“Officer, I have a gun”, could possibly be the last words you ever speak. Okay, 1st lets back up a bit. Mr John Doe just got pulled over for some reason and being nervous he is trying to declare he has a legally carried handgun or rifle in his vehicle or on his person.
The topic this week will cover how to properly deal with Law Enforcement when a handgun is on or about your person. These points will cover both License To Carry holders and non license holders.
Its that time of the year again that will see an increase in “orphaned” fawns being found. Many well intentioned citizens and animal lovers will feel bad for a discovered Fawn that has been abandoned with no sign of the mother, and rescue the fawn knowing it is too young to take care of itself.
STOP. Do NOT rescue the fawn. It is most likely fine and not orphaned. Doe’s that have new fawns will usually bed them down and leave them alone for hours at a time. Why? The best defense of a deer against predators is its speed and awareness. A new born fawn has neither of those for several weeks. The mother has to roam about and forage for food. She will usually be within a few hundred yards but you will never see her. She makes sure her baby is safely bedded down, and will only return a few times a day. This is for a few reasons. She has to check on it and of course feed it. She has to clean it as well. The mother will clean the fawn periodically ensuring there is no scent for predators to locate them.(when we humans just have to pet the baby deer, we put it in danger by transferring our scent to the baby)
The Fawn will spend the first few weeks of its life motionless laying flat on the ground. The iconic white spots aid in its camouflage and allow it to blend into the ground and remain hidden.
With the above knowledge we now know not to rescue an orphaned Fawn. Chances are its momma is watching you take her baby, and removing the baby is stressing out the mother and the fawn.
If you find a Fawn wandering and bleating around a dead doe that’s nearby then yes, you might have found an orphaned fawn. If this is the case, Call the local Game Warden. Do not attempt to rescue it.
#1. You do not know what is going to be required.
#2. It is against the law to possess a game animal in Texas.(Sec. 63.002. of the TPWD wildlife Code)
#3. If you do attempt to rescue the deer, you are violating the law and can be charged with a class C misdemeanor. If the animal die’s while in your possession you might be forced to pay restitution for the animal on top of the fine.
As cute as they are, please leave newborns alone. Momma is probably watching. She knows what is best for her baby and doesn’t need help from people. Enjoy the sight and cuteness of the newborn from a distance and please don’t disturb it. Just observe and enjoy. The less contact mother and baby have with humans, the better.
Hope all found this educational and enlightening. See you on the Range or in the woods,
Paul
This week’s blog topic has been motivated by a heated argument on a page I frequent on Facebook. The topic is on signage we have all probably seen at one time or another or possibly even have one posted.
Trespassers will be shot—survivors will be shot again, Anyone found here at night will be found here in the morning, Never mind the dog, beware of the owner, If you can read this you are in my range, etc.etc.
Hello,
I am constantly advertising and promoting my LTC classes. At the same time I am constantly fielding phone calls and social media questions asking when I will hold a CHL class because that is what they are looking for.
Allow me to put this confusion to bed. Prior to 1 January 2016 Texas issued a CHL(Concealed Handgun License) to those who met state requirements. This allowed license holders to carry a handgun concealed any place not prohibited by notice of the property owner.