Unusual deer

joebogey · Apr 15, 2008

Because the temps were to get so low last night, (29) I covered all of my tulips and young fruit trees to keep the frost from killin them.
Got up this morning and after the sun started warming up, I went out to uncover everything.

Since I was already out, even though I hadn't put on my glasses, I decided to go on to the barn to feed the horses. As I'm walking up the lane, I see a deer coming across my pasture below the first pond. I stop to watch, expecting her to jump the short 4 strand barb wire fence to go on her way. But she doesn't jump, and instead gets down and crawls under the fence.
I then watch her proceed to the next fence which is 48 inch woven wire and only sits about 6 inches off the ground. Does she jump? Nope! She gets down and crawls under that one as well.
I then watch her go to the next fencerow which is right by the interstate and start to look for a place to go under.
By then I've worked my way back to the house so that I can get my stupid glasses or my binoculars and see if maybe she's hurt in some way. But before I can get in one door and out the next, she's disappeared I guess across the interstate.
I've watched a lot of deer but I've never seen one go under a fence like this one did and I can only speculate that she's hurt in some way that prohibits her from jumping as she should. But she shore ain't lettin it get her down!

It was a really neat thing to watch. Would have been much better had I had my durned glasses on.

Yeah, I know...some people are so easliy amused.

Marlin 45 carbine · Apr 15, 2008

she may have had a past unpleasant experience w/barbed wire. trying to leap over I mean.

AKCOP · Apr 15, 2008

I wonder if carrying fawns might make her want to go under rather than jump.

XDKingslayer · Apr 15, 2008

I've seen that from deer missing an eye. Only thing I can figure is that they lose depth perception from that and don't feel comfortable jumping.

eliphalet · Apr 15, 2008

Better than getting half way and dieing like one we have been passing next to the road the last week or two.
Rare to see deer do this but common for antelope. I have watched groups where all went under the fence.

Harley Quinn · Apr 15, 2008

I went out repairing fence a few years ago and found a young spike caught in the barbwire strands, been there a few months by the looks of it

The fence was high and the strands were above field fencing, I felt pretty bad about the whole thing.

Dksimon · Apr 15, 2008

Antelope don't jump fences either. Careful how many open spaces you leave for crawling under, I dont know if deer will do it but antelope really tear up fences that way

Grizfire · Apr 15, 2008

Antelope don't jump fences either

I've seen deer and antelope go under fences. Funny thing about antelope, I have seen a whole herd wait to go under the same spot in a fence.

john1911 · Apr 15, 2008

Not a bit unusual here. Deer seem to prefer to crawl under the fences (3-4 strand barbwire) unless spooked and running flat out. I guess it's somehow easier for them to crawl as opposed to jumping.

JesseL · Apr 15, 2008

From what I've seen (I'm not a rancher), it's pretty common to use an unbarbed bottom wire on fences in areas where pronghorn antelope roam, so they don't hurt themselves crawling under them.

NRA4LIFE · Apr 15, 2008

"Antelope don't jump fences either"

They sure do. I've seen many of them jump the barbed wire fences where I hunt in MT. Mostly bucks. Seen a lot more go under/through, though. Funny about the antelope. Deer will leap fences without breaking stride. The antelope always stop and mill about for a few seconds before they leap over.

BIGR · Apr 15, 2008

That was odd. She was a crawler instead of a jumper.

koja48 · Apr 15, 2008

unpleasant experience w/barbed wire.

I reckon an experience with nicked nozzles could stimulate such a response. I'm inclined to believe she was in a family way & wasn't comfortable jumping, good mom that she is . . .

dagger dog · Apr 15, 2008

I did not see this myself but a buddy, had this one cow that kept getting out and he couldn't find out how she was doing it. He had a cattle barrier instead of a gate, you know the one made with pipe and a trench. Any way he was working in the field, and saw this cow lie down and roll over the barrier!

Georgia Gunner · Apr 15, 2008

I have seen a deer do that before and around here you can sometimes find hair on the fence where deer have crawled under it.

Double Naught Spy · Apr 16, 2008

I have seen deer go under, through, and over fences. Jumping is most common, but they each make their own choices given where they are crossing.

frogomatic · Apr 16, 2008

never saw a deer go under a fence, but I saw a pretty big buck straight up clear 10' fence topped with razor wire. That old boy had some serious hops, didn't even break his stride, just ran along with the fence for about 20 yards, gave one good bound, cleared the fence and kept on trucking.

MrCleanOK · Apr 16, 2008

I've seen plenty of deer go under or through fences. Lots of trails that cross fences on the places I hunt have deer hair stuck to the barbs on the bottom strand.

joebogey · Apr 16, 2008

I guess what really got my attention was the woven wire fence.
The barb wire, I can see. But that woven wire is not 6 inches off the ground!
I've got an australian sheperd that would have a hard time of goin under that fence. But she was under it in the blink of an eye.

Unusual deer

joebogey

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Marlin 45 carbine

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AKCOP

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XDKingslayer

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eliphalet

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Harley Quinn

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Dksimon

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Grizfire

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john1911

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BIGR

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