ORIGINAL: neck4752
They say that zone 10 is overpopulated but I dont see that many deer. There are areas that are loaded like Ipswich but they dont allow hunting. Not even with a bow.
How many deer are you guys in MA seeing in a season that you are for passing up on young bucks?
Jim
Well, in zones10 and 11"overpopulated" means too many deer for the density of people. Car collisions and garden damage and the like. They want to keep the deer populations in check with acceptable levels to the non-hunting public. Off course you and I would love to see more deer
I currently hunt western MA. I see very few deer during shotgun season. I am not the best hunter, butnot the worst either, so take that for what it is.Deer density in much of western MA is low IMO. habitat is the issue. I do pass on does in covers that I feel need the deer. But will take one out of covers I feel could use a doe harvest. I never pass on legal bucks and I see very few of them while hunting. (Seen decent amounts scouting and the like)
My recent seasons:
2003 I huntedzone 3 for 6 days of shotgun.I saw two deer. My buddy shot a button (only deer he saw), I got nothing.
2004 Zone 2, 7 days shotgun. Me and buddy saw no deer at all.
2005 Zone 2, 4 days,I saw3 deer. Zone 1,2 days I saw 12 deer and took a small buck.
2006 Zone 2, 5.5 days, saw zero deer. Zone 1, 2.5 days, saw2 deer. No harvest.