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Post by greghopper on Jun 26, 2015 22:16:22 GMT -5
Deer numbers have been declining, especially in the Midwest. Here are the Top-5 reasons why. t.co/jnPuedQkbi
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Post by jjas on Jun 26, 2015 22:51:00 GMT -5
In the end, one thing hunters can control that will make a difference in areas that have been hit hard by EHD and heavy antlerless harvests is to ease up on the release and triggers for a couple of years.
And while I know that this isn't going to make me very popular on this forum, when it comes to the issue of fawn recruitment maybe we (as hunters) should ease up on killing buttons and doe fawns and take out a few more coyotes. Last year alone the button and doe fawn harvest was nearly 28,000 deer (or 25% of the total harvest).
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Post by drs on Jun 27, 2015 4:22:38 GMT -5
Due to many factors stated in that article; I believe many Midwestern States will be returning to "Bucks Only" harvests. Over harvesting of antlerless Deer along with habitat loss & Disease is the prime factors in declining Deer populations.
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Post by firstwd on Jun 27, 2015 6:13:10 GMT -5
DRS, I doubt it.
As for coyotes, I still believe it was by design that the Indiana DNR caved so easily to the elimination of the live coyote market. Especially when the state's top coyote trappers told the DNR that they would completely stop trapping if the market was shut down. Now the DNR only has to deal with city people complaining about their small animals disappearing.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 27, 2015 6:23:51 GMT -5
Deer numbers have been declining, especially in the Midwest. Here are the Top-5 reasons why. t.co/jnPuedQkbiKip doesn't list another reason. The emphasis on killing does so bucks can live and grow bigger antlers. Who's idea is that?
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 27, 2015 6:31:17 GMT -5
In the end, one thing hunters can control that will make a difference in areas that have been hit hard by EHD and heavy antlerless harvests is to ease up on the release and triggers for a couple of years. And while I know that this isn't going to make me very popular on this forum, when it comes to the issue of fawn recruitment maybe we (as hunters) should ease up on killing buttons and doe fawns and take out a few more coyotes. Last year alone the button and doe fawn harvest was nearly 28,000 deer (or 25% of the total harvest). Not sure about the "not popular" thing? I think a good number of us on here have said the same thing.#3 and #4 affects fawn recruitment.. IMO - we have had a perfect storm in some areas the last 3 or 4 years. 1) The DNR was under the gun by politicians to "get the herd down" and they were doing it. 2) EHD hit big time in 2012 throwing a monkey wrench in the works 3) Live coyotes sales became illegal and a lot of coyotes trappers just flat out quit trapping. 4) Bobcat population is on a big rise. 5) Some hunters still think QDMA is all about killing a bunch of does so bucks "can grow."
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Post by greghopper on Jun 27, 2015 8:58:02 GMT -5
Deer numbers have been declining, especially in the Midwest. Here are the Top-5 reasons why. t.co/jnPuedQkbiKip doesn't list another reason. The emphasis on killing does so bucks can live and grow bigger antlers. Who's idea is that? Pupolation control is done with the female deer.... Seems like the hoosier state has figured that out since we have been in a reduction mode!! Not sure I see you point with the "Kip" quote..... I see he has reasons listed though!!!
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Post by jjas on Jun 27, 2015 10:37:05 GMT -5
In the end, one thing hunters can control that will make a difference in areas that have been hit hard by EHD and heavy antlerless harvests is to ease up on the release and triggers for a couple of years. And while I know that this isn't going to make me very popular on this forum, when it comes to the issue of fawn recruitment maybe we (as hunters) should ease up on killing buttons and doe fawns and take out a few more coyotes. Last year alone the button and doe fawn harvest was nearly 28,000 deer (or 25% of the total harvest). Not sure about the "not popular" thing? I think a good number of us on here have said the same thing.#3 and #4 affects fawn recruitment.. I was trying to be a bit more pc than I normally am, so I'll just make my point.... (Unless it is injured), I don't understand why people shoot buttons and doe fawns....period. I've never understood it. With the high mortality rate of fawns, the lack of challenge in harvesting a 4-6 month old animal, and the small amount of meat involved, why do it? That's what I originally meant to say....
