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Post by kl9 on Mar 10, 2017 11:40:26 GMT -6
Has season restructuring been discussed at the input meetings or are any orgs addressing it?
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Post by smsmith on Mar 10, 2017 11:43:06 GMT -6
How about 5 day season starts Nov 20 Second 5 day season the next weekend Muzzy in December 9 days You pick one!! Instantly change our herd for the better, and access! (That'll pass the same day, all welfare ends👌) Works for me
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 10, 2017 12:00:52 GMT -6
Has season restructuring been discussed at the input meetings or are any orgs addressing it? It was discussed by several groups at the Brainerd meeting.
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 10, 2017 12:02:31 GMT -6
I can understand how you hunters feel in the area that used to be zone 4 and is now zone 2.
That sucks.
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 10, 2017 12:13:39 GMT -6
I believe my largest bucks by inches were shot in 1997 and 2015. By weight was prior to 97.
I see rutting activity during the rifle season. My daughter shot her 4.5 year old when it was chasing two does.
What makes the difference in rutting activity? Don't bow hunt the property and stay out until opener of rifle season. (other than to pick a few apples in the open areas). I will add that I have pretty decent cover on my farm.
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 10, 2017 12:16:11 GMT -6
I will add that to reduce hunting pressure on opening of rifle season, I have been sitting with my wife, or with my daughters when they were younger. I have a rifle, but don't really plan on shooting anything.
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Post by smsmith on Mar 10, 2017 12:38:09 GMT -6
I see hunting hours rutting activity on my place...right up til firearms opener. Then...most everything goes nocturnal and stays that way for a month or more.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Mar 10, 2017 13:27:16 GMT -6
I believe my largest bucks by inches were shot in 1997 and 2015. By weight was prior to 97. I see rutting activity during the rifle season. My daughter shot her 4.5 year old when it was chasing two does. What makes the difference in rutting activity? Don't bow hunt the property and stay out until opener of rifle season. (other than to pick a few apples in the open areas). I will add that I have pretty decent cover on my farm. The 90s was a great time for bucks too in MN. I remember a Halloween in 1995 I think, 5 bucks (all 2.5 years old) chased a doe under my stand. I passed them all, it it still one of the best hunts I have ever had. We still see an occasional big buck on my farms, but they are often tough to hunt. The actual window of days or opportunities to shoot a mature bucks in so small in MN, due to the pressure and then they go nocturnal.
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Post by wklman on Mar 10, 2017 14:30:13 GMT -6
Agree with all this. Minnesota could cut days in all the hunts they have for deer. Deer are hammered from mid-sept until the end of December without much let-up in between.
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Post by smsmith on Mar 10, 2017 14:37:10 GMT -6
I've got to believe that at some point in the future, season structure will change here. Many younger folks are much more interested in a quality hunting experience. Many of those young hunters are also becoming more interested in archery hunting. At some point, those people will either demand changes or just quit hunting in this state completely. When enough hunters tell the MN DNR to stick their shitty deer hunting up their asses and quit buying licenses...the DNR will have no choice but to respond.
I don't envision this happening during my hunting career, but it'll happen.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Mar 10, 2017 14:47:22 GMT -6
I've got to believe that at some point in the future, season structure will change here. Many younger folks are much more interested in a quality hunting experience. Many of those young hunters are also becoming more interested in archery hunting. At some point, those people will either demand changes or just quit hunting in this state completely. When enough hunters tell the MN DNR to stick their shitty deer hunting up their asses and quit buying licenses...the DNR will have no choice but to respond. I don't envision this happening during my hunting career, but it'll happen. Yep, I believe you are right Stu. My sons friends really like bow hunting. I am pretty sure they all have bows, and nice ones too. Some do not even buy a gun tag. (They all like to shoot carp in the spring/summer too)
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Post by mnfish on Mar 10, 2017 14:53:20 GMT -6
Classic predator/prey relationship. We the hunters/predators will move on or quit if the prey isn't there. I am anxious to see what happens as hunters fall out or quit buying licenses here in MN. I think it could go in a couple directions once that happens. Time will tell.
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Post by smsmith on Mar 10, 2017 14:58:14 GMT -6
Even with low(ish) deer numbers, a DNR could continue to sell quite a few licenses if the deer herd was composed of a balanced age structure. Low deer numbers with very few opportunities to shoot large antlered bucks? Very low hunter participation rates at some point.
What I don't get is why the MN DNR wants to do this to their big money maker. They must assume that the masses will just keep buying licenses no matter what. Maybe they're right
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Post by mnfish on Mar 10, 2017 16:01:26 GMT -6
I would love to see our season dates match up with WI. I will be doing some bow hunting over there this year and very excited to get the couple extra weeks prior to the guns. Not to mention the better numbers of whitetails
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Post by mnfish on Mar 10, 2017 16:03:48 GMT -6
Even with low(ish) deer numbers, a DNR could continue to sell quite a few licenses if the deer herd was composed of a balanced age structure. Low deer numbers with very few opportunities to shoot large antlered bucks? Very low hunter participation rates at some point. What I don't get is why the MN DNR wants to do this to their big money maker. They must assume that the masses will just keep buying licenses no matter what. Maybe they're right IMO-There are a lot of factors working here. One of the biggest is they haven't seen or felt a whole lot of opportunity costs...yet So they continue down the path of herd reduction.
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