Non-typical Stuff | Deer Hunting & Management

Ted Nugent on Deer Behavior

Ted Nugent, rock star and avid bow hunter, was being interviewed by a French journalist and animal rights activist. The discussion came around to deer hunting. The journalist asked Ted, “What do you think is the last thought in the head of a deer before you shoot him? Is it, “Are you my friend?” or is it “Are you the one who killed my brother?” Uncle Ted then replied:

“Deer aren’t capable of that kind of thinking. All they care about is, ‘What am I going to eat next, who am I going to screw next, and can I run fast enough to get away. They are very much like the French.”

The interview ended at that point.

Hill Country Region of Texas Leads Deer Harvest Numbers

Hunters is Lampasas County and the Hill Country ecological region should have an excellent opportunity to bag a trophy buck this season, as range conditions are excellent throughout the area. “The rainfall has ben outstanding and couldn’t have come at a better time for antler production and fawn survival,” said Mike Krueger, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Edwards Plateau district leader and former technical guidance biologist in Lampasas.

“Last year was the first year in which antler restrictions were in force in Lampasas County, and it looks like they met the intended purpose as many better-quality young deer moved up another age class,” Krueger said.

Derrick Wolter, TPWD Wildlife Biologist for Lampasas, Bell, and Coryell counties, agreed that the 2007-08 hunting season should be a very good one. “In our recent spotlight deer surveys, we noted an increase in fawn numbers and an increase in deer numbers,” he said. “Due to the antler restrictions and adequate forage available, hunter should see older bucks with larger antlers this season.”

The Hill Country region contains several counties in Central Texas that range from Coryell on the northeast, south to Comal, and then west to Crockett and Val Verde County. Lampasas County is included in the region. For many years, the Hill Country has shown the highest deer harvest numbers in Texas.

During the 2006-07 hunting season, TPWD estimates that 172,184 hunters harvested 185,920 deer in the Hill Country. Of these, 97,608 were bucks; does numbered about 88,320. Hunters success was 76 percent.

The region with the second highest harvest was the South Texas Plains with 77,784 deer taken.

Regions with the lowest white-tailed deer harvest were the High Plains (612 deer) and the Trans-Pecos (1,575), however these two regions have a good population of desert mule deer.

Reprinted from the Lampasas Dispatch Record Hunter’s Edition 2007

Outlook for Texas’ Deer Season

Last year’s Texas deer hunting season was consiedered textbook by state wildlife biologists. However, this season hunters may have to throw out the book. Indicators leading into the November 3 season opener point to potentially great hunting across much of the state, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department biologist.

“Generally speaking, it’s a banner year for (fawn) production,” said Mitch Lockwood, TPWD Deer Program leader. “As far as quality of the animals, the deer we are seeing are in pretty good condition, and I expect antler quality and body weights to be above average. Not only do we expect this year’s crop to be better, but there are more mature bucks out there simply because harvest was down in 2006.”

Whitetails have responded well from last year’s extended dry spell, thanks to an unseasonably wet spring and summer and the deer have taken advantage of resurgent plant growth, Lockwood said.

That bodes well for the deer, but could pose a challenge for hunters hoping to find success from a blind over supplemental feed. Biologist point to 2004, when timely spring rains created ideal range conditions, healthy deer and high expectations from hunters. Due to the abundance of vegetation available to deer during that year, hunters observed fewer animals during the season and overall harvest numbers were down.

When conditions became relatively dry in 2005, deer harvest jumped considerably and, in particular, more mature bucks were killed that season. “That’s what makes this year tough to predict,” Lockwood said. “There will be more deer on the ground this fall, but hunting could be tough early in the season.”

Because some parts of the state are drying up as rainfall slacked off in September and October, deer movements and hunting conditions could change. “Deer were seeing so much good native groceries all year, corn was something new to them,” the TPWD program leader said.

“In the Edwards Plateau, we’re loaded with acorns. Once those food sources run out, deer should hit the feeders.”

With the expected high percentage of recruitment into the deer population this year, it’s important for landowners to actively manage whitetail numbers. “It’s important for hunters to use those antlerless tags this season and get excess animals off the range before winter sets in to ensure there’s enough food to go around,” said Lockwood.

Another Way to Kill Deer: Gates

The white-tailed deer is an amazing animal. Deer really live a tough life and must navigate a multitude of obstacles along the way, just to stay alive. From the time they are born, deer have to survive the elements, escape endless pursuits from coyotes and mountain lions, not to mention diseases or possible deaths from wounds and injuries. Then, there are the deer hunting seasons. But deer populations continue to thrive.

With all that in mind, some of the things that deer — and probably most people — do not suspect as a hazard are gates and wrought iron fences. Elaborate gates are often built entering properties. But deer will try to jump them. It’s important for gates to be either very high, so that deer do not attempt to jump them, or very low so that deer can easily jump them.

Both gates and fences are put around rural, residential and commercial properties. Fences often mark property boundaries, but they are often erected to protect property and keep animals in or out. It’s also important that they be constructed with safety, both human and wildlife, in mind. Improper construction only means that deer will regularly get caught in fences.

Then there are other human-created deer death traps like roads, highways, and interstates. Just add automobiles and 18-wheelers to start the killing. And yes, hunters get to take a few to with archery equipment and firearms during the regulated hunting season. But the occasional residential gate? Who would have guessed?

Strange Wildlife Camera Photos

Looking for some odd wildlife photos captured using trail cameras? Well, this is a good place to start! Below are some of the most crazy game camera pics I have seen to date. The great thing about motion-activated cameras is that you never really know what you are going to get. Enjoy these strange photos and if you have any of your own, send ’em over!