The Herald Bulletin

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October 28, 2009

Rick Bramwell: Rumors of deer's demise greatly exaggerated

Late last winter, spring and summer, I saw very few deer in south Madison County. I wondered what happened to all of the whitetails. Were that many harvested during the 2008 season? Apparently not.

I have been seeing deer just about every time I go hunting. As we get closer to the rut and especially on cool days, late morning and early afternoon activity has increased. Daytime temperatures below 55 degrees seem to be the key.

Temperatures the first week of November are forecast to be below normal. Those cool conditions coupled with does in estrus should make for some fantastic bow hunting.

Earlier this week I saw a buck exit standing corn. He seemed to be in a hurry as he disappeared into a small woods. Six minutes later a doe came busting out of the same piece of cover. It appeared that the buck’s amorous attention was a little early. Two evenings later, I saw the doe again, but not her pursuer.

The next morning, I saw a buck crossing a large picked bean field. He was walking at a fast pace like a fellow with a purpose. It was 9:30 a.m.

This next week is a must time to be in the woods. I’ve been purposefully staying out of one woods until the rut cranks up. Next week, I’ll slip in there.

For the last two years, I’ve hunted a 16-acre woods that is pretty open, flat and has no water nearby. A big buck visits, but seldom stays there. He has rubbed some big trees but has not made any scrapes. I saw him, at a distance, one evening last year. The last time in this woods, I was barked at and scolded. Not by the landowner and her dog, but a sassy fox squirrel.

Deer can be fun to watch and hunt, but they can also be dangerous. Nationwide, about 900 people lose their lives as the result of deer-vehicle accidents. Also, a good number of accidents occur when drivers swerve to miss a deer.

In Indiana, 50 percent of all deer-vehicle accidents occur October through December. A USA Today columnist once wrote that this is because hunters are chasing them 24/7. No, Homer. It is movement brought on by the breeding season.

The next three weeks are especially critical. A buck on the trail of a hot doe will pay little attention to anything else. If you are driving at night, keep your headlights on high beam. Look for the deer’s eyes in the light. Even if the deer is far ahead, slow down immediately. There could be more than one.

Woods, creek bottoms and curves are prime places to be surprised by deer. However, they can be anywhere. My son Brian saw a dead buck at the I-69/116th Street exit last week. Those deer crossing signs were put there for a reason.

If you hit a deer and can safely stop, do so. Do not approach a deer until you are sure it is dead. Call 911. The police have a list of people who will take road-killed deer. They will also dispatch wounded animals to end their suffering.

u u u

Congratulations to the Fall Creek Valley Conservation Club for being awarded “The American Trap Association 2009 Gun Club of the Year.” A membership to the club makes a wonderful Christmas gift.

Contact Rick Bramwell: rickbramwell@aol.com.

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