This I believe,We will never see EAB (exceptcwd area,s)in the next 10 years it just ain,t gonna happen,no way, Whether right or wrong EAB is done, The deer managers know there jobs are on the line.
Now with the idea that less doe,s equals more bucks can be true IF you manage for a given number of deer in an area. Say 20 deer per square mile, if 12 are does 8 can be bucks ,if 16 are does only 4 can be bucks that is DNR thinking but that only works in theory and through very strick harvest principles with no predator involved and knowledge of every deer around. In the real world that will not work,however I am seeing more large bucks on our land here in Waupaca Co. not near as many deer tho.
Trouble is people think because they own 40 acres they can shoot several deer, well that cannot be (long term). There are 16 forties in a sq. mile now if there are 32 deer per sq.mile (thats a lot)thats only 2 deer per 40. A person with 40 acres should shoot a doe every 3 or 4 years on that property and a buck every other year that would be a large kill. Of course deer don't stay on that 40 and move so folks see more deer.
If the DNR is managing for 750,000 deer and the deer kill is about 350,000 (all kills) thats half the deer, Thats why we are in the position we are in. Deer are way down you can't shoot half the deer and expect to have a large herd. Folks we are in a world of hurt, have to go out now and ML hunt, nothing smaller than 8 points tho.
Redclub