We have been prowling about for quite some time trying to find a place that might make a good home and possibly a little outdoor play area as well .So we google map a lot of places that are for sale and I evaluate them from a birds eye view . I look at whats around them in particular and the lay of the property in question and the water sources and cover . I look at the surrounding property and the cover and water as well along with what activity might be present and what kind of dwellings are in the area.
so this said I know a deer blind and a feeder and can spot them from a mile up and of course trash dumps and animal trails and trailer homes and abandoned vehicles and the list goes on .
We looked at a place for a while close to town that I am pretty sure is loaded with deer and had 2 water bodies on it . I could see at least 2 deer feeders and possibly one more but no blinds? I asked the real estate person and they said no one hunts there . I told her that's interesting that someone would run all those feeders that far from the homes and not hunt in there .
We elected to go see it from ground level yesterday and right off it became apparent what was going on . She told me yet again there was no hunting going on there and the ponds were "ketch and release" only ? Well to be sure I am a skeptic and quite often cynical and don't trust many folks and took the tour ........
One feeder was in the yard by the house and looks to have been put there in the last couple of weeks . you see I used to guide deer hunts and am totally aware of recent and old activity and can look at the ground and tell you fast whats the deal in a given area .
so we drive off on our own to look it over and first turn there is a pop up blind and a heavily used deer feeder with a t post for a camera right beside it . shortly after that we see yet another deer blind under a tree with no feeder . then yet another pop up blind by what was where one feeder I saw from the air used to be that has been HEAVILY brushed to conceal it from view as well . then yet another spot that used to have a set up on it as well recently . this I know because they are mowing the shooting areas they plan to let arrows fly thru . so we saw at least 4 set ups on this TWENTY FIVE acres and yet it gets better .....
beavers have infested the ponds and ruined one and bored holes thru the dam and it went dry recently due to this and them there beavers are sawing down all the nice trees in the area around the ponds as well . shocked to say the least I was and cant figure out where the beavers even came from . they are doing their best to kill pond number 2 as well and I am sad to say the least about what I saw ,along with a trash dump in between the ponds in the ravine connecting them .
how sad is all that ? and she said to me the owner does not come out here and does not know all this .
I said to hunt on a property without written consent in the state of texas from the land owner and or his agent is against the law .
and folks that do it are commonly called POACHERS !
how sad is all that yawl