DEER HUNTING (Scouting In Progress 1999)

Today: Watching your hunting area when you aren't there.

Since February I've been Wild Hog Hunting at the  Hammer Hole, which has been a great deer hunting area of mine for 15 years. It is in a thick, brushy area, just inside the deer bedding area. Last year was the first year that Wild Hogs have been in our area. They've been coming up the Leon River for years and finally made it to us. 

I've been wondering what effect they are having on the deer herd.

The Wild Hogs have been using the Hammer Hole area regularly to go from wherever they come from to wherever they are going. During April, May and June I literally stopped seeing deer while I stand hunted for the hogs. That had me worried.

But I guess it was just due to fawning, because the deer are back in the area. I moved my Buckshot35 Game Camera to watch a well traveled trail. Five days later it had used all the film. I won't bore you with 36 pics of deer in similar circumstances, but here are the highlights:

June 10, 1999:
The morning after I put out the camera a mature doe gives the Buckshot35 the eagle eye.
June 10, 1999
Under cover of darkness, a buck in velvet comes from the direction of the bedding area. 

The earliest I have seen a buck in velvet was a few years ago, when I inspected a road kill and measured his 6-inch spikes. That was on May 6. (Texas)

June 10, 1999
Another night time Buck in velvet. He almost got in the camera !!! 

His antlers are coming right along. He is headed toward the bedding area.
 

A skinny Doe walks by during the day. Look at the face, although this looks like a yearling doe, it's not. (June 12, 1999)
After Wild Hog Hunting, I walk by the camera to see if the red flasher was working. It was. (June 13, 1999)
(6-14-99) This Doe is using a trail a little further away. It is early morning and she is returning from the direction of grain fields, two miles away.
Another Doe passes by during the night of June, 9 1999. This was the first day I put the Buckshot35 out.. (6-9-99)
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