Forums46
Topics536,988
Posts9,719,168
Members86,987
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Dead Critters
#8173699
02/17/21 08:59 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,958
gary roberson
OP
Veteran Tracker
|
OP
Veteran Tracker
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
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
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
Pappashack
Outdoorsman
|
Outdoorsman
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
Tracker
|
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
Ag Hunter 78
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
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
Texas buckeye
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
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
huntwest
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,954 |
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
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795 |
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!
|
|
|
Re: Dead Critters
[Re: huntwest]
#8174744
02/18/21 03:46 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 701
Capt.JVH
Tracker
|
Tracker
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
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
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
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
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
Blank
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
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!!
|
|
|
Re: Dead Critters
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8174880
02/18/21 05:15 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795
BbarVRanch
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795 |
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
oldrancher
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 309 |
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
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795 |
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.
|
|
|
Re: Dead Critters
[Re: gary roberson]
#8175476
02/18/21 10:42 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,818
PMK
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
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
THF Celebrity Chef
|
THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891 |
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
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
|
Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
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
|
|
|
Re: Dead Critters
[Re: SapperTitan]
#8175734
02/19/21 01:35 AM
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
|
THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891 |
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 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....
|
|
|
Re: Dead Critters
[Re: gary roberson]
#8175967
02/19/21 06:08 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,183
Mike Honcho
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
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
THF Celebrity Chef
|
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. 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.
|
|
|
Re: Dead Critters
[Re: gary roberson]
#8175994
02/19/21 08:23 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,532
fishdfly
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
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
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 795 |
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. 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. Gotta love that type... Good job!
|
|
|
Re: Dead Critters
[Re: gary roberson]
#8177860
02/20/21 02:53 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,033
coachwhite34
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,033 |
BIL sent me this last night.
|
|
|
Re: Dead Critters
[Re: coachwhite34]
#8180076
02/22/21 02:35 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,958
gary roberson
OP
Veteran Tracker
|
OP
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,958 |
BIL sent me this last night. This is the ranch that is estimating at least 400 dead axis. Hundreds of dead blackbucks as well. Really sad. Adios, Gary
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|