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First, at 76 years of age with fused back and two plastic knees, I now pay to have my game processed. This is something that has only occurred in the past 4 or 5 years. If I can't pick it up with one hand...weaner pig. I no longer have the strength and ability to handle this work. I just have work smarter. If I wish to still get out an hunt I must adapt. Now for deer I have a hoist. https://www.hmeproducts.com/truck-hitch-game-hoist-complete-kit-includes-winch-gambrel/ This fits the receiver hitch on my Side by side Kawasaki Mule. I can lift the game and field dress, then load in in the back of the Mule and drive away. Butchering, I am no longer set up or physically able to do that. If I can find a meat processor to handle a hog, then I will bring the meat out. I will eat it, but the wife refuses. I will donate most of this meat to Hunters against Hunger and have it ground into hamburger for the needy. Deer season opens October 1st and runs through January 15. That time period is all archery. Muzzleloader season October 29 through November 5 Rifle season is November 18 thorough December 3. Last week end was the two day Youth Deer gun season. During Christmas there is antlerless deer gun season. All during archery season. As a resident I can take 4 antlerless deer and two antlered Partially because of my physical condition and partially because of persnickety eaters in my house. I only hunt for big bucks, and half of the meat I get, is donated to Hunters for Hunger. I tried to donate the meat to a person at church last year, but when they found out it was venison, they declined. Hogs are vermin and can be taken year round. Night or day-no night hunting during rifle deer season, no limit. There have been hogs around this lease for a while. About a Year ago a commercial hog hunting operation started up a few miles south of here and the hog numbers seem to have increased in the area since then. Our lease is 3800 acres on a 15,000 acre working cattle ranch-mixed grass and woodlands, mostly oak. I really like this place. I told the wife to spread my ashes under this tree The lease has Deer, turkeys, armadillo, coyotes and hogs. All for shooting. It also has 27 stock ponds , all of which have been stocked year ago with Large mouth bass, sunfish and cat fish. I am not a big fisherman, Up until I go this lease I had only ever caught 4 or 5 large mouth bass in my life.. Last year I caught 108 bass on the lease. The largest 2-1/2 lbs. So far since September 1st I have caught 53 large mouth bass including one that went 3lbs 8 ozs. |