<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> First , how about areas where neighbors dont give a rats behind about what deer get harvested. My area for example.(farm country) The farmers in my area shoot anything and everything to try and reduce crop damage. I've seen three farmers harvest trophy bucks in the last two years and all of them cut off the rack and hung them in the barn(they could care less about Pope & Who?). <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
So, in response you are saying that being the neighbors don't give a darn, then, neither should you? I thought it was said earlier that it was an idividuals choice. Sounds to me that you are rolling with the crowd. But then, you did take a book class buck, now didn't you? Now don't you hope you get a smaller one next year?? I doubt it again.
As for the so called "crop damage" that the farmers always talk about.
I lived on a farm for most of my life, and know 90% of the farmers in the county. True, I have heard them talk of an outside row or two that has been eaten by all sorts of wildlife(racoons, possums, skunks, squirrels, birds, ect.). But not one of them has ever, in a serious voice, told me that the deer are so numberous that they couldn't possibly make any money on their crops, due to the crop damage. Many say it in jest, so they are able to take some table fair when needed, and call it in the name of "crop damage". Then, you say that you know of three trophy bucks that were taken by farmers. But yet, they do not care about the racks. How many does do they shoot each year in the name of "crop damage"? I would be willing to bet that those racks stay on display in the barn for many years to come.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>How about remote areas where if you see a deer , your lucky? (Northern Wi) There are alot of hunters who spend alot of time in our northern forests who have gone meatless for years. Do you think their wrong for shooting the first legal buck that comes by?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
Well, explain to me how that area got that way in the first place. This is the first sign that state departments take when using antler restrictions. The numbers depleted for a reason, and we know what that reason is.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>We also have areas that have had some pretty drastic doe harvest plans the last ten years which have made doe hunting almost as hard as hunting mature bucks. There are alot of areas with alot of hunters who disagree with our DNR about the buck to doe population and yet they still have two extra doe seasons every year. I'm sure there are alot of other reasons hunters could give for harvesting any buck. We're all in this for different reasons , everyone needs to remember that.
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Just out of curiousity, could you give me the total numbers of does taken during the doe harvests? I would like to compare them to something I have here.
Is it very possible that not many hunters take part in the hunt because they are not able to take a buck? Even here in Missouri, the deer management process used to be quanity, not quality. But they are learning the errors of their past ways. Yes, a good herd number must be provided, before any quality techniques can be applied. But now, you are no longer able to buy a "buck only" tag. It is now an "any deer" tag, with several "bonus" tags that can be bought, and are encouraged to buy, in addition. The "antlerless season" has been moved up into Decmber from January, so as to avoid the unnecessary harvest of button bucks or bucks that have already dropped their antlers and possibly be confused as does. I believe the next step in the Missouri Dept. of Conservation's plan is to eliminate the wording "antlerless" that is used now, and change it to strictly "buck" or "doe" and quite possibly go to a muzzleloader/slug-gun seasons in the near years to come. In which I would strongly support.
A 130, 140, and up, class of animals are still alot better than taking spikes, forkhorns, and tiny basket racks. Remeber on thing, if you see large quanity of basket racks being taken, or in your area, the potential is there in just 3 short years. Many deer that end up with basket rack 6-10 points in their first two and a half years of life, are really nice deer in the making. But you have to let them get there first. If you are an experienced hunter and want meat, take the does. The excuse of "not many bucks being around, so I will take the first buck I see" is not a good way.
Yes, they (smaller bucks)are all legal harvests in your area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
for now.