Should I move my setup?

[txtimetravler]

Well I have been hunting this area for about 4 years. It is 80 acres that is open pasture with big oaks and I am set up on a little 10-15 acre piece that has overgrown husaiche, mesquite, oaks and grasses. it has not been grazed for years becuase of the fences. Anyway. Sunday morning, I hear a tractor and a shredder. I look out of my blind to get a glimpse of a tractor. Long story but they shredded an area just over the fence and set up a feeder. It is probably 20 feet from the fence out in the open. I am not sure where their blind is but I am nervous about the direction they will be shooting.

My two concerns are their gunfire and the fact that we are hunting the same deer. I have been passing up deer for 4 years for a glimpse at a big one. Should I move to a safer area and try to hunt a different herd of deer or maybe another deer routine?

Here is what I have grown over the last 4 years. I always have something on the ground for them to eat at my feeder.

[Burnadell]

Man, THAT'S a bummer! I can't advise you without knowing more, but have you talked to the neighbors? You've grown some nice deer.

[mikep453]

I would talk to the neighbor's first. I know it would be a long shot but maybe they would be open-minded. You have some nice looking bucks. Hope all works out well.

[AtTheWall]

I hate to hear this Keep this stand setup and setup a 2nd stand elsewhere. Don't give up and as mentioned above, let them know where your at for safety and mention you management program. Course mentioning the management program may make them more prone to hunt more.

[TxTechBowhunter]

Isn't there a new law about having a feeder close to fence or a blind or something like that?

[NateYJ]

I would also talk to the neighbors and see if they can move further off the fence line.

[texaskinner]

If you don't talk to the neighbors, I would pick out my favorite of those bucks, take him while I can, then move. I don't know your area, but if your neighbors are like 99% of the rest, those deer will be in their freezer. It'd be a shame to put all that effort into raising deer only for your neighbors to enjoy. Someone may come up with a better plan, but that's what I think I'd do.

[txtimetravler]

What gets me is their pasture is several times bigger than mine. The problem is all the bucks that are cruzing thru the area have rubbed lots of trees making it very easy for a observant hunter to recognize it is a productive area. I can't stop them, public deer and they are on there side of the fence.

I have thought about talking to them, I started to approach them on Sunday morning when they were shredding. of course this was prime hunting time. I did not approacht them because I was unsure if they were armed with a gun or if they may have been following a wonded animal and may have made a snap decision to shot towards me walking thru the chest high grass and weeds.

I think I will tell them about the 13 point drop tine that I have seen once Maybe they will let the 10 pointer walk.... )

[shawn]

I'd research the law about being within 200 yards of a fence and ask them to move. If they don't call the game warden and he can have them move it. Other than that, your just gonna have to deal with it. It sucks, but it happens. Good luck.

[Bill M]

A law was pass last year that makes it illegal to shoot in any direction where the projectile will cross the property line. Not many people know this apparently and it doesn't mean you can't shoot an animal across a fence line. That has always been illegal to my knowledge.

Restricted Methods

* It is unlawful for any person, while hunting or engaging in recreational shooting, to knowingly discharge a firearm in such a fashion as to cause a projectile to cross a property line, unless the person owns the property on both sides of the property line or has obtained written permission from the owner of any land crossed by the projectile.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/hunt/means/

[Laguna]

Texhunter is on the right track. I'd discuss this new law with the neighbor and let them know your concerns about the safety. As far as hunting the same bucks, hopefully they are as selective as you are.
Good luck.

[txtimetravler]

Everyone faces this same issue but it was frustrating to see them set up right along the fence line with eyesite. Everyone has neighbors to some degree....

If they would agree to work towards an agreed upon management plan I think that would be my only hope. I know they have rights too and can legally harvest any deer that meets the county restrictions but it saddens me to think about the hard work and time for someone else to get lucky and enjoy the fruits of my labor. I guess that is the great part about hunting, that you just never know what may walk out.

I think at the very least I am going to inform them about my location. I hope they are nice and leave my camera, blinds, and feeder alone. I still think that if I tell then about the elusive droptine buck they might let these little deer walk

Does anyone have a billion dollars that they would loan me so that I could buy some property and not worry about neighbors for awhile?