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Post by MoBuckChaser on Nov 14, 2017 4:48:37 GMT -6
I am really hoping that some day the MN will figure it out, or at least our part of the state will make some changes?? You all will be dead before you see any change in mn, sorry!
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Post by batman on Nov 14, 2017 6:53:03 GMT -6
Unfortunately change comes very slowly and it won't come from locals. During the rifle season I looked at every dead deer I could see, back of trucks, butcher etc. and the number of yearlings, forks, spikes etc. is the majority of deer I saw. I talked to 2 brothers at the BP in Parkers, they had 2 forks in their truck, they seemed relieved they had filled their tags. I congratulated them and went on with my business. Many people just don't have our goals in mind and as my neighbor the farmer comments, not everyone farms for deer.I think the more accurate description is this..... Few people farm for deer. The reports I have this gun season around us, are all yearling bucks shot by our neighbors. We saw no bucks over 1.5 years old. The sad fact is not only are the deer numbers questionable, but now its become a very young population. 5 years ago on camera, I would be getting numbers of mature bucks showing up during rut, granted it was night pics for the most part. The last couple years, I have gotten nothing on cam 3.5 or older. None. Most bucks are yearlings. This year was the worst I have had on trail cams for age of bucks. Agree with Mark here. Feel strongly that the Ottertail days may be drawing to a close. For whatever reason the commissioner has been managing the herd for more deer in that area for years. Political favor to somebody - not differing social attitudes of the populace. Ingebretson sit as chair of the Env Nat resources committee and he represents Ottertail.
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Post by smsmith on Nov 14, 2017 8:43:01 GMT -6
I am really hoping that some day the MN will figure it out, or at least our part of the state will make some changes?? You all will be dead before you see any change in mn, sorry! Agree 100%. It only gets worse (on average) from this point forward. There'll still be areas with fantastic hunting for size and numbers, but those areas will not become more numerous in the future.
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Post by sticknstring on Nov 14, 2017 9:42:14 GMT -6
The reports I have this gun season around us, are all yearling bucks shot by our neighbors. We saw no bucks over 1.5 years old. The sad fact is not only are the deer numbers questionable, but now its become a very young population. 5 years ago on camera, I would be getting numbers of mature bucks showing up during rut, granted it was night pics for the most part. The last couple years, I have gotten nothing on cam 3.5 or older. None. Most bucks are yearlings. This year was the worst I have had on trail cams for age of bucks. Pretty much the exact same for me. 95% yearlings, with usually one 2 yr old. This was the first year I never had a 3 yr old on cam. I've seen the same does/fawns and yearling bucks pretty much every sit for the past 10 days. It's fun seeing deer, but when you have a 3pt breeding your does - you start asking yourself is it worth it? A fence will save a few, but it's not going to turn the yearlings into 2 yr olds.
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Post by batman on Nov 14, 2017 9:49:32 GMT -6
Young bucks are often the only deer meat hunters ever see. They have no resident does. They killed all of them. Bucks wander much too far during the rut to be safe.
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Post by biglakebass on Nov 14, 2017 9:54:21 GMT -6
Its gonna be very hard to get out of this trend, especially if they keep us managed or god forbid move us to Intensive. The populations has been beaten back, and for deer to get to 3 and even 4 years old is nearly impossible. ugly situation.
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Post by batman on Nov 14, 2017 10:00:37 GMT -6
Its gonna be very hard to get out of this trend, especially if they keep us managed or god forbid move us to Intensive. The populations has been beaten back, and for deer to get to 3 and even 4 years old is nearly impossible. ugly situation. Whose going to stop the trend? MDHA talks smart but completely fucks its members when policy is made. I can't even get anyone in ST Paul to dig anymore. The 95% who don't really care about deer love filling those tags. I don't care which zone they hunt in. Opening weekend buck harvest was down 15%. Maybe it will tick up but nobody even discusses buck harvest in the media.
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Post by biglakebass on Nov 14, 2017 10:02:24 GMT -6
Cant argue with you at all Brooks.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 14, 2017 10:57:47 GMT -6
The only way it will change is if MN form a new group and demands change, lower deer tags, and move the gun season back. If you do not do those two things, forget it.
MN Bowhunters could do that I suppose, but then the criticism will be .."oh they just want the rut to themselves"
At this point, I would love to lead an effort to change the gun season to closest date Nov 20. Have all hunting end the week before. November 12/13...done. Let the bucks rut, and then on opening day the gun hunters will have a fresh woods to hunt. Just a thought, probably would not be supported by many??
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Post by kl9 on Nov 14, 2017 11:05:10 GMT -6
When people say bow hunters want the rut to themselves I just laugh at how ignorant they are of deer management. They say how much time do bow hunters need... I would be willing to shave off the first 2 weeks of the season in order to push gun back 10 days if it made the orange army happy.
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Post by biglakebass on Nov 14, 2017 11:11:54 GMT -6
When people say bow hunters want the rut to themselves I just laugh at how ignorant they are of deer management. They say how much time do bow hunters need... I would be willing to shave off the first 2 weeks of the season in order to push gun back 10 days if it made the orange army happy. I need a lot!!! LOLLLL
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 14, 2017 11:14:07 GMT -6
Maybe a theme like Trump
Make Minnesota Deer Hunting Great Again...Brooks had that didn't he?
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Nov 14, 2017 12:52:55 GMT -6
The only way it will change is if MN form a new group and demands change, lower deer tags, and move the gun season back. If you do not do those two things, forget it. MN Bowhunters could do that I suppose, but then the criticism will be .."oh they just want the rut to themselves" At this point, I would love to lead an effort to change the gun season to closest date Nov 20. Have all hunting end the week before. November 12/13...done. Let the bucks rut, and then on opening day the gun hunters will have a fresh woods to hunt. Just a thought, probably would not be supported by many?? Demand change? Bahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! I see where it went after the audit! Stay in MN and your fucked!
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Post by smsmith on Nov 14, 2017 13:31:04 GMT -6
The only way it will change is if MN form a new group and demands change, lower deer tags, and move the gun season back. If you do not do those two things, forget it. MN Bowhunters could do that I suppose, but then the criticism will be .."oh they just want the rut to themselves" At this point, I would love to lead an effort to change the gun season to closest date Nov 20. Have all hunting end the week before. November 12/13...done. Let the bucks rut, and then on opening day the gun hunters will have a fresh woods to hunt. Just a thought, probably would not be supported by many?? I don't know how a new group would ever achieve legitimacy in the eyes of the DNR...and hence the eyes of politicians. MDHA has had the ear of the DNR and politicians for decades. The only way I envisioned (I no longer do) change was for MDHA to take a stand. They have cemented their status as the privatized branch of the MN DNR since Craig has taken over. There will be no meaningful positive changes here in my lifetime
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Post by Bwoods11 on Nov 14, 2017 15:18:00 GMT -6
I guess I am the eternal optimist. When is the next years gun hunt start November 3??
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