More audads

[Marsha Cassada]

Don't know what to think about audads in the backyard. Sure hope they don't bother my little horses. If they multiply exponentially like feral hogs, we will be in big trouble. Some hunters are organizing hunts for them; there is no season on them. Photos were taken from the patio. Counted about a dozen in this bunch, but don't know how many were on the other side of the crest. Our grandchildren just climbed up that area yesterday.

 

[Ryan Johnson]

Hope they keep their distance Marsha. Its hard at times to keep unwanted creatures off your property.

 

[Miniv]

Hopefully they're shy .... like deer are.

 

[paintponylvr]

and deer may be shy (when people actually awake and in the area being our typical noisy selves) but deer create a lot of property damage - to fencing (I know they were there first), to gardens and to yards.

I have problems with fencing with the ponies and to see deer just across my own fence line is nerve wracking and though our guys have seen them around, they spook wildly and run madly when the deer show up... and sometimes it's deer making the noise in the wooded areas that spook driving ponies and not people moving clumsily.

Marsha - would a ram attack/butt a human on foot - especially a smaller one/child? Or do they run? Do they carry ticks like the deer here do?

It took me a while to see them on the rocks... I had to blink a few times and then look at 2nd pic where they were skylined before I finally saw them in1st pic, They are pretty and I bet they could be fun to watch too.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

You know, I think during rutting season they could be dangerous to people. I do believe they harassed my horses last fall. I am sure they carry ticks, just like deer.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

They are moved in like they mean to stay. They have usurped Dapper Dan's little shelter. Not sure what to do about it. Game ranger estimates numbers are up to about 140 now; they are increasing exponentially.

We have a lot of ticks this year. Not sure if the aoudads have anything to do with that...

 

[Ryan Johnson]

They seem to be getting closer to you. Have your neighbors had any trouble with them. ? Without scaring your own animals , would a gun shot scare them off ?

I hope they are leaving your animals alone Marsha

 

[Debby - LB]

Oh my gosh, I thought you were just seeing them from way off. Are there any organized hunts for those?

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Oh my gosh, I thought you were just seeing them from way off. Are there any organized hunts for those?

Yes. You can go to a website and participate in a hunt for $3000. A friend of my husband's offers hunts for $1600. I think it is going to be featured on some famous outdoor TV show. The problem is the hunters only want trophies. A few guys have done them on a smoker and sometimes the meat is edible and sometimes not. My mom says we should make jerky, but neither of us is crazy about the taste of the meat. And we like to shoot targets for fun, but we are not hunters. I think Ryan has the right idea; we need to run them off. But would a gun shot even faze them? Husband has chased them on the riding mower and that hasn't deterred them.

It hasn't been a problem for my horses because the corral is torn down right now so I'm not using the area. But when we get the corral back up, the critters will have to go. Luckily, the garden is all enclosed, and I have not seen them in the chicken yard (yet).

I wonder what kind of competition they are for the deer population? It's been rainy the last couple of years so there is lots of forage.

 

[Miniv]

Maybe the meat would make good jerky treats for dogs? (I don't like hunting unless it's to use the meat or a person is defending their livestock.)

I take it you don't like trophy hunting either.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Maybe the meat would make good jerky treats for dogs? (I don't like hunting unless it's to use the meat or a person is defending their livestock.)

I take it you don't like trophy hunting either.

We like to shoot at targets, but we are not hunters. However, if they begin to bother my horses this fall during rut,we will do what we have to do. The biggest problem would be what on earth to do with the carcass? We have an area back in the far part of our property where we put horse friends, but we would certainly not want to haul a bunch of aoudads there. Some guys who do meat smoking tell us to call them if we shoot one. But if they won't come right away, that is not the answer. They can come and shoot one themselves when they are ready to cook.

They were up by the chicken pen today. The girls were scared to come out with those Strangers standing there! Our rat terrier charged them and they skedaddled up the mountain.

 

[Debby - LB]

Well, it's good to hear that a little dog can run them off.

I wonder if an electric fence along the perimeter is something doable? Also is there anything that could be used to repel them? Maybe invite the guys to come shoot and remove one weekend. I'm not much help sorry lol.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Yes, I think electric fencing might be effective, since they do not jump. However, when the bunch was running from our dog, one charged right into a cattle panel fence. Bent the panel in and popped some heavy staples. So, if they didn't experience the electric fence in a non-panic mode, they would destroy it.

It was interesting to notice the "flight" reflex. It reminded me of a bolting horse. They don't notice a barrier, as I think their brain turns off in the bolt and all their muscles tense for absolute flight.

Our little dog is not very bold, however. If the critters stood their ground, or charged him, he would be behind mom in a hurry.

Here is what they did to our target stand made out of a pallet wired to two heavy posts. Why in the world they would charge something standing out in the open, we have no idea. The pallet was broken in half.