared to the last 10 years I have been on the place.

Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6976619 11/29/17 07:55 PM
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A family I know has a high fence area....they had a good deer herd going, when one year a mountain lion got in and ate most of the herd. I have no idea if this is your problem, but I seriously doubt a high fence would slow down a big cat.


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6976627 11/29/17 08:02 PM
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Look for holes in your fence. grin Had bunch aoudad sheep show up on a friends place then found the hole in the neighbors high fence where they came from.


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6976636 11/29/17 08:13 PM
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Holes in the fence, especially around creeks or washes. Predators. Poachers. Or the blessings of mother nature (habitat) combined with blind-shy deer. One other thing to think of. Axis and Blackbuck don't live forever so, if you don't have breeding herds, may be time to think about adding a few more head.

Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6976660 11/29/17 08:35 PM
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How many acreas are good habitat vs acreas of home sites or other non-habitat improvements (farm land, cattle pasture, etc)? The concern could be you have shot out your place if you didn't have much to begin with and don't have a large herd of deer.

I will agree with what has been mentioned above, look for holes or openings in fence as fist priority. Then go off and look at trails, look at water sources, but not over feeders.

On my 400 acres in Oklahoma, I can always stir up some deer with a simple stroll through some forested area. I have about 65% of my land in forest, the rest is pasture but no other animals on it other than wildlife. When the sightings are low at feeders or in the pastures, I can always run into some deer walking the woods. I am not hf though, so I don't expect to have the same deer all the time, but I have some resident deer for sure.

Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6976782 11/29/17 10:04 PM
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It is possible that someone is poaching your animals. You might put out some game cameras pointed at your blinds or gate. Do not put the cameras where they can be easily spotted. If you are convinced that this could not happen, check your ENTIRE fenceline.


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6976967 11/30/17 12:58 AM
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Agree with the fellas, 1st priority to me would be a slow walk on the fence-line, even look for areas that look repaired, or removable.

We had almost 400 acres at one time, (lf), it wasn't hard to walk it and at least stir up some WT. I'd think 400 acres HF'd without the owner onsite, the word would get out to the scumbag community pdq, especially with exotics.


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: Western] #6976976 11/30/17 01:09 AM
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Originally Posted By: Western
even look for areas that look repaired, or removable.


!!!

Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6977338 11/30/17 01:40 PM
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welcome

Hope you guys figure it out.

Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6977466 11/30/17 03:31 PM
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May have been mentioned already, are you seeing any sign of tracks in the dirt on trails or anywhere else?


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6978309 12/01/17 02:59 AM
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They starved to death or are institutionalized

Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6978661 12/01/17 02:47 PM
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Fence is the most logical answer.
Off topic but your in such a great area you might be more successful taking the fences down with all those free range exotics running around in that area

Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6979643 12/02/17 01:44 PM
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I am LF hunter thought you guys just walked in and picked one out. I have read some good advice get off the feeders go to some trails or clearings and use tailgate spreader to throw corn just corn you don't need any gimmick attractors this will stop any thing that wanders buy long enough for you to get look. Just change your tactics that's all keep it simple if your deer were dead you would find evidence.


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: GrammyB] #6980215 12/02/17 11:01 PM
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Lease a helicopter and do a survey. Sure it will costs but you will find them that way.

Re: What do I look for? [Re: krmitchell] #6980231 12/02/17 11:13 PM
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Originally Posted By: rexmitchell
Lease a helicopter and do a survey. Sure it will costs but you will find them that way.
Or fly a drone.....be a lot cheaper......could do the place in sections.....


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Re: What do I look for? [Re: SnakeWrangler] #6983076 12/05/17 02:12 AM
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My son has 500+ acres HF that the family hunts.
The very first thing we do when we get to the ranch is drive the whole fence line to check for breaks etc.
Another thing you should be doing is riding around at night with a light to inventory deer.

Neil

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