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Post by Catscratch on Oct 9, 2019 10:17:30 GMT -6
Leasing land for deer hunting removed a lot of youth from small game hunting (in my general area anyway). Trespassers from Wichita did too. Landowners just found it easier to tell the highpo that nobody had permission and to ticket everyone found on their place. Kids just don't have the access that we had when I was growing up. Supply and demand is a factor. Quail and chicken numbers are very low and have been for a long time. It's difficult find some of these things to hunt. I will add that duck hunting is probably more popular than ever for local high school kids. Probably due to good numbers and accessibility to large feed fields that people don't want to deer hunt. I am sure guys buying land for deer hunting has negatively impacted youth small game hunters too. I know I do my best to stay out of the woods from early September until sometime in December usually. Not sure if in the future I'd allow grandkids to go stumble around small game hunting here or not. Right now, I'd say "no" Horn porn! I agree to what you're saying, most people willing to spend money on land for hunting are not willing to jeopardize their chances at a big buck to shoot some rabbits. I will probably kind of go this route after the kids move out. Right now though... if a kid and his buddies wants to stomp around shooting dink birds, turtles, and tree rats they go right on ahead. Deer will come and go and the kids will be happy shooting whatever. Interestingly... I seldom deer hunt my place. Maybe it's because I want to hunt something a little less disturbed?
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Post by smsmith on Oct 9, 2019 10:24:45 GMT -6
I am sure guys buying land for deer hunting has negatively impacted youth small game hunters too. I know I do my best to stay out of the woods from early September until sometime in December usually. Not sure if in the future I'd allow grandkids to go stumble around small game hunting here or not. Right now, I'd say "no" Horn porn! I agree to what you're saying, most people willing to spend money on land for hunting are not willing to jeopardize their chances at a big buck to shoot some rabbits. I will probably kind of go this route after the kids move out. Right now though... if a kid and his buddies wants to stomp around shooting dink birds, turtles, and tree rats they go right on ahead. Deer will come and go and the kids will be happy shooting whatever. Interestingly... I seldom deer hunt my place. Maybe it's because I want to hunt something a little less disturbed? I'm guilty of it. I won't shoot another buck that isn't going on the wall, and I doubt if I ever shoot another doe.
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Post by Catscratch on Oct 9, 2019 10:29:45 GMT -6
Horn porn! I agree to what you're saying, most people willing to spend money on land for hunting are not willing to jeopardize their chances at a big buck to shoot some rabbits. I will probably kind of go this route after the kids move out. Right now though... if a kid and his buddies wants to stomp around shooting dink birds, turtles, and tree rats they go right on ahead. Deer will come and go and the kids will be happy shooting whatever. Interestingly... I seldom deer hunt my place. Maybe it's because I want to hunt something a little less disturbed? I'm guilty of it. I won't shoot another buck that isn't going on the wall, and I doubt if I ever shoot another doe. Same!
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Post by biglakebass on Oct 9, 2019 10:42:24 GMT -6
I'm guilty of it. I won't shoot another buck that isn't going on the wall, and I doubt if I ever shoot another doe. Same! Same
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Post by Bwoods11 on Oct 9, 2019 10:53:25 GMT -6
It is not like it was in the 1980's when you could hunt many farms. Part of the reason is liabilty issues and the cost of land. Why would you let just anyone on your property when you are making payments on the land, or have $$$ invested? Not trying to sound negative, we let some hunters that WE KNOW, hunt, but not strangers.
I hear complaints about that, but it is just reality, people don't just let you fish on their dock, or have a BBQ in their backyard in town...? There is public land for a reason.
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Post by biglakebass on Oct 9, 2019 11:04:28 GMT -6
It is not like it was in the 1980's when you could hunt many farms. Part of the reason is liabilty issues and the cost of land. Why would you let just anyone on your property when you are making payments on the land, or have $$$ invested? Not trying to sound negative, we let some hunters that WE KNOW, hunt, but not strangers. I hear complaints about that, but it is just reality, people don't just let you fish on their dock, or have a BBQ in their backyard in town...? There is public land for a reason. Land access is very hard now for the most part. 25 years ago, we had lots of access to duck hunt, pheasant hunt, and even deer hunt. I am sure i could get access to duck hunt, but its not worth the hassle any more. Deer however, families and leasing has really filled open access. I dont know a farmer that doesnt have extended family at a minimum that deer hunts their land. 25 years ago, I was able to bowhunt a couple places, even though they gun hunted the land. People werent nearly as "possessive" of deer as now. Us included. On our farm years ago, dad and grandpa invited cousins, neighbors, whomever to deer hunt. we would hunt opening weekend, and relatives would hunt second weekend. Now its direct family ONLY.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Oct 9, 2019 11:29:48 GMT -6
I try to do my part with land purchases that will become public land. Been involved in several. I love to see more opportunity! That being said, the management of our public land is poor in MN.
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Post by Catscratch on Oct 9, 2019 11:50:16 GMT -6
I try to do my part with land purchases that will become public land. Been involved in several. I love to see more opportunity! That being said, the management of our public land is poor in MN. What does this mean? Are you buying land and donating it to the state to become public?
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Post by Bwoods11 on Oct 9, 2019 11:55:40 GMT -6
I try to do my part with land purchases that will become public land. Been involved in several. I love to see more opportunity! That being said, the management of our public land is poor in MN. What does this mean? Are you buying land and donating it to the state to become public? No I am realtor and we have lined up some sales of private land to PF, and other organizations. One in particular was 300 or 400 acres, I would have to look back. It become public. I sure wish they would manage it better! In one case they removed 10 acres of trees which was a deer magnet, in an area of primarily farm land and open cover. Sad
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Post by sd51555 on Oct 9, 2019 12:20:07 GMT -6
Not me. If I can get an arrow into a yearling + doe, it's gonna happen. Maybe not on the first weekend, but I won't sneeze at a shelf full of canned venison. After seeing where meat comes from in Iowa, I put in some effort to reduce the bought protein.
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Post by benmnwi on Oct 9, 2019 12:38:08 GMT -6
I like shooting bucks and I like eating venison, so I can't rule out shooting any deer!
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Post by Bwoods11 on Oct 9, 2019 12:45:24 GMT -6
We will shoot a few does this year.
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Post by Reagan on Oct 9, 2019 12:49:56 GMT -6
I spent years killing squirrels while dad was bowhunting in a tree on the same property.
I made my daughter hunt squirrels before deer hunting. It just happened that she killed her first squirrel and deer about 6 weeks apart.
We will small game hunt my new place. I also let them drive the mule on my trails. I will leave some areas alone but I’d rather my kids enjoy my place for the next few years than kill a big buck.
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Post by Catscratch on Oct 9, 2019 13:27:46 GMT -6
Between the deer/turkey/ducks that my boys shoot, the fish they catch, and the beef butchered we are constantly cooking meat just to make room in the freezers for more. We have cookouts and give fish to the church for community fish fry's, just to make sure it gets eaten. I have zero reason to shoot a deer unless the situation is fun, or I like it's antlers.
I'm a lot like Reagan in that kids get to use the place before we worry about big bucks.
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Post by biglakebass on Oct 9, 2019 13:58:49 GMT -6
Not me. If I can get an arrow into a yearling + doe, it's gonna happen. Maybe not on the first weekend, but I won't sneeze at a shelf full of canned venison. After seeing where meat comes from in Iowa, I put in some effort to reduce the bought protein. Solid plan!
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