Deer in golf bunkers.

Cottis

Well-Known Member
I shoot various pests on the golf course and also deer. They genuinely can be a problem for golf course management, so don't rule out approaching golf courses with this in mind. I hear many people struggling to find opportunities but try approaching golf courses to help them with rabbit control at night and then you might be surprised what else could come your way.

This afternoon saw me hit a bad approach in to the 10th and this was the situation in the bunker. This one is actually ground under repair presently for different reasons but the deer don't care. They go in all the bunkers. They must like the feeling under their feet as there is no real reason for them to be there are food is abundant literally everywhere else other than the bunkers. It takes a lot of man power to fully rake and prep bunkers. We have somewhere in the region of 25 bunkers on the course some pretty big. Deer cause issues without doubt. Access is not easy as you have very small windows to shoot in order to avoid golfers but it is possible and get lucky most of the time as the deer are fully used to golfers and are often stood in plain view. Roe are of course pretty stupid at the best of times but still, my success ratio is far higher on the golf course than on the farm at home. Golf courses are also meccas for wildlife because they tend to have lots of trees, fruits, nuts etc. Abundance of food and the deer always seem in good nick. All the roebucks have presently done a disappearing act but still lots of muntjac and soon the does will be in.

 
Discovered the ideal stalking vehicle a while ago with a trainee whose father had a similar problem. Silent, folding window for easy thermal, nippy when needed and suitable receptacles for carcass extraction :thumb:

IMG_6766.webp
 
They must like the feeling under their feet as there is no real reason for them to be there are food is abundant literally everywhere else other than the bunkers.
Funny to see such a thread, As on Friday I was sent a picture of deer in and on the edge of a bunker by the green keeper. Now he doesn't want these deer shot.

Now here is where I admit to replying to him with possibly a stupid text. But as I said, its just a thought which I don't know if correct.
However, I suggested as they are already present and damaging the bunkers. Would he consider putting salt licks / mineral blocks on the edge of the course as could the deer be getting some form of salt /mineral supplement from the bunker or surrounding grass growing on it verges ?? Just a suggestion. The other Suggestion was please let me know if you want them gone.

I have shot deer on a golf course and have to agree that the golfers in the evening and ground staff in the morning make the window and opportunities tight.
 
Funny to see such a thread, As on Friday I was sent a picture of deer in and on the edge of a bunker by the green keeper. Now he doesn't want these deer shot.

Now here is where I admit to replying to him with possibly a stupid text. But as I said, its just a thought which I don't know if correct.
However, I suggested as they are already present and damaging the bunkers. Would he consider putting salt licks / mineral blocks on the edge of the course as could the deer be getting some form of salt /mineral supplement from the bunker or surrounding grass growing on it verges ?? Just a suggestion. The other Suggestion was please let me know if you want them gone.

I have shot deer on a golf course and have to agree that the golfers in the evening and ground staff in the morning make the window and opportunities tight.
I am not 100% sure of the makeup of the sand in bunkers but I believe it could well be silica based sand, so content is like quartz and oxygen or something like that. Doesn't seem to be something deer would be attracted to but it made me think. Some of the bunkers are currently ground under repair (not in play for the golfers due to various issues) which means they are not maintained as such and grasses and weeds etc might be growing in the sand. It seems odd that they would ignore the huge amount of available browsing either on fairways or in the rough or in the many hedgerows and fruit trees which border the course, in favour of awful conditions in the bunkers.

I really have no answer. My best guess is they somehow like the feel of it under their feet.
 
I shoot various pests on the golf course and also deer. They genuinely can be a problem for golf course management, so don't rule out approaching golf courses with this in mind. I hear many people struggling to find opportunities but try approaching golf courses to help them with rabbit control at night and then you might be surprised what else could come your way.

This afternoon saw me hit a bad approach in to the 10th and this was the situation in the bunker. This one is actually ground under repair presently for different reasons but the deer don't care. They go in all the bunkers. They must like the feeling under their feet as there is no real reason for them to be there are food is abundant literally everywhere else other than the bunkers. It takes a lot of man power to fully rake and prep bunkers. We have somewhere in the region of 25 bunkers on the course some pretty big. Deer cause issues without doubt. Access is not easy as you have very small windows to shoot in order to avoid golfers but it is possible and get lucky most of the time as the deer are fully used to golfers and are often stood in plain view. Roe are of course pretty stupid at the best of times but still, my success ratio is far higher on the golf course than on the farm at home. Golf courses are also meccas for wildlife because they tend to have lots of trees, fruits, nuts etc. Abundance of food and the deer always seem in good nick. All the roebucks have presently done a disappearing act but still lots of muntjac and soon the does will be in.


Good report thanks - i also have a golf course permission for foxes and rabbits…..greenkeeper also has a badger problem which is obviously a no go for me, but they love digging up the tee boxes as latrines !!!!
 
At the Lochranza course on Arran, the deer have right of way!
Always amusing when the rut gets going and the Golfers are told to be a little cautious when the Stags are getting rowdy!
 
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