4 dead fawns

Has anybody had problems with bobcats killing their fawns? I have found 4 dead fawns all with broken necks all in the same pen within the last 3 weeks. We have been in our pens twice a day for the last 2 weeks checking for signs of ehd given that we bought a breeder buck that was delivered to us and died the next evening. Had him tested and he was positive for ehd. So we have been watching closely for signs. All the deer seem to be fine. That pen is the only one that we have lost a deer and they have all been fawns. Suggestions please?

Are you sure they are bobcats? Is there sign of them? Are they comin under or goin over your fence. If not i would get a trail cam in there asap!! A little golden might be needed to help rid of the problem!!!

No Im not sure its bobcats. I havent found any way that any animal can come under the fence so I think its comming over. I have not seen any signs of cats or coyotes. But I know 4 babies is too many. I need to stop whatever it is.

I don't see a Bobcat killing a fawn and not taking it with them out of the pen or atleast eating some of the fawn or atleast showing signs of a kill ?



Just my 2 cents

A broken neck sounds more like something outside the pen spooking or stalking the fawns

Bobcats usually go over or thru the fence and not under. Most likely if it was a bobcat he would take them out of the pen or atleast eat some of them in the pen. A bobcat usually eats the heart the first night and the hams the next few nights.

Makes sense. All the fawns were in different areas of the pen. Its a 4 acre pen. They do not appear to be drug very far if even at all. Their insides were eaten but not really anything else. Do yall think it could be ehd given that we had that incident with the breeder buck

No, if something is eating on them they are also causing them to hit the fence. It may be a racoon. You need to kill the culprit. Try putting some Golden Marlin in the hams of the dead fawn and leave him in the pen. The culprit will come back to eat more.

Check your messages.

Thank you. I will try this and find out what it is.

Deerchaser said:

No, if something is eating on them they are also causing them to hit the fence. It may be a racoon. You need to kill the culprit. Try putting some Golden Marlin in the hams of the dead fawn and leave him in the pen. The culprit will come back to eat more.

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bear ??? will freek them out just by walking around , if it yots you should here them yappy ( talking to one and outher ) one of their down falls one good thing for us yot hunters man this is a tuff one , i dont think its some thing that wants to eat them or they would ? please keep us posted

I'm no cat expert, but I have a friend that is, he says a cougar will eat the major organs first...lungs, heart, liver.

I don't know, but because they are a cat, maybe a bobcat would do the same.



Just guessing and throwing some ideas out there.



Where's Dennis's girlfriend when ya need her?

Bobcats always eat the heart, lungs and liver the first night. They go in right behind the shoulder and not through the stomach. The next night they go for the hams.

Also, they try to hide their kill by covering it up. They are easily trapped with steel traps at a kill site. The trap should be placed in the ground and covered with waxed paper. Then place about 1/2 inch of dirt on the top covering the trap.

Deerchaser could be correct. Fox can also climb through a 4" spacing. Fox and racoons can be "hit" with Golden Marlin. Cats usually cover their kills. Are you positive their necks were broken?

Who's my girlfriend Mark I would like to meet her........Scrape isn't Golden Marlin illegal to use on animals?........I understand it works but we should abide by the laws......maybe it isn't illegal in all States.......but I feel it should be as it is a brutal death that the animals suffer.......we demand respect for our Whitetails and we should do the same for other wildlife.......I am not saying that the nuisance animal should not be dealt with just in a more respectful way......just my opinion..:eek

None of them were covered up. I am pretty positive their necks were broke. Right behind the head. Kinda what made me think of a cat. Its possible it could be a mtn lion in the area we are in but I dont think we have any bears in this part of Tx. Ive heard they have been spotted in San Angelo but thats 90 miles from us. Plus we have cameras out all over the ranch and one in our yrlg buck pen and have only seen one bobcat on the far side of the ranch. Im gonna get some golden today and see what happens. I will keep everyone posted on what I find and thank you for all the input.

I didnt realize it could be illegal. How do I find that out. I really dont want to do something wrong.

ddwhitetails said:

Who's my girlfriend Mark I would like to meet her........Scrape isn't Golden Marlin illegal to use on animals?........I understand it works but we should abide by the laws......maybe it isn't illegal in all States.......but I feel it should be as it is a brutal death that the animals suffer.......we demand respect for our Whitetails and we should do the same for other wildlife.......I am not saying that the nuisance animal should not be dealt with just in a more respectful way......just my opinion..:eek

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Dennis, Not trying to start anything but to say something causes a "brutal" death to somethng that is killing someones animals(i'm all for a quick and human kill shot).............well I feel like that is exactly the type of mentality in the world that has brought the us to the mess that we are in now!



I will not apologize to someone or something that attacks my family, my animals or my country....................





Thats the attitude we need removed in November

No Wyane you got me all wrong Bud....I am all Republican.......I do not agree with the Moron in office or his whole administration......I think i've been pretty vocal about that in the past on this forum.....No where did I ask anyone to apologize for anything to anyone...so I don't know where you got that from......As I stated, I agree the nuisance animal or animals need to be taken care of....we are responsible for protecting our Whitetails....but in a humane way.....Wayne......if your going to use Golden Marlin all I ask is that you sit there once and watch one of the animals that get poisoned from it die....then tell me it's not a brutal death.........you have to remember these animals are only doing what they know and that is to survive....they are not planning an attack on you or your family....they are simply trying to survive....I am stating my opinion Wyane and trying to make a point nothing more or nothing less.........just because the animals don't make it far from the poison they ingested...doesn't mean it was a quick death.......trust me this stuff burns their insides out and it is brutal.....now if you or anyone else doesn't think that it

matters how the animal dies then by all means have at it.....I'm just stating facts here and if it makes someone think of a better way of taking care of their problems then so be it.....

DDwhitetails...I trapped 23 racoons last year using 2 live traps along the outside of my breeder pen. I have 1/2 mile of creek bottom on the north end of my place. What I did to 5 fox and 4 bobcats is my business.