deer travel?

[bassin_bug]

I don't know about the general deer population but I know about a herd that lives near my home. Well, they live AT my home, in the corner of the yard, under the apple tree. I've seen them less than a mile from my house, grazing in a neighbor's pasture. There is a huge buck in the herd and he brings the does out to dinner at dusk each night. They sleep in some bushes in the corner of the yard and drink from the bird bath. They come every evening on a regular time schedule that won't vary more than 45 minutes to an hour. It's the most peaceful and beautiful sight a person could witness. They don't seem to be afraid of my Jack Russell dog and she just ignores them.

I also own a house in Alabama with a lake about 300 ft. from the back door. There is a huge herd that hangs out around the lake and sleeps in the bushes between the lake and the house. I make sure the grass grows thick and deep for them in one area and they seem to enjoy it along with some conveniently "discarded" old fruit and vegetables. I have a security light at that house and the whole herd will come and stand around under the light. I don't understand why unless they are grazing on the lawn at some point during the night. Have just returned from a 3-week stay at that house, and several people (outlaws) asked if they could hunt on my property. My comment was, "You shoota' my deer; I shoota' you backside. Read the 'No Trespassing/No Hunting' signs because they make a legal point. I have a good lawyer that can explain it to you."

[kyfanatic]

I don't know about the general deer population but I know about a herd that lives near my home. Well, they live AT my home, in the corner of the yard, under the apple tree. I've seen them less than a mile from my house, grazing in a neighbor's pasture. There is a huge buck in the herd and he brings the does out to dinner at dusk each night. They sleep in some bushes in the corner of the yard and drink from the bird bath. They come every evening on a regular time schedule that won't vary more than 45 minutes to an hour. It's the most peaceful and beautiful sight a person could witness. They don't seem to be afraid of my Jack Russell dog and she just ignores them.

I also own a house in Alabama with a lake about 300 ft. from the back door. There is a huge herd that hangs out around the lake and sleeps in the bushes between the lake and the house. I make sure the grass grows thick and deep for them in one area and they seem to enjoy it along with some conveniently "discarded" old fruit and vegetables. I have a security light at that house and the whole herd will come and stand around under the light. I don't understand why unless they are grazing on the lawn at some point during the night. Have just returned from a 3-week stay at that house, and several people (outlaws) asked if they could hunt on my property. My comment was, "You shoota' my deer; I shoota' you backside. Read the 'No Trespassing/No Hunting' signs because they make a legal point. I have a good lawyer that can explain it to you."

Don't mean to start a rile with you,but they are not "Your" deer,I don't care how much you feed them or give them shelter they can go where they please and are managed by KDF&W.While you may not allow hunting on your place ,which is your right,you have no right to complain when one jumps threw the window on a family members auto and injures them,or when they eat every plant and shrub you plant in the yard.Once you've had thousands of $$$$ worth of damage done to your crops and property you might see things in a different light.

[kyfanatic]

To the original post,this only as I have witnessed through my years of being outdoors,generally deer will only move as far as they have to,if there is plenty of food,water,and cover they will generally stay in that area,I have two seperate family groups of does that raise their young on my farm annually,The bachelor groups of bucks tend to wander farther but mostly stick with a general routine until pre-rut when they split up.During the rut I once captured a buck on my trail cam at my place that normally stayed on my cousins farm 6 miles away.