texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,413
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,764
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics536,988
Posts9,719,168
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Dead Critters #8173699 02/17/21 08:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,958
G
gary roberson Offline OP
Veteran Tracker
OP Offline
Veteran Tracker
G
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,958
Beginning to find dead axis deer, one near the house and the other on the river west of town. I am seeing lots of axis that appear to be starving, struggling with this cold weather. I was shocked to see a live blackbuck when feeding cattle this morning...
Adios,
Gary

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8173985 02/17/21 11:39 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
B
Biscuit Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
B
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
Praying for a good survival

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8174257 02/18/21 02:27 AM
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 82
P
Pappashack Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
P
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 82
Found 4 morning doves and the neighbors house cat all ready

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8174407 02/18/21 04:42 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 891
TKM Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 891
Gonna be hard on the critters.

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8174437 02/18/21 05:53 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,344
A
Ag Hunter 78 Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
A
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,344
I sometimes fish Choke Canyon near Three Rivers and have seen plenty of gators there. Just curious, any reptile experts out there that would venture a guess as to some gators croaking from this real cold weather?


No prayer in school....What's next, no thinking in church?
It's not just about pie in the sky when you die. It's also about steak on your plate while you wait!
Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8174630 02/18/21 02:13 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 10,962
T
Texas buckeye Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
T
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 10,962
Plenty of WT deer still hitting my feeders. I am sure some will have died off, but not in any significant numbers

One good thing about snow is you can see where the deer have been, there a highway of tracks coming to my feeders

Re: Dead Critters [Re: Ag Hunter 78] #8174662 02/18/21 02:38 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,954
H
huntwest Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
H
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,954
Originally Posted by Ag Hunter 78
I sometimes fish Choke Canyon near Three Rivers and have seen plenty of gators there. Just curious, any reptile experts out there that would venture a guess as to some gators croaking from this real cold weather?


Those gators will go lay and on the bottom and kind of hibernate. Same with turtles and other water living reptiles.
They will come up every 18 to 24 hours and get some air the. Sink back down.
The daters at lake worth have been through lots of this type of weather and I don’t think they ever had a dead one.


Last edited by huntwest; 02/18/21 02:40 PM.
Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8174672 02/18/21 02:49 PM
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
BbarVRanch Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
Originally Posted by gary roberson
Beginning to find dead axis deer, one near the house and the other on the river west of town. I am seeing lots of axis that appear to be starving, struggling with this cold weather. I was shocked to see a live blackbuck when feeding cattle this morning...
Adios,
Gary


Sad to hear, Gary.

I'm kinda surprised you saw the blackbuck too.

In high school I worked at a friend's exotic game ranch, and the blackbucks were particularly hard hit in cold weather.

They had me skin out two zebras that died from cold, wet weather too. Guess they don't handle it well.

Owner had the hides tanned. One with the hair on, and one hair off. They looked pretty cool in his trophy room! smile

Re: Dead Critters [Re: huntwest] #8174744 02/18/21 03:46 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 701
C
Capt.JVH Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
C
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 701
I agree with Huntwest. Growing up in Illinois we had farm ponds with monster snapping turtles in them. The ponds would freeze over yet the turtles were always still kicking come spring. Reptiles are pretty hearty critters. Gators are on the far end of that spectrum. Those things are HARD to kill.

Gary, that really sucks!! Hard to believe it will be in the 60's this time next week.

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8174747 02/18/21 03:50 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,043
W
Wilhunt Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
W
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,043
Will axis and other exotics eat the feed being put out for cattle?

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8174748 02/18/21 03:50 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,043
W
Wilhunt Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
W
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,043
Will axis and other exotics eat the feed being put out for cattle?

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8174758 02/18/21 03:56 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,301
B
Blank Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
B
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,301
Gators that stay in the water will survive days of icing conditions, by almost hibernating. But like other air breathers, they must be able to breathe. During the big freeze of 1989, there were about a dozen big ones that died at South Texas nuke plant reservoir, but they were on the banks and didn't get into the water quick enough. This is an example from North Carolina where they stick their noses up, and then let the ponds freeze solid! When they thaw out, they're fine. Weird!!

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Re: Dead Critters [Re: Wilhunt] #8174880 02/18/21 05:15 PM
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
BbarVRanch Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
Originally Posted by Wilhunt
Will axis and other exotics eat the feed being put out for cattle?



Hogs will.

I don't think deer think much of hay, with alfalfa being the exception. They won't eat range cubes either.

Re: Dead Critters [Re: BbarVRanch] #8174901 02/18/21 05:33 PM
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 309
O
oldrancher Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
O
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 309
Originally Posted by BbarVRanch
Originally Posted by Wilhunt
Will axis and other exotics eat the feed being put out for cattle?



Hogs will.

I don't think deer think much of hay, with alfalfa being the exception. They won't eat range cubes either.


Our deer here on the ranch follow the feed truck when we are feeding cattle and eat after the cattle can't pick up anymore of the range cubes. They'll even stand in the road when we are headed to the next feeding area and we'll give them a couple of dumps. They will congregate around the piles of dumped cubes. They even come up while we are blowing the siren to call the cattle. They know the sound of the feed truck, the siren and the clanging of the T&S Feed Hopper lid means food. This week, they have really been "friendly". Everything is hungry now.

Re: Dead Critters [Re: oldrancher] #8174911 02/18/21 05:36 PM
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
BbarVRanch Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
Originally Posted by oldrancher
Originally Posted by BbarVRanch
Originally Posted by Wilhunt
Will axis and other exotics eat the feed being put out for cattle?



Hogs will.

I don't think deer think much of hay, with alfalfa being the exception. They won't eat range cubes either.


