Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[NH homesteader]

Wow that deer is gorgeous. I hope they manage to get that legislation through for the elks. Seems absurd.

 

[Latestarter]

Speaking of deer... I saw my first one on the property this morning when I finally crawled out of bed around 9:30... A nice medium sized buck up in the front field. He was walking from the road end toward the house and about 1/2 way he turned and jumped the fence, walked across the driveway and walked into the woods. He had no issues jumping the barbed wire fence. My eyes hadn't cleared yet and I didn't have binocs or a rifle scope handy but I could see the curve of his rack and I'd estimate he was a 4-6 point. When he turned he was about 100 yards from me. I'd guess he was in the 150-175 pound range, so not "small" but no monster either. He would have cooked up just fine I'm sure Not licensed this year... not a resident yet.

 

[NH homesteader]

Don't need a license in NH to get a deer on your own property in season. I know this because I haven't gotten mine yet!

How are things on the homestead? Haven't seen any updates!

 

[Latestarter]

Still being lazy... temps still pretty high during the day. Will really kick my butt into gear once the cooler weather sets in. Have been pricing farm equipment (tractor w/bush hog vs zero turn mower) and barns. Will need to do some dirt work to get the placement area level and graded for proper drainage. which of course the bucket loader tractor would be immensely helpful with...

 

[Mike CHS]

Have you checked on the license requirements? Property owners in Tennessee don't need a license to hunt their own land either and you can take one a day (anterless) if they are around.

I can't imagine doing the majority of jobs around our place without the front end loader. I've abused it enough that I have it thinking it is a dozer. We even pushed over a bunch of cherry trees 6-8 inches in diameter when it was raining a lot. I tried to push over a 5 inch locust the other day and I swear I heard that tree laughing when I gave up and drove away.

 

[farmerjan]

Have you checked on the license requirements? Property owners in Tennessee don't need a license to hunt their own land either and you can take one a day (anterless) if they are around.

I can't imagine doing the majority of jobs around our place without the front end loader. I've abused it enough that I have it thinking it is a dozer. We even pushed over a bunch of cherry trees 6-8 inches in diameter when it was raining a lot. I tried to push over a 5 inch locust the other day and I swear I heard that tree laughing when I gave up and drove away.

Yeah, locust will do that to you!!!

 

[greybeard]

In Texas, you DO need a license to hunt even on your own property, tho there are exceptions:

Exceptions
A hunting license is not required to hunt the following:

• 
  
  
  • Coyotes, if the coyotes are attacking, about to attack or have recently attacked livestock, domestic animals or fowl.
  • Depredating feral hogs, if a landowner (resident or non-resident) or landowner's agent or lessee is taking feral hogs causing depredation on the landowner's land.
  • Fur-bearing animals, if the hunter possesses a trapper's license or if the fur-bearing animals are causing depredation.

Note: All laws and regulations governing hunter education requirements still apply.

http://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/
For white tail deer, some of the regs changed last year, and they are being serious about enforcing the 13" antler spread portion of the change..
http://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/animals/white-tailed-deer
.

 

[Bruce]

Um, how is one to know the antler spread is 13"+ until they can put their hands on the animal (which means it is already dead)?

 

[OneFineAcre]

WhiteTail deer in TX are a lot smaller body size than further north
175-200 lbs for a mature buck
A mature buck in Michigan would be 400 lbs

 

[OneFineAcre]

Um, how is one to know the antler spread is 13"+ until they can put their hands on the animal (which means it is already dead)?

One would need to have observed a few of them
Make sure the antlers are wider than his ears