I have 8 foot game fence, only have to worry about Bobcats. Dog that got to him was one I let on property.
My point is if you've had him this long and plan to keep him another year or more his chances of surviving in the wild are extremely slim. I applaud you for your compassion but I think you have a dead deer walking. May want to consult DWF or some other expert as this is only my opinion and I don't have anything to back it up.
The release is not overnight. He is already spending his days with my the herd. At night he knows I have food for him so he comes back to his pen. That will be the norm and I will slowly back away from him. I agree he will never be wild but in reality the herd is semi wild anyways. He will be a dangerous animal once hormones kick in. So he has to go back.
Sure but I don't see that as option, if he ends up with a nice rack I want to use him. If not and he is good enough for market he will go. Last option is yard ornament but as I said he would be dangerous.
in your situation he will do fine releasing I think. like you said they arent really wild animals anyways inside the fence. still some risk but when it comes down to it with what you got going on they are just livestock. I remember a calf back when I was 7-8 years old. The cow died and I(really my grandpa but I thought I did) raised it on a bottle in the yard....but when the time came it went on the trailer with all the other and to the stockyard it went. Attached as we may get they aint pets.