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 27, 2015 11:14:20 GMT -5
Not sure how much plainer I can make it...
Some people take the QDMA to an extreme and try to kill all the does that they can.
Even the number one proponent of QDMA and the father of the OBR in Indiana said," When you've think you've killed enough does, kill some more."
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Post by greghopper on Jun 27, 2015 11:35:01 GMT -5
So how long ago was that quote??
I know not long ago some folks here where saying we needed a second Buck tag to keep folks in the hunt for more antlerless Deer.....
I tend to think the DNR will continue to lower the antlerless tags to level out the herd size..... Guess we shall see.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 27, 2015 11:44:33 GMT -5
So how long ago was that quote?? I know not long ago some folks here where saying we needed a second Buck tag to keep folks in the hunt for more antlerless Deer..... I tend to think the DNR will continue to lower the antlerless tags to level out the herd size..... Guess we shall see. I think it was about 3 or 4 years ago. Yep, the tune is charged now, but quite a few followed the leader on that. My "they need the second buck to keep hunters in the deer woods" still applies. That is the number one reason that the DNR did not do away with the UDZ extra buck.. But this isn't an OBR thread is it?
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 27, 2015 11:44:45 GMT -5
So how long ago was that quote?? I know not long ago some folks here where saying we needed a second Buck tag to keep folks in the hunt for more antlerless Deer..... I tend to think the DNR will continue to lower the antlerless tags to level out the herd size..... Guess we shall see. I think it was about 3 or 4 years ago. Yep, the tune is charged now, but quite a few followed the leader on that. My "they need the second buck to keep hunters in the deer woods" still applies. That is the number one reason that the DNR did not do away with the UDZ extra buck.. But this isn't an OBR thread is it?
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Post by jimstc on Jun 27, 2015 12:48:56 GMT -5
Not sure about the "not popular" thing? I think a good number of us on here have said the same thing.#3 and #4 affects fawn recruitment.. I was trying to be a bit more pc than I normally am, so I'll just make my point.... (Unless it is injured), I don't understand why people shoot buttons and doe fawns....period. I've never understood it. With the high mortality rate of fawns, the lack of challenge in harvesting a 4-6 month old animal, and the small amount of meat involved, why do it? That's what I originally meant to say.... Agree! Well said. A kid (20 something) I know told me that he got 11 pounds of meat from a deer he killed. Pathetic!!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2015 15:15:37 GMT -5
I didn't know there was a separate harvest category for "doe fawns"
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Post by chubwub on Jun 27, 2015 17:00:02 GMT -5
I'm guilty of killing some of the younger animals but I think 1-2 yr doe tastes the best and is the perfect size for me to handle by myself and eat. Fiance doesn't care for deer too much so no sense killing more than I will eat.
If I want to kill just to kill, there are plenty of crows and yotes around.
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Post by firstwd on Jun 27, 2015 17:25:53 GMT -5
Trust me, with some of the kids I've had beside me trying to get their first deer, a lone button buck roaming through the woods is well appreciated.
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Post by jjas on Jun 27, 2015 17:33:07 GMT -5
I didn't know there was a separate harvest category for "doe fawns" Page 12 of the 2014 harvest report.
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Post by jjas on Jun 27, 2015 17:33:42 GMT -5
I'm guilty of killing some of the younger animals but I think 1-2 yr doe tastes the best and is the perfect size for me to handle by myself and eat. Fiance doesn't care for deer too much so no sense killing more than I will eat. If I want to kill just to kill, there are plenty of crows and yotes around. I'm not talking about a 1 to 2 year old deer. I'm talking about buttons and doe fawns that are 4-6 months old when killed.
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Post by jjas on Jun 27, 2015 17:34:31 GMT -5
Trust me, with some of the kids I've had beside me trying to get their first deer, a lone button buck roaming through the woods is well appreciated. I'm not talking about a kid. I'm talking about adults killing 4-6 month old deer.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jun 27, 2015 17:37:37 GMT -5
It probably is a perfect storm. I'd like to see all this data and more state by state in the hands of a master statistician and then recommendations can be made as to the best approach for correction.
Help me understand what caused the blue tongue. Did over population have anything to do with it?
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