Fox Ridge Game Farm 2009 gun deer season.
Last updated 11/30/09 10:10 AM
Once again we have noticed that very few of the deer that we saw were going to move unless pushed. Deer drives are certainly becoming less popular due to people not wanting to push deer off their properties. Most of our neighbors and us try to coordinate drive times so that we might kick them back and forth to provide better hunting between all of us. When you are lucky enough to have good hunting relationships with your neighbors it makes it a lot easier. Still even with the drives there are some areas of the farm that no longer support deer. We have started a long range trimming process that will have short term drawbacks but long term success. Even though we may have a 1000 acres to hunt on most of our deer are harvested in a 100 acre section of it bordered by two neighbors who we can count on for help. If all goes well we will spread our herd out over more of the farm in the next 5-10 years and possibly increase its size as well. Cutting trees and trimming brush lines will help stimulate new growth over the next few years providing better cover and habitat, but it takes time and can certainly hurt the short term hunting, some sacrifices must be made.
Some deer that were taken by our neighbors were at least one 11 pointer with
20" spread, possibly at 3 1/2 year old, a 3 1/2 year eight pointer that was
around a 18" spread, and another 12 pointer (I think) that was supposedly very
nice. Some of our other neighbors to the east shot other bucks too, a
fork, a six, a couple of smaller 8-10 pointers as well. There were quite a
few bucks shot around us in total, but not nearly enough doe due in part to the
lack of opportunity.
(we consider trophy bucks that usually consist of 16-20 inch spread, 10-14 points
(or more) measuring
anywhere from 6-10 inches from the beam. Hopefully 3 1/2 year to 4 1/2 year old )
Still, all in all a good season.