I guess you didn't read the title of his post? I guess he was being sarcastic?

At what point does it become illegal? I'm not sure....but it sure sounds like he is walking "line"....the GW would be the final judge.

I guess as long as he doesn't put it behind a fence. He's legally okay. Feeding and petting is what I do with my outside cats....and legally I think they are my pets. I don't consider them wild anymore...they just wandered up. years ago and never left.

I would have worded the OP post differently....avoid the legal ramifications of a public forum.

A few years ago there was a young buck at Beavers Bend in OK. It would come out into the river and nudge you for snacks....you could hardly get a fly cast down cause he was right there on top of you. He wore an blaze orange dog collar. People fed him and he never left. He stuck around each day waiting on fly fisherman and tourist to feed him. I was concerned about him turning into a rutting buck one day. State got smart and got him out of there before it got worse...for the deer and the tourist there.

There was a post in the fly fishing section about it...even pics.

People still wonder where he came from.....someone most likely had him as a pet(illegal) and let him go down there. Like letting the goldfish go at the local lake.

The State offers public hunts in the state park each year due to the poor quality and overpopulation of deer. You can walk up to most of them.....tame as can be. I imagine I could make my traditional bow to work on those deer....point blank hunting. You know why they are there? You know why they stay? You know why they are skinny and sickly?

I heard one person say, "You don't need a corn feeder here to kill one....just rattle a Dorito Bag of Chips!"

The dog brought him home so he should be should be arrested by the GW then transferee to the pound for his dastardly deed.

Bump

https://www.facebook.com/fishingaustrali...mp;notif_t=like

Yup, and it�s always the same people who have the one and ONLY true answer for EVERYTHING!

A game warden will come and cite you or give you a warning for keeping a deer as a pet. Feeding one visiting your home is probably not a good idea but that won't get you a ticket.

Game Wardens also read these forums.

https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/09/24/no-you-cant-keep-a-pet-deer-in-texas/

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/rehab/orphan/

Where did the OP mention he was keeping the deer captive or what did he say to make people think that?

..

Feeding deer in Sun City (Georgetown) is a violation of city ordinance and carries a fine of up to $200. Our community association (read super HOA) is trying to capture 250 with suspended nets over feeders. Those captured will be slaughtered, turned into ground meat and donated to homeless and needy shelters.

GW can't do anything as long as the deer is not in a pen.

If you keep dog in a fence, put the deer out and if it jumps in it ain't your fault.

Form the most recent GW field notes last week:

Reason #27 to Leave Wildlife Alone
A Titus County game warden responded to a mobile home community where a young white-tailed buck deer reportedly attacked an individual. The deer was well-known in the community after one of its residents had illegally taken possession of it as an abandoned fawn. The well-intentioned person who originally caught the deer could no longer take care of it as a pet so he attached white tags to its ears and released it on a nearby ranch. Absent natural instincts to avoid humans, the deer returned to its �home� except now with a full set of antlers and raging hormones. The game warden captured the deer, removed the tags from its ears, and relocated it to a high fenced game ranch where, hopefully, it will learn to avoid people.