Outdoorsman Thread

[treefarmer]

Looks like there are at least 3 bucks on the lease:

"Hold on there, Junior. I need to talk to you!"

"Now 2 things, the does and the corn pile........"

Not quite sure what kind of head gear this is?

Looks like two of those have a free pass based on the rule book.
Treefarmer

[Old Hunter]

Thank you John.

Phil, looks like you have plenty of deer activity - fresh venison soon! OH

[bighomer]

This young feller came by about dark thirty so not the best photos by any means, but he's got some meat on his bones, and better horns than the last buck that came by.

[1967redrider]

Nice photos, tree and bighomer!


BTW, this is not my gold fish. https://abcnews.go.com/US/giant-pound-g ... d=74600681

Our ditch doesn't dump into any S. Carolina streams. I think mine might maybe go a pound.

[Doc B]

Most days, on our walk, we encounter 1-2 armadillos. They aren't overly afraid of people or dogs. If you had a fish net, you could catch one...not that you would want to catch one for any reason.

[1967redrider]

Doc, I know nothing about Armadillos. They don't look snuggly, do they smell bad? I think they have claws for digging. Do they bite too?

[Old Hunter]

Homer, about two more seasons and that buck will be a magnificent wall hanger!
Doc, I remember armadillos everywhere at Fort Polk LA.
OH

[Quick Steel]

Saw my first armadillos at Ft. Polk.

[bighomer]

Here's a couple of young fellers that came by earlier.

[treefarmer]

I don't have any pictures for this post but this afternoon I had the most wonderful time watching the deer at our place. I got to the shooting house around 4:15 and it was getting colder by the minute. Y'all laugh but it is below freezing tonight in the Florida Panhandle. When it gets below 40 we all think we are going to die.
Deer started showing up at 4:30, first a doe and two fawns at the feeder, I recognized them. I didn't even bother to look with my binoculars. A bit later I looked back and there were two big deer and one fawn, then they moved and headed for the food plot (Rye) and other deer started moving in and out in my sight. At one time I could definitely see ten different deer, it was getting darker and harder to see. I made out one spike as they were feeding and playing around. All of a sudden, all the deer started looking one direction back in the pines next to the feeder. I could see another deer moving toward the green plot. He trotted into the plot with his head down and chased about every deer around the plot. Finally he got close enough in the fading light to glimpse some head gear but it was passed legal shooting time. None of the does are showing any signs of being interested in the upcoming rut but I suppose the cold snap charged the buck's battery and he was cruising. Maybe tomorrow afternoon we'll meet a little earlier where I can see if he has the required points on his head. We don't usually see this activity until January and then on to the end of the season.
Tomorrow morning when I should be sitting in the stand, I'll most likely be sittin' in my recliner drinking that 1st cup of coffee.
Treefarmer

[Mumbleypeg]

Doc, I know nothing about Armadillos. They don't look snuggly, do they smell bad? I think they have claws for digging. Do they bite too?

Armadillos don’t typically fear humans or dogs, and their eyesight is extremely weak so they don’t typically run. They’re typically nocturnal. When they do run they’re fast. I’ve never heard of an armadillo biting anyone but their claws are fearsome strong and to be avoided. To live-trap one you need a trap with a heavy duty cage else they will tear it up trying to escape. They don’t normally smell bad. And they’re definitely not snuggly - I don’t think there’s a soft spot on one, unless it’s the hairy belly! (BTW I’ve read they can be carriers of leprosy).

Armadillos eat grubs and earthworms so they dig holes in turf and gardens. They’re especially fond of areas that have been irrigated (more worms, easier digging). They also dig burrows several feet deep in which they stay when not out foraging. A few years ago one dug a burrow under our front porch. The best deterrent is “lead poisoning”.

