Lanse and 2Lunger, I read both your comments alot on this board and really like what both of you have to say. In this instance, I agree with you both. Lanse, after thinking about it, I tend to agree with you a little more. I agree that the high price of the outfitters tends to make less people a larger area therefor making the buck quality much better. I think the problem for me is that I really can't afford to take one of these outfitter hunts therefor I hate seeing all these big deer taken and not getting the opportunity at them. Its one of those situations where you love it and hate it at the same time.

These areas that are overcrowded with deer are probably the big 200+ acre parcels of land that have 3 guys trophy hunting it and therefor let all the does walk. Then you get a bunch of 40 acre parcels in another area where you get 2 or 3 guys hunting that land and try to take meat for the freezer and then hope for a big buck. The deer population just varies so much county to county. You'll get guys complaining of no deer on a 50 acre parcel but 5 miles away on a 300 acre parcel they'll be deer everywhere. Personally, I wish these outfitters would make there clients take a doe when they fill there buck tag. Even if they donate it, it sure would help. After I got my buck in Illinois this year, I was looking forward to taking a doe and helping a person less fortunate but was unable to due to a health issue with my buddies wife.

I wish there was a way to convince some of these trophy hunters to take a doe and donate it to someone less fortunate. I know there are programs set up around the state, but I seem to never be able to find one when I have an extra tag to fill, I'd love to make it easier. I have no problem spending the extra $15 for a tag and 30 mins gutting and loading a deer if I know I can get it to someone in need. That, though, is when I can find a place to hunt in Illinois!

I feel that they issue enough tags, its just getting those tags filled in the right areas and not overhunting one area and underhunting another. People drive through a 1000 acre farm and complain about almost hitting a deer, but then 3 miles away there is nothing. Its all about shooting the deer in the right areas.

I'm not even going to get into poaching, It just makes me mad the way people don't callin deer or reuse tags.

Heres a quick example of my hunting experiences with some of my favorite pictures:

Here is the first buck I got in Michigan after hunting gun season there for 8 seasons on one piece of property:
(This is an average buck shot on this property over the past 15 year)



Here is the opening day buckpole, same county 6 miles away, same year. I think there are around 14 guys in camp.
(Note: These are guys I know through a friend of a friend, so if it's your buckpole I hope you don't mond me using it!)
They are hunting on 400 acres I believe.



Here is me on a nice size parcel of ground in S. Illinois first time hunting it on opening day:




I think the key is just to get people who own big chunks of land to take out enough does so there property isn't a sanctuary. I do feel for the farmers in areas that get a lot of there crops eaten by deer, but they may be the same farmers leasing there land to these outfitters who only let there clients take 130+ bucks. Its a tough medium, thats for sure. I think its up to the hunters more than the government to get a acceptable deer population where we obviously have too many.