Low fence and this guy shows up a few times at different locations after season closed wearing a transmitter & green color #'d ear tag; Hall County and no known high fence game ranches around. Options if shows in open season?
pre-call game warden to check for any history of the # on tag; shoot and then look for any info/download on collar, shoot and call game warden for assist in collar tracking; shoot and put in freezer.

What would you do if you decide the animal is of quality you decide to shoot with your tag (not looking to debate age/maturity)?

Call the GW and ask if they know of any tracking surveys in your area.

Even if there are tracking surveys in the area, if the season is open, wouldn't any deer fitting the qualifications be fair game?

One of the deer from several ongoing TPWD Mule Deer studies. Most of the collared bucks are on ranches where they're protected from hunting. However, nothing illegal about shooting that buck during open season. If you don't own the land, you may want to check with the landowner before killing him.

Even if it's fair game, I'm not shooting a collared deer. Especially a 3x3.

Thanks guys. Like I said, not looking to debate the age,maturity,rack size on the deer (I'd pass him) but more interested in questions surrounding collared/transmitter/ear tag deer (for future reference if a real bruiser appears). I will be checking with GW on tracking. Since I know the ear tag #, maybe they can provide some history and this deer's movement.

Information from GW might be pretty useful to see what kind of range the deer keeps and also might keep you hopeful of seeing his daddy or grandpappy who might not be wearing a collar, but might be wearing a big set of antlers.

Legal yes, usually you will find a phone number requesting return of transmitter. If you hang it in your garage GW might show up asking for it and how you got it. When I took Wildlife Disease at A&M Dr Davis told a story about flying to a ranch for a deer study. On a lark he turned on the receiver on the way to the ranch and picked up the ping of a collar. If I recall right when they visited the house the guy with the collar had no license and was out of season. Bottom line if you shoot a collared animal call the number or the GW and turn the collar in or they might find you.

Could it be a refugee from Matador WMA? Might give them a call.

Chip Ruthven (806) 492-3405

Chip is a real cool cat BTW. A hoot to talk to.

Personally, I would let it go.

There is a lot of information to learn from tracking studies, so I'd leave it alone.

Mule deer need a lot of help right now.

The longer one animal can be studied, the more info that can be gathered.

Thing doesn't look like he missed many meals.

no kidding!

Wouldn't bother to call the Game Warden. If you want to chat with the guy running the study call one of the TPWD Biologists for Hall county. They'd probably like to see your pic's and chat.

Dana Wright
Dana.Wright@tpwd.texas.gov
(806) 596-4016

Jeff Bonner
Jeff.Bonner@tpwd.texas.gov
(806) 665-3494

BTW.. He's just a youngster. 2.5 in that pic, with a good frame. Give him 2-3 years and he may grow into something nice

2.5 years really...he looks older with all that weight. Don't think I would shoot him.

Could be 3.5... but in December in Hall county he's probably been grazing winter wheat since October. Makes for some healthy mule deer.

I hunt down the road, he is part of a 70 deer collared study, started in 2015.
a university is studying them for the next several years, (i believe out of Tech) only a few were shot this last season....looks like most hunters are letting them walk.
Which is good for the study, we could use more info on Texas Mulies.
We're on a big place and none of our guys have any interest in shooting the collared deer....

Thanks Loanman. I'm not interested in shooting him either. Just want to gather info on him.

Thanks dkershen for the name/#s.

They're likely looking to track range expansion. They'll know the deer is there when the system pulls an update on the GPS.

I hear mule deer are spreading in that part of the world