blood and guts!

[ezzpete]

today i was walking on Table Mt. rd. and about 2/3 of the way to the end i came across a big pool of blood in the middle of the road. it was half arsed covered with dirt and leaves.  it was obvious that something bleeding a lot was loaded into a vehicle which backed up a ways and then did a Y turn.  from that point there was a trail of blood on the road for about 1 mile which went down 4N2. i followed it down to make sure it wasn't a person, even though i was pretty sure it was a deer. as soon as i went around the first turn that hid the view of the dirt road from the paved road, i saw a big pile of deer innards that someone left RIGHT IN TH MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!
this is kind of disturbing to me because it shows total disrespect for the animal and anyone who came across this scene.  the haste this all looked like it was done in makes me think this was an illegal kill and done by someone who has a key to open the gate, since that's the only way to get a vehicle back there. thanks for the memories.

[Tall Trees]

The East Table Mountain road has been gated for several years due to illegal activities that include theft and vandalism to JPL facilities, copper metal and scrap metal thieves vandalizing the AT & T microwave tower, Vandalism at the Observatory, Illegal commercial wood cutting including standing live Black Oaks and green Jeffery Pines.  Other illegal activities include breaking and entering the At & T microwave building by satanic cults who left their marks in spray painted murals inside the building as well as evidence of night time Rave parties, illegal access to the three story tower, illegal fireworks and campfires.  Since we have restricted access to this road by motor vehicles all of these illegal activities no longer take place.

In the several years that access has been restricted to motor vehicles the east Table Mountain Road has become a community hiking trail known to be safe with spectacular back drop views of Mt Baden Powell, Mt. San Jacinto and the Swarthout Valley.  Although access is restricted it is not denied and every year during the Deer hunting season hunters demand to have vehicle access to the road. 

In the past the Forest Service would issue a key to hunters who demand access by vehicle and the keys were returned at the end of the season.  This hunting season a combination lock was installed to accommodate deer hunters access while at the same time keeping the road access restricted to prevent illegal activities.  These types of hunter abuses related to field dressing a deer kill are disgusting and a violation of Calif. Fish and Wildlife standards for field dressing.

I would recommend that you contact District Ranger Bob Blount (661)269-2808 and let him know of this hunter abuse and ask that the combination lock on the road be removed due to hunters abuse.  These hunters still have access to the area they can hike in ride a bike or go in on horseback.  Maybe the Forest Service could send in a fire engine to perform a wash down and clean up the blood and guts.

[Joe Schmoe]

The forest is crawling with hunters right now...

[SkierBob]

[RobertW]

Lead ammunition is NOT allowed in our area of the forest.  It will be illegal in All of California by 2019 with phase in regulations beginning in 2015.  You are right, the lead poisoning of the Condors was the reason the law was enacted.  Here is a current map of where lead is outlawed:

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=82836&inline

As for the gut pile, there are no specific regulations in California I am aware of.  Most hunters will leave the gut pile in the field, for the benefit of other animals and scavengers to eat, especially if they have to carry the deer out.  It is however a matter of courtesy to move it away from hiking trails and to try and conceal it (not necessarily bury it but not leave it in the open).

[The Boys Dad]

What are the options with the innards?  Not being a hunter I do not know but I would think in the field is the place.  I would prefer that over having it in my neighbors trashcan just feet from my  front door.  I do know fish are often gutted on the beach and innards left in the water to contribute to the food chain.

[Tall Trees]

Thanks RobertW for mentioning that there are no specific regulations in California in regards to field dressing a legally hunted deer.  I did find this reference on the internet that I would like to share.

Proper disposal of deer remains is a rule of good hunter ethics!

Disposal of deer remains may not be the highlight of a hunting trip, but it's an important aspect of hunting, particularly in maintaining the Hunter's image.
           
Hunters should realize that improperly disposing of deer remains presents a negative public image,. It also provides a legitimate point of criticism that can be used by people who oppose hunting.
           
People who find deer remains alongside roads or on the ground at dumpster sites are usually pretty disgusted.
           
Behavior by hunters like improper disposal of deer remains promotes the kind of negative image that anti-hunters use in their attempts to ban hunting.  Landowners who find a mess on their property may also have second thoughts about allowing access to hunters next season.

Entrails should be discarded in a place where they will not interfere with other legitimate recreation uses.  Burying the entrails 2 to 3 feet deep so dogs or other animals won't dig up the remains and drag them around is another option.

[Agape_is_love]

The kids and I met a few friends at JPL today to walk this evening at about 4 pm and we passed two hunters leaving. Thankfully they left empty handed.

[Joe Schmoe]

I recall a story of a wildlife biologist studying Mountain Lions cutting open a bloated dead Lion to determine cause of death and getting a face full of gas that also carried the plague which later killed him.  Can't these entrails be a source of the plague?  After all...the plague has been found on  Table Mountain.

[SkierBob]

I would have put the crossbow down and pulled out the camera 

11-year-old hunter bags rare albino deer
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/21/boy-hunter-bags-rare-albino-deer/17652845/?csp=fbfanpage

[Nolena]

I guess they are just a little rarer now.

[lagomorphmom]

I would have put the crossbow down and pulled out the camera 

Comments are blowing up. Just fascinating to read a sampling. [You may need to use Internet Explorer to read them.]

[RobertW]

I have never gone hunting and I don't plan to do so.  Didn't need to fill the meat locker for the winter like they need to do in many parts of the country. I guess you could call me a "Bambi" lover.     I do get it, including keeping the population in check.  I do have to say that having patrolled for the USFS as a volunteer for the last 8 years, I have gained a lot of respect for hunters.  Not the "weekend warriors" who just are looking for an excuse to carry a rifle and shoot at things in the forest (most of them couldn't hit the broad side of a barn and the deer are safe), but the true hunters that put a lot of time into it for the meat.  Every year there is the same group of dedicated hunters camping at Blue Ridge Campground.  They are always successful and always have a pot of Venison stew cooking on the fire throughout the day.  They always offer Toolman, my Forest Service partner and I some.  While usually not a big fan of Venison, I have to say it is delicious.  I guess it is all in knowing how to cook it.

The problem I have with the article about the Albino deer is the word "trophy" was thrown around too much for my liking.

[Jeremy]

In the past the Forest Service would issue a key to hunters who demand access by vehicle and the keys were returned at the end of the season.  This hunting season a combination lock was installed to accommodate deer hunters access while at the same time keeping the road access restricted to prevent illegal activities.  These types of hunter abuses related to field dressing a deer kill are disgusting and a violation of Calif. Fish and Wildlife standards for field dressing.

Good to know, hopefully I get drawn next year