Henry Rifle Forums

It has been this way for weeks. The ground under those trees is crunchy with fallen acorns. The deer come and go all night long, tripping the security cameras. We have had several near misses with the idjits flying down our road here, at 55 and 60 mph in this 35 mph zone. Speed limits here are 35mph unless otherwise posted. We don't even have lines, let alone speed limit signs. The scary thing is the kids out riding at night on the ATVs and Dirt bikes, no helmets, flying up the road... if they hit a possum, racoon, squirrel, whatever ... crossing the road and lose control. If they hit one of these big dark colored does jumping out in front of them...


I said they are coming and going all night long, I misspoke, they also come and go throughout the day.
They will get even thicker down in the pecan orchard when the pecans start to fall. It's not unusual for the game cam to pick up a dozen, in several groups; accompanied by their bucks.

That's a common sight in our neighborhood, too, right in the middle of the day. We're used to it, though, so everyone drives defensively, always on the lookout at the edges of the road. Accidents still happen, though. Never hurts to remind folks to be careful. Good post.

My biggest fear is some country boy stopping in the middle of the road and taking a shot at the deer in the yard or the pecan orchard. The pony and the cow (with calf) go down into the orchard to graze at all hours. If they pop a cap at one in the orchard they could hit the livestock. If they shoot at the deer in the yard, they could hit the house.


Never happen, you say?

Several years ago in VA we heard a loud roar of tires and unmuffled farm truck on the highway, then the truck stopping. We were up late watching a movie on Amazon Prime, it was about 1am. Then, Boom- boom - boom of shotguns. We heard the rattle of shot hitting the siding on the house. I tore out of the house and jumped in my truck and took off down our long driveway. The truck roared off. I found a small fawn dead on our side of the road and spent hulls on the roadside. I left both where they lay and called 911. The dispatcher sent a deputy and notified Fish and Game.

The game warden happened to be in the area, doing surveillance and came right out. He left things as they were and hid his truck on the farm and went into the edge of the woods and waited with the deputy. The drunks who had shot and killed the fawn, and shot AT our house, came back by about an hour later and tried to collect their spotted trophy. He arrested them both, and seized their truck and their guns. Their charges included spotlighting, shooting across an active roadway, firing at/into an occupied dwelling, taking a deer out of season, and the driver was also charge with felony dui. (He had five previous convictions and no license for some reason.) We never had to go to court, They pled guilty to some type of reduced charges, but didn't get the guns or the truck back, and they lost their hunting licenses for life. They were convicted of firearms violations.

I don't hunt game animals, but don't mind those who do. I hunted as a kid, but after my time in the Corps and in Law Enforcement, lost my taste for it. I will shoot for predator or varmint control, but take no pleasure in it. It's a duty. I like seeing the deer, bobcat, and the rest. If they stay away from the livestock we are good. The yotes are stealing chickens and upsetting the cow and horse at night and we have a calf due in a month or so...

That is a very nice gathering under the old oak tree! We have the same in our neighborhood with the back street along the woods and plenty of acors around. Have to keep an eye on Buster as he likes to grab one if he can. Not good for dogs.