Ken

[Colonel26]

I don't have any pictures for this post but this afternoon I had the most wonderful time watching the deer at our place. I got to the shooting house around 4:15 and it was getting colder by the minute. Y'all laugh but it is below freezing tonight in the Florida Panhandle. When it gets below 40 we all think we are going to die.
Deer started showing up at 4:30, first a doe and two fawns at the feeder, I recognized them. I didn't even bother to look with my binoculars. A bit later I looked back and there were two big deer and one fawn, then they moved and headed for the food plot (Rye) and other deer started moving in and out in my sight. At one time I could definitely see ten different deer, it was getting darker and harder to see. I made out one spike as they were feeding and playing around. All of a sudden, all the deer started looking one direction back in the pines next to the feeder. I could see another deer moving toward the green plot. He trotted into the plot with his head down and chased about every deer around the plot. Finally he got close enough in the fading light to glimpse some head gear but it was passed legal shooting time. None of the does are showing any signs of being interested in the upcoming rut but I suppose the cold snap charged the buck's battery and he was cruising. Maybe tomorrow afternoon we'll meet a little earlier where I can see if he has the required points on his head. We don't usually see this activity until January and then on to the end of the season.
Tomorrow morning when I should be sitting in the stand, I'll most likely be sittin' in my recliner drinking that 1st cup of coffee.
Treefarmer

What’s the legal limit on points in Florida?

[treefarmer]

Bro. Wade, If I understand the constantly changing regs, in Deer Management Unit D, south of I-10 he needs to have at least 2 points on one side, north of the interstate he needs 3 points. I'm sure the biologists have a reason for all the added rules and regulations. https://myfwc.com/hunting/season-dates/dmu-d/

My biggest gripe is the archery season which allows any sex kills (except spotted fawns) during the fawning time. Seems like common sense would protect the fawns from becoming orphans too early, we are still seeing fawns with spots. Bucks only during the early archery season would take care of that issue then let 'em kill all the does they want after the fawns have been on the ground a couple of months.
Treefarmer

[doglegg]

Doc, I know nothing about Armadillos. They don't look snuggly, do they smell bad? I think they have claws for digging. Do they bite too?

Armadillos don’t typically fear humans or dogs, and their eyesight is extremely weak so they don’t typically run. They’re typically nocturnal. When they do run they’re fast. I’ve never heard of an armadillo biting anyone but their claws are fearsome strong and to be avoided. To live-trap one you need a trap with a heavy duty cage else they will tear it up trying to escape. They don’t normally smell bad. And they’re definitely not snuggly - I don’t think there’s a soft spot on one, unless it’s the hairy belly! (BTW I’ve read they can be carriers of leprosy).

Armadillos eat grubs and earthworms so they dig holes in turf and gardens. They’re especially fond of areas that have been irrigated (more worms, easier digging). They also dig burrows several feet deep in which they stay when not out foraging. A few years ago one dug a burrow under our front porch. The best deterrent is “lead poisoning”.

Ken

Never heard of one biting either but that tail packs a punch.

[PigStikr]

I've seen them critters when I lived in E. Texas I just thought they was like oppsum with armor...take it from me I'd rather get coon bit than oppsum bit so if they got jaws like a possum it hurts...possum bite down on a thumb or finger tip it's like vice grips..

[Waukonda]

Here is a perfect example of "playing possum". I took these pics about 30 seconds apart, the first one I zoomed in from about 15' away. I walked in next to it, to force it into its' defense behavior, and it layed over and played dead for the 2nd pic.

[Steve Warden]

Them's some teeth!!

[Colonel26]

Here is a perfect example of "playing possum". I took these pics about 30 seconds apart, the first one I zoomed in from about 15' away. I walked in next to it, to force it into its' defense behavior, and it layed over and played dead for the 2nd pic.

Those are some great pics!

[royal0014]

'round these parts, armadillos are called 'possum on the half-shell'.
Comes with its own bowl and spoon ... !

[1967redrider]

Doc, I know nothing about Armadillos. They don't look snuggly, do they smell bad? I think they have claws for digging. Do they bite too?

