MOW WITH CAUTION..

[LETMGROW]

Last evening I started to mow some of my field. At about dusk I had a few deer come out to feed. This is not unusual as the tractor doesn't seem to bother them a bit. I had to stop once so a doe could walk past without hitting her.
At the lower end of my 25 acre field in the thickest part I saw a deer's ears just sticking above the tall grass. As I got closer she jumped up and hobbled off with her right front leg held up as though she was injured. I passed by and she stood still until I was about 50 yards away. She then took her right leg and stomped the ground several times and ran back to where she started from.
This was when I realized she had a newborn fawn hidden in the tall grass.
I have seen Kildeer do the fake injury bit and recently have heard Turkeys will do the broken wing act, but never knew deer would act like this.
I quit mowing for the evening to let things settle down. You really have to watch out for fawns this time of the year.

[wtnhunt]

Havealways tried to be as careful as possible. Have about hit mature deer bedded mowing hay before, have also about hit fawns mowing in the tall grass. They do not seem to mind the tractor too much at all.

Unfortunately a couple years ago I did hit a fawn about this time of the year while raking hay. Front tire at the edge of the field just barely hit a fawn laying under a limb where I was turning. Felt bad about that for a good while.

[MCDillinois]

Excellent point and super great topic!!

Three days ago before dark I was mowing a 3 acre grass field that I plan on coverting to a food plot for the fall. I figured I would mow and apply a chemical burn spray in the coming weeks. Though I never saw any, I too was looking for fawns and wildlife nests. I dont believe I disturbed any but this is the time of year to watch for that activity. Great point.

[WI2506]

well every year i get 2 or 3 fawns in the middle of the day, run through the haybine

[dogdoc]

I was told by a wildlife biologist that if possible try not to mow until the last of June--by this time most of the fawns will be with mom and hens off their nests.

todd

[deerkillr777]

jsut about every year we hit one with the haybine i hit one last year and it sucked.and this was late june there wasnt no mom i seen or anyone else seen we seen a doe the following day i nthe same feild with a fawn though. yup thats my storry

[slughunter]

yup, almost hit one cutting the alfalfa feild the other night, just saw it before I hit it, So now I practicly do it standing up in the tractor so I can see good

[QDMAworks4me]

I saw my first fawn the other day, maybe next time you mow Lynn you could have marc drive in front of the tractor on his four wheeler he might be able to see a little better or scare them away. Glad to see you did not get any fawns though.