Fellows I am looking for input about a place i purchased this year. I have purchased 17.7 acres that comes with 13+ acres of leaseback. it is a long rectangular place with a major reservoir on one side. There is a golf course on the other and some 2 to 5 acre home sites in the other corners. There is not a large woodlot in any close direction. I bought the place for fishing. I have discovered a fairly large number of deer on the place. They apparently stage there to access the golf course at night. There have been a few hog sightings as well.
I am considering harvesting a deer, but I have reservations and wanted comments and input. We do not want to run the deer off the place as we enjoy seeing them and I feel their habitat is pretty fragile . I do have concern they are overpopulating the acreage. Questions as follows
(1) do you believe hunting will drive the deer away?
(2) What weapon would be of choice. I would choose bow and arrow except, I do not want the animal to run onto the golf course and I have to go drag it off the green with shocked audience in attendance
( 3) I always hunted with a. 270, but the confined area would make a high power rifle startle the golfers and make for very narrow places to shoot safely.
(4) I have considered a shotgun with either buckshot or slug. I am not sure about the kill power of buckshot. Here again I don't want to have to pursue the animal off my property.
(5) I have also considered 50 blackout with a silencer, but I am not sure it is superior to the shotgun..
I am not sure where this group of deer come from. I have seen a couple of really nice bucks in the group, but it is mostly does, fawns,and spikes.

From where you will shoot how far is the golf course ( A green) I'm thinking golfers will not be happy with guns firing near them. Better be up high shooting down. Some states only allow Buck shot so a lot of deer have been bagged with buck shot within range. Max 30 to 50 yards Pattern your gun. Sounds like you could rile up some folks if your not careful

Sure this is a concern. The golf course is 200yards from my fence line. I am in the county ,. legally they could do nothing about it, but who wants controversy. I am thinking a single shot from a shot gun might go unnoticed. Heck the people next to me shoot skeet on their place. I have a couple of draws to shoot into as well. I would not of course shoot towards the golf course.

Suppressor is a good option but in the end it is your land. If you are doing it legal and more importantly safe I wouldn’t be that concerned. I live in the city limits of Austin and hear gunshots from the 50 acre property less than a 1/4 mile of me. Surprised me the first time but after that I just expect to hear it and it doesn’t bother me.

If you are at all shooting toward the golf course, your most likely complainers, it would be worthwhile to spend the money on building a berm. If you are going to install a feeder, build a nice berm behind the feeder. That way, you have a nice safety backstop for where you intend to be shooting.

As seen on this very forum, people get really wacked out if you shoot toward a fence line and that is coming from hunters. Imagine what non-hunters will think. Thus, a backstop would save a multitude of potential problems including complaint about how supposed you are shooting across the golf course unintentionally. When the warden shows up, you can show him your hide, feeder, and backstop.

There are people who hunt on less. I see no issues with hunting the property - as long as you have the acreage to legally hunt on, I say go for it. I don't foresee harvesting a deer every year scaring all your deer away.

A well hit deer with a bow usually won’t run over 30-60 yards with a solid double lung hit.

My advice would be go to archery in your instance IF you are a comfortable archer

agree with txtrophy85...

Had permission ta hunt small piece of property... used archery only. Scouted found trails but some brick size attractant ground leaves (more natural), & hung few stands...
Neighbor still complained... So quit hunting it.. He was also a hunter...
All about the big buck$...

With what you have described, I would look into getting a 300 blackout and some sub sonic ammo and a suppressor, and then set up where you are aiming away from the golf course! It is your property and yes, you may do as you like, but with that said, the old adage " Don't start none and there won't be none" comes to mind! This set up will make for a clean kill and a little to no tracking job, depending on shot placement! A well placed bow shot will also make for a short tracking job as well, providing your shot placement "IS" spot on! I would stay away from buckshot in this situation! Good luck!

Crossbow

Is this in Emory, by any chance?

That was my thoughts too. Little Caney and Lands End? Crossbow.

Was thinking over by Lake Fork Golf Course. Property next to the course sold not long ago.

The golf course is Land's End. Little Caney is a major creek arm of Fork. But only guessing. Could be anywhere.

How about a feeder in one of the draws? Shooting down into the draw seems safe enough. Sure would hate to have a deer show up at the golf course with a arrow in it. Maybe a crossbow like stx mentioned.

I know Lands End lol
There is another course called Lake Fork Golf Course. Nice Family Owned course. Off of 2946.

I'd use a bow; as someone above said, the deer aren't going to run far if you make a good shot. If by chance the deer does make it on to the green, just do your best Carl Spackler impersonation and make the most of it -- you'll have a helluva hunting story to tell for years.

"Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac… It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole!"

As a golfer and a hunter I wouldn't worry about it. Your suppressed rifle isn't a good choice. There still very load unless you have sub sonic ammo and it really effects ballistics. I would hunt like normal. If complaints mount to much then go Archery. Depending on where the land is, opportunities can be limited for the right deer. My neighbor kills deer that move from my place to his and he has 20 acres.

Remember also, when its cold, golfers weight till later in the day when its warmer. They will complain, game warden will visit and thats it.

High shoulder.

Look into a AirForce Texan SS. It would be perfect.

x2

↑...this......started using a crossbow a few years ago....haven't shot a deer yet but the one hog I shot dropped in his tracks.