A large rodent

They are full of delicious meat. Trust me on this one.

Mmmmmmm.......

Some how some way the 8 pointer seemed wary of the camera. Every older buck looks at that camera.
Camera had been there all season and that food plot was made a year ago.
The camera was placed before the food plot was planted. No reason for them to notice it unless the infrared light bothers them.
Those older bucks are some seriously wily critters. Except when girly season comes around the 1st 3 weeks in November.
Even then, the oldest bucks rarely come out during the day in this area.
9 out of 10 times I have seen large trophy size bucks they were chasing 4 to 8 does at a high rate of speed.
That one time was the only trophy I ever killed. The other say 10 big bucks in 30 years were in a sprint after the gals.

About all crops around here have gone fallow since the older generation has passed.
Younger generation is selling Dad's land off. They don't want to farm.
So the big crop fed deer have become rare. They live off the woods and are totally wily.

The deer down by the river continue to grow quickly to trophy size as the food source in the floodplains is rich.
Ha, namely the east side of the river where the prevailing west wind blows the sewage rich fog into the(well fertilized) flora.
A fringe benefit of Atlanta's sewage input upstream from here. Sod farms prosper there too grass being a heavy nitrate/ammoniate feeder.

You may have heard of Chattahoochee Hills (horse) Eventing Center. Photo showing concert Tomorroworld concert on premises.
Must be a about 7000 acres. I can walk through the woods, no tickets needed. Atlanta city upper left, campers on left.

I figured you were aware. Yes I have heard Carl's name many times. They film a lot of movies there. Like every week.
Most of that land was owned by the Brown family. I knew of them before it was sold.
The Brown's made lakes and had pay fishing back in the old days.
They grew an expensive hay that had to be sprigged back then too. a hay machine that looked like a factory on tires.
My friend rented the age 60+ prodigal son's house after he told his Dad he didn't want to cut hay anymore. Mr Brown disowned him for years.

The young horse jockeys are always up at the country store in their expensive rigs. Daddy financing their expensive hobby.

The river is full of fish. Mainly shoal bass which are real tigers to catch.
Water is a bit polluted so eating them is not suggested. So not many fisherman.
Yes, it is one of my favorite fishing holes, boat ramp not 6 miles away.
I think me and 5 others use it.

Oh my, you can see their snooty iness from a mile away. Epitome of arrogance in that bunch MsAli. Not my sort.
They are increasing real estate values around here. That is a benefit.

Ole Mr. Brown was a character.
He hated to pay his land tax. The county offered him no services.
He hired a graphics artist to print his checks on a 4' X 8' pieces of plywood to inconvenience the tax collector's office.
After it was cashed they had to return it to him.

My buddy bought the prodigal son's house. Lived in it 7-8 years.
Mr Brown wanted to buy the house back when the son returned home.
Danny said he bought $140,000 cash in a bag. The ole man sold the farm for 7 million, he was always to wealthy for his own good.
He was about 90 when he passed and ran his tractors till almost the day he died.

Santa hasn't ever brought me a horse either and I too have that little girl love for them.

Yeah, I agree on both counts. Santa brought me Breyer horse models but they just weren't the same. Guess I turned to rocks to soothe my soul. Those horses can be a big financial responsibility for sure so you are definitely lucky you have friends horses to borrow. I haven't ridden a horse in probably more than 20 years.

alikat218 said
"I still have the Breyers my parents gave me as a kid. Dad thought that would soothe me over. Started working 2 year olds at a racing QH ranch when I was 13. Dad made me bring back a filly that was given to me, that I thought once I got her home he wouldn' have a choice in letting me keep her (it worked for the dogs and cats I brought home)  Told me we didnt have the room, mind you he has 8 acres with 3 of that garden😣 That was the only animal he would never give in and let me have. He even let me keep a grey wolf, but not a horse. Never did understand that."

I still have some of the Breyer models too but they are packed in a box in my mom's garage. So sorry you had to take the filly back. Bet she was beautiful.
When I was a kid I lived on a 40 acre farm but we only had a few beef cattle and lots of cats. We moved when I was 13 so didn't have room after that for a horse. Oh well, guess it was never meant to be for you or me.