#2916493 - 08/22/12 02:05 PM
Re: Fallow Deer Legal??
[Re: BlountArrow]
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scn
12 Point
Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 6979
Loc: Brentwood, TN US
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There is not a legal season for them, so under TWRA regulations the answer would be no. For those that read this thread later I was told by a Region IV Game Warden last week I could shoot a fallow deer that I have spotted regularly. So what's the right answer? Better check with your local game warden I guess before blasting one. Maybe things have changed since 2011??? Since SCN is TWRA and higher up than your region IV officer, I would bet he is correct. Keep in mind they are considered livestock, escaped or not, and if the owner wants to sue you for the value of that animal, he can. By the same token if his animal is damaging your property, you can go after him for damages. Think of it as a cow. Well, I was able to confirm that no one in my immediate area has a permit to have such an animal. So, if he is someone's "live stock" (for lack of a better word) they had it illegally. Naturally, it is damaging various aspects of my property and habitat.
A fallow deer is like an elk in that there is no permit required to just possess one. There would be a permit from the Dept. of Agriculture to import one in from another state. To hunt on a property they would need to be a Class I Shooting Preserve, but there is nothing illegal about them possessing one.
Because it falls under the definition in the statute for Big Game, it would be a violation of hunting in closed season to shoot one.
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#2916529 - 08/22/12 02:22 PM
Re: Fallow Deer Legal??
[Re: scn]
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BlountArrow
8 Point
Registered: 07/13/12
Posts: 1279
Loc: SouthEast Tenn
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There is not a legal season for them, so under TWRA regulations the answer would be no. For those that read this thread later I was told by a Region IV Game Warden last week I could shoot a fallow deer that I have spotted regularly. So what's the right answer? Better check with your local game warden I guess before blasting one. Maybe things have changed since 2011??? Since SCN is TWRA and higher up than your region IV officer, I would bet he is correct. Keep in mind they are considered livestock, escaped or not, and if the owner wants to sue you for the value of that animal, he can. By the same token if his animal is damaging your property, you can go after him for damages. Think of it as a cow. Well, I was able to confirm that no one in my immediate area has a permit to have such an animal. So, if he is someone's "live stock" (for lack of a better word) they had it illegally. Naturally, it is damaging various aspects of my property and habitat. A fallow deer is like an elk in that there is no permit required to just possess one. There would be a permit from the Dept. of Agriculture to import one in from another state. To hunt on a property they would need to be a Class I Shooting Preserve, but there is nothing illegal about them possessing one. Because it falls under the definition in the statute for Big Game, it would be a violation of hunting in closed season to shoot one.
It's upsetting the flow of information concerning the rules and regulations with TWRA is not well known by all the agency's employees. This game warden I have spoke to is not a new kid on the block. So, bottomline it for me = this deer is on my private property disrupting the habitat I have created. Somewhere in the reg book I'm entitled to dispatch him outside of season because of this if I'm not mistaken.
Or, I'm hearing I can wait and go after him on 9/22 - correct or no?
_________________________
"The world is so dreadfully managed, one hardly knows to whom to complain."
-Ronald Firbank
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#2916611 - 08/22/12 03:30 PM
Re: Fallow Deer Legal??
[Re: BlountArrow]
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scn
12 Point
Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 6979
Loc: Brentwood, TN US
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Online
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There is not a legal season for them, so under TWRA regulations the answer would be no. For those that read this thread later I was told by a Region IV Game Warden last week I could shoot a fallow deer that I have spotted regularly. So what's the right answer? Better check with your local game warden I guess before blasting one. Maybe things have changed since 2011??? Since SCN is TWRA and higher up than your region IV officer, I would bet he is correct. Keep in mind they are considered livestock, escaped or not, and if the owner wants to sue you for the value of that animal, he can. By the same token if his animal is damaging your property, you can go after him for damages. Think of it as a cow. Well, I was able to confirm that no one in my immediate area has a permit to have such an animal. So, if he is someone's "live stock" (for lack of a better word) they had it illegally. Naturally, it is damaging various aspects of my property and habitat. A fallow deer is like an elk in that there is no permit required to just possess one. There would be a permit from the Dept. of Agriculture to import one in from another state. To hunt on a property they would need to be a Class I Shooting Preserve, but there is nothing illegal about them possessing one. Because it falls under the definition in the statute for Big Game, it would be a violation of hunting in closed season to shoot one. It's upsetting the flow of information concerning the rules and regulations with TWRA is not well known by all the agency's employees. This game warden I have spoke to is not a new kid on the block. So, bottomline it for me = this deer is on my private property disrupting the habitat I have created. Somewhere in the reg book I'm entitled to dispatch him outside of season because of this if I'm not mistaken. Or, I'm hearing I can wait and go after him on 9/22 - correct or no?
If he is causing you damage you should be eligible for a big game animal depredation permit. It would not be legal for you to hunt this animal starting on 9-22 as there is no legal season.
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#2916626 - 08/22/12 03:40 PM
Re: Fallow Deer Legal??
[Re: scn]
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CAMARO12
8 Point
Registered: 03/09/10
Posts: 1755
Loc: HARDEMAN COUNTY, TENNESSEE
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Since I started this thread last year the adjoining landowner from whence the fallow deer came from has repaired his fence. I also told him in no uncertain terms that I would be shooting any fallow deer I saw on my farm. He said he understood. I saw a small fallow buck running with several whitetail deer during gun season last gun season but passed on shooting him. I'm still getting photos of fallow deer on my game cameras. So, this season any fallow deer on my property is fair game.
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#2916847 - 08/22/12 07:48 PM
Re: Fallow Deer Legal??
[Re: CAMARO12]
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BlountArrow
8 Point
Registered: 07/13/12
Posts: 1279
Loc: SouthEast Tenn
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SCN, thanks for the info and I will bounce this off of my local game warden and let him know where I got the information. Sounds like he needs to be aware because you two must be interpreting the law differently. Which makes me question how the average hunter is supposed to keep it straight??? But, again, thank you for the information - I have no desire to act outside the law; it's never worth it.
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"The world is so dreadfully managed, one hardly knows to whom to complain."
-Ronald Firbank
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