Directed to PA hunters from MN

[buckmine]

I come to this forum because I am curious how your state is faring to the regulations. I only wish MN would do something similiar. Our state ranked high in harvesting big bucks but that is slowly fading.

Do you think this is too much? 27 hunters taking 77 deer in 6 days. This happened last year north of my nephews hunting area. This year those 27 only took 13 deer due to corn still in the feilds.

I do not believe in the brown down like so many rural locals.

[ulysses]

how could 77 deer be harvested from one hunting area an it not effect the overall deer numbers? Common sense says it will.
last two years here in Pa on the public land that borders mine guys were pulling deer out of the woods at an alarming rate. Most everyone had at least 2 doe tag along with their buck tag . That's 3 deer of the hoof not to mention lost future fawns for the successful hunters. Now this year I only see 3 or 4 deer in my hay fields in the evening and they look like the same doe with 2 fawns every night. Before this free for all Wackum 'n Stackum that our game dept. has in place I would see20-30 in those fields. An this year the doe tags are at the same level....You asked what I thought well I'll tell you, The PGC wanted to lower numbers and the only way they could do it was to sell the greedy hunters on killing more doe to grow bigger bucks...the bucks ain't no bigger now than they were before this slaughter.

[buckmine]

It is amazing how 10 miles can make a difference on deer numbers. I rode with my nephew shining feilds and I was shocked at the number of deer I saw. I consider my dads land excellent for deer cover but I never saw that many deer together.

My nephew said a local farmer estimated 80 deer on the edge of the corn feilds this year

[ulysses]

yes it can but the PGC doesn't micro manage the state that is why so many either love it or hate it. i'm one of the property owners that hates it. And this year for the 1st time ever this land is posted against any hunting because of it.
Now what did the PGC accomplish by that/ all they did was force me to take 600 acres of good hunting land out of public use by allowing so many deer to be killed. Some of my friends did the same thing. We feel we must save what deer there is left in our area.
funny thing is not once did any biologist from the PGC ever set foot onto any of this land to even do any research as to deer density.

[buckmine]

You allowed people to hunt your land without permission in the past?

[ulysses]

in Pa if it is not posted with NO Trespassing signs hunters just think they are allowed to use it. I always appriciate it when they ask first but they seldom did.
so far this fall I've had to get nasty with a few that just simply defied me when I told them they were not allowed on anymore.
All I want to do is save some deer and some of these great white hunters that zip up state here for a few days of deer hunting then go home again till next deer season couldn't care about the next year as far as having some for hunting. I got grandkids that like to hunt. What happens when the public land is shot out an what is left on my place is over run with hunters? I doubt Dr. Alt will have a plan for that!!!!

[chickory]

you could always ask Arkansas hunters what they think, they went to AR and HR 5 years before Pa did. So they are much farther along than Pa......

Not many hunters ask for lowered buck harvests, shorter seasons, and a smaller herd.... but hey, different strokes for different folks. Ark and Pa both have AR/HR and both have dropped in thier buck harvests and overall deer harvest #. Ark even shortened thier season.

I do feel bad for you though if Minn. has gotten to the point they have to cut thier herd in half like Pa. Thats pretty bad news for you guys.

[rybohunter]

I believe AR in and of itself is a good thing. When incorporated with severe herd reductions, the benefits are minimized. As far as those guys shooting that many deer it all depends on the area size, habitat and deer population.

[PABuck_HNTR]

I know alot of guys who bought doe tags and don't intend to use them to try to save some does. I don't think I totally agree with them on it , but those are some of the things going on. I do feel the AR's are good. I'll give it another year or two and then decide on the doe kill issue.

[chickory]

If your WMU is still over density goal by two or three times, you might be able to have the luxury of waiting to get off the fence.

But not everyones area does have a surplus...

who is looking out for those guys.