Sunday afternoon, Kay and I were driving home after a special Father’s Day lunch in
town, and as I glanced toward the pasture across the road from our home, something caught my eye. It was a tiny fawn standing within a few yards of the pasture fence.
I stopped, lowered the window and snapped a few photos of the little fellow before it
wandered off across the pasture. I posted a snapshot of the little deer on Facebook and within an hour, there were responses from others around the region who had also seen newborn fawns.
“We saw one about 20 minutes ago less than a few hours old”…”I saw one outside of
Tullos in Winn Parish last Wednesday.”….”One was in my yard.”…”My husband saw two today here in the woods.”
What does this all mean? You don’t have to be a wildlife biologist to realize that this is
the time of year when fawns are being born in our area.
Every year about this time, I receive a press release from the Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reminding people who encounter what appear to be abandoned young deer alone in the outdoors, that those fawns should be left undisturbed.
Here’s how the press release reads…
”Every year the department receives calls from concerned citizens who have found what they consider to be “abandoned” fawns. Well intentioned, concerned citizens sometimes bring fawns home and then call the department to retrieve and raise them.”
“LDWF is alerting the public that it is against the law to capture young deer or any other wild animal. If caught transporting or possessing wild deer without a permit, well meaning individuals may be subject to citations and fines.”
“Picking up fawns seriously diminishes their chance to live a normal and healthy life.
When a fawn is born, it is weak, awkward and unable to move well enough to feed and escape predators. However, the newborn fawn has a coat of light brown hair liberally covered with white spots that provides excellent camouflage against predators. The mother doe will remain in the area to feed and nurture the fawn. When the young deer gets older and stronger it will be able to forage for food with its mother.”
“When encountering fawns in the wild, simply leave them untouched and depart quietly from the area. This action will provide the young deer its best chance to survive in the wild and prevent a possible citation for a well-intentioned outdoorsman.”
“There have been too many cases of kind-hearted folks picking up what they believe to be an abandoned fawn and with the idea of keeping it as a cute little pet. There have been numerous reports of that sweet little creature becoming aggressive and dangerous once it reaches maturity.”
“If it is confirmed that the mother has in fact died, such as seeing a fawn next to a road-killed doe, what you should do is call the LDWF and report what you find. There are facilities that are licensed to take in such baby animals.”
If you should chance to walk up on one in the weeds or next to a log, snap a photo if you would like and back away slowly. The doe is likely peaking through the brush somewhere nearby and is probably watching you to see if you are a threat to her baby. Once things settle down and you leave, she’ll return and the little one will follow her away.
It’s tempting I know to have compassion on what seems to be a helpless little baby deer and rescue it from harm when in fact, this is Mother Nature’s way of taking care of the situation.
Mother doesn’t need your help.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass fishing has been best at night with Carolina rigs and deep diving crank baits along with soft plastics picking up some good fish. Crappie are fair around the deep brush on shiners or jigs. The bream bite is slowing as the spawn is about over and they’ve moving from the shallow spawning areas. No report on catfish. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU – Fishing in general has been good for bream, crappie and bass especially fishing around the trees and brush. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE –Big bass in the 8-9 pound range with an occasional 10 pound or better being caught flipping soft plastics or spinner baits around the brush. Crappie are scattered and fair while some bream are still around shallow bedding areas. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – Water levels are lower and fishing is good. Bass are best fishing shad imitations in the cuts while crappie are best fishing shiners or jigs in the river lakes. Bream are fair to good. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass fishing has been good early mornings fishing topwater lures around the grass. Later in the day, look for them in deeper water where crank baits and spinners are working best. Crappie are on the edge of the flats near the channels and shiners and jigs are picking up some good fish. Bream are on the beds and hitting worms and crickets. Catfish continue to be caught fishing cold worms and night crawlers off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Night fishing has been best for crappie fishing shiners under the lights around the piers and boat houses. Bass fishing has been fair to good fishing soft plastics or spinners around the piers. Some stripers are beginning to show up in the coves and hitting shad imitation lures. Bream are fair to good around spawning areas. No report on catfish. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish and bream are biting. Bass and crappie slow to fair. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is on a slow fall with a slight rise coming and fishing is good for barfish, bream, bass, catfish and crappie. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