Armadillos don’t typically fear humans or dogs, and their eyesight is extremely weak so they don’t typically run. They’re typically nocturnal. When they do run they’re fast. I’ve never heard of an armadillo biting anyone but their claws are fearsome strong and to be avoided. To live-trap one you need a trap with a heavy duty cage else they will tear it up trying to escape. They don’t normally smell bad. And they’re definitely not snuggly - I don’t think there’s a soft spot on one, unless it’s the hairy belly! (BTW I’ve read they can be carriers of leprosy).

Armadillos eat grubs and earthworms so they dig holes in turf and gardens. They’re especially fond of areas that have been irrigated (more worms, easier digging). They also dig burrows several feet deep in which they stay when not out foraging. A few years ago one dug a burrow under our front porch. The best deterrent is “lead poisoning”.

Ken

Thanks for the info, Ken. We have groundhog problems, they'll dig holes in hay fields and barns/sheds. They really tear things up.

[Unk]

Most days, on our walk, we encounter 1-2 armadillos. They aren't overly afraid of people or dogs. If you had a fish net, you could catch one...not that you would want to catch one for any reason.
Armadillo.jpg

Doc, we were at the deer lease last year, standing around the camp fire one night when an armadillo came walking right in amongst us. My buddy reached down an picked him up by the tail and walked over and tossed him back into the bushes, and we watched him waddle off into the darkness (the armadillo, not my friend)

We see them regularly, but never had one walk right into camp. We were talking, laughing, and making quite a bit of noise, along with a decent sized fire. I guess he wanted to see what the hub-bub was, or maybe he wanted a cold one. We also had hogs and deer run through camp a couple of times.

[Doc B]

Most days, on our walk, we encounter 1-2 armadillos. They aren't overly afraid of people or dogs. If you had a fish net, you could catch one...not that you would want to catch one for any reason.
Armadillo.jpg

Doc, we were at the deer lease last year, standing around the camp fire one night when an armadillo came walking right in amongst us. My buddy reached down an picked him up by the tail and walked over and tossed him back into the bushes, and we watched him waddle off into the darkness (the armadillo, not my friend)

We see them regularly, but never had one walk right into camp. We were talking, laughing, and making quite a bit of noise, along with a decent sized fire. I guess he wanted to see what the hub-bub was, or maybe he wanted a cold one. We also had hogs and deer run through camp a couple of times.

For the most part...they just continue to root around, while my dog is right next to them. Occasionally they scurry off and my dog will chase after them a bit. It's virtually a daily occurrence. I too thought they were mostly nocturnal...but; these are out in the daytime.

[treefarmer]

This afternoon I went to the "condo" around 4 pm. Pulled my old .243 up with my little nylon cord and got settled in and around 4:10 I saw a deer come out of the woods on the west and started moving toward the feeder in the pines. I lost sight of him for a few minutes then he came out of some thick brush and moved around the feeder area. The feeder is about 130 yards from the shooting house. I noticed through my binoculars he was at least legal so I took a crack at him. He jumped and ran south west and I lost sight of him. Went back to the house and got Flossie, the Aussiedor and as I got near the feeder she jumped out of the cart and headed through the pines and bushes. She stopped about 100 foot from the feeder, she had found the little buck. We have some real cool weather coming for a few days and this one will hang outside in a fly bag as long as we can.

Flossie found her deer.

Getting read to hang him up.

Working with my old well worn #39 Queen.

Cooling off high off the ground.

I'm thankful for another deer to start this season. I'm going to keep trying as long as I'm able. It's a bit sad to think several folks quite a bit younger than myself have given up "goin' to the woods", they say they're are "too old". One day I'll kill my last one and I hope this isn't him.
Treefarmer

[cudgee]

You keep going long as you can, you like it and it's good for the soul and the table. You look like you have a few more years left yet.

[PigStikr]

Good for you TreeFarmer my freezer is empty this year...