Our deer here on the ranch follow the feed truck when we are feeding cattle and eat after the cattle can't pick up anymore of the range cubes. They'll even stand in the road when we are headed to the next feeding area and we'll give them a couple of dumps. They will congregate around the piles of dumped cubes. They even come up while we are blowing the siren to call the cattle. They know the sound of the feed truck, the siren and the clanging of the T&S Feed Hopper lid means food. This week, they have really been "friendly". Everything is hungry now.


Deer would do that when I'd drive around shoveling cottonseed to the cows too.

Had javalinas follow the cube truck too. They weren't shy. smile

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8175476 02/18/21 10:42 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,818
P
PMK Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
P
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,818
I put out 2 large alfalfa bails 3 weeks ago at 2 different stand locations to see what the deer thought about it. Nothing that entire weekend got anywhere close to those bails. It will be interesting to see if they changed their attitude during this past week with all the ice/snow. I'll check game cameras tomorrow night or after the Sat. morning hunt.


"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."

~PMK~
Re: Dead Critters [Re: Ag Hunter 78] #8175658 02/19/21 12:44 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891
skinnerback Offline
THF Celebrity Chef
Offline
THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891
Originally Posted by Ag Hunter 78
I sometimes fish Choke Canyon near Three Rivers and have seen plenty of gators there. Just curious, any reptile experts out there that would venture a guess as to some gators croaking from this real cold weather?



Not many will die. Most gators will bury themselves in the mud with their noses sticking out to breath. They will hibernate until it thaws out. They are hardy critters.

Re: Dead Critters [Re: skinnerback] #8175671 02/19/21 12:51 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
S
SapperTitan Offline
Taking Requests
Offline
Taking Requests
S
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
Originally Posted by skinnerback
Originally Posted by Ag Hunter 78
I sometimes fish Choke Canyon near Three Rivers and have seen plenty of gators there. Just curious, any reptile experts out there that would venture a guess as to some gators croaking from this real cold weather?



Not many will die. Most gators will bury themselves in the mud with their noses sticking out to breath. They will hibernate until it thaws out. They are hardy TASTY critters.

There I fixed it for ya. I like BBQ gator ribs but fried gator tail is the best grin

Re: Dead Critters [Re: SapperTitan] #8175734 02/19/21 01:35 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891
skinnerback Offline
THF Celebrity Chef
Offline
THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891
Originally Posted by SapperTitan
Originally Posted by skinnerback
Originally Posted by Ag Hunter 78
I sometimes fish Choke Canyon near Three Rivers and have seen plenty of gators there. Just curious, any reptile experts out there that would venture a guess as to some gators croaking from this real cold weather?



Not many will die. Most gators will bury themselves in the mud with their noses sticking out to breath. They will hibernate until it thaws out. They are hardy TASTY critters.

There I fixed it for ya. I like BBQ gator ribs but fried gator tail is the best grin



HaHAAA! You got that right Sap. I've never had BBQ gator ribs, but I'd love to try. I love fried gator tail but that jaw meat is awfully good too. Buddy of mine's Uncle in Louisiana owns the biggest alligator farm in the US, I used to trade him homemade deer & feral pork sausage for big bags of jaw meat. Long as you cut that fat off it's dang good. I started buying alligator tenderloins and dude.... flehan

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8175967 02/19/21 06:08 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,183
M
Mike Honcho Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
M
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,183
Skinner alligator tenderloins sound good!


“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."


Re: Dead Critters [Re: Mike Honcho] #8175971 02/19/21 06:27 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891
skinnerback Offline
THF Celebrity Chef
Offline
THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891
They are delicious fried up, that's the only way I've eaten them.

Had a neighbor just down the road with a 6' gator in their pond. They told me they were worried about one of their little dogs or cats getting eaten by the gator. I said I can fix that problem real quick (legally), and I would share the meat and hide/jaws/whatever as long as I got to take a little meat home to fry up.

You should have seen the look on their faces. roflmao

I was then informed that they are vegetarians, they despise hunting, and they don't allow guns in their house.

I laughed, they quit talking to me. Cool. roflmao

Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8175994 02/19/21 08:23 AM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,532
F
fishdfly Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
F
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,532
Their loss, not yours.

My yard opossum survived, he was on the porch last night wanting supper. He was sitting on my fire wood wagon looking in the back door.

Re: Dead Critters [Re: skinnerback] #8176022 02/19/21 11:22 AM
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
BbarVRanch Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
Originally Posted by skinnerback
They are delicious fried up, that's the only way I've eaten them.

Had a neighbor just down the road with a 6' gator in their pond. They told me they were worried about one of their little dogs or cats getting eaten by the gator. I said I can fix that problem real quick (legally), and I would share the meat and hide/jaws/whatever as long as I got to take a little meat home to fry up.

You should have seen the look on their faces. roflmao

I was then informed that they are vegetarians, they despise hunting, and they don't allow guns in their house.

I laughed, they quit talking to me. Cool. roflmao


Gotta love that type... cowboy

Good job!


Re: Dead Critters [Re: gary roberson] #8177860 02/20/21 02:53 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,033
C
coachwhite34 Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
C
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,033
BIL sent me this last night.


[Linked Image]

Re: Dead Critters [Re: coachwhite34] #8180076 02/22/21 02:35 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,958
G
gary roberson Offline OP
Veteran Tracker
OP Offline
Veteran Tracker
G
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,958
Originally Posted by coachwhite34
BIL sent me this last night.


[Linked Image]

This is the ranch that is estimating at least 400 dead axis. Hundreds of dead blackbucks as well. Really sad.
Adios,
Gary

Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3