I love it when out of state hunters talk like there is a monster buckbehind every tree in the mid west states.Sure are herds is more in check with a better age structure thanks to proper management.In my area crops are few,getting hunting access is extremely tuff.If it was as easy to kill big bucks as some seem to think,I probably would grow board with it and stop hunting if it was that easy.
Too me it is about the skill and knowledge learned along the way.That can come from any state.Killing big bucks consistantly comes with a price.Lots of hours scouting,preperation,and time in the woods.Also forcing yourself to pass on younger deer and hold out for a mature animal.

Who said that?

What can NC do to be just like OH?

Sounds EXACTLY like my situation/area.

Cool. Then prove it to me. Move to Islamorada and shoot a P&Y.

Years back here in Florida they planted some 200 lb + deer from
Minnesota.

Trying to breed some size into our deer herd.

Didn't work, those fat boys

1. Couldn't take the heat. (low sperm count)
2. Couldn't get enough nutrition to support themselves.
3. Got boged down in the swamps.
4. Were very suseptable (SP) to mange
5. There were breeding issues with our rather small does.

Now that I think about it, I believe it has been tried several times.

That other fellows story about the Azeala has a lot of merrit.

Another good example is the old "Black Belt" in Alabama. That is only about 100 miles north of FL and the deer there were much bigger (Especially the horns).

Why

Better soil
Better minerals
Cooler weather
At that time much better food supply.
Probably better genetics.
BETTER AZALEAS !!!!!!!!!!!!

But there are big bucks behind every tree in Ohio. I'm just always on the wrong side of the tree.[8D] I hunted Ohio two of the past 4 years. Passed on lots of little guys but did see the biggest deer I've ever seen in the woods. Saw him the first night and just didn't have the heart to shoot anything less. Anyone want to have a tag fire. I will say Icould have killed a nicedeer just about every time in a tree. THis year. I finally figured out this woods and know where he is. He's right behind the tree with the others.

Are you playing Captain Obvious again.....

I don't recall how many bucks were over 140 from Ohio during the Spring recording quarterbut they had 20 total entries.

I used to live in NC for a year and a half as a kid. Beaufort City, moved back to Ohio after Hurricane Hugo.

I argue this point... It is just likethe farmer with deer problems who allows everyone who asks for hunting permission access to his property. More harm than good, excessive pressure is not the way to cut down deer numbers, it is however the best way to educate them.

My vote is in the majority right now, If a person is as successful as the hunter next to him or fairs even better than most an harvest the top class percentage of bucks more often than others he is sucessful.

Scott:

Everything else aside (and I'm glad you didn't take this post the wrong way)....you can't argue with herd #'s. Check the pops for our state. It'll blow you away. We'd be overrun in a short time if we didn't have such liberal limits. I think we took a step in the right direction this year.....with unlimited doe tags on private ground. We'll see. I wish everyone would do their part.

Iagree this is a step in the correct direction. However the liberal buck limits, long gun seasons, hunting with dogs, heck you guys are allowed to use buckshot out of shotguns...

You should consider yourself lucky to get to hunt in the playground in such a screwed up state.

The best way to get your state like the other successful southern states is compare your rules and regs to theirs and most importantly educate the hunters.

Look at PA it was a mess for as longs as anyone could remember, they changed their rules and regs, educated the hunters and the state is starting to flourish. It can be done.

Maybe NC should give Dr. Gary Alt a call.

Buckeye.....I'm not being captain obvious, now.

We have roughly the same numbers of deer PA has......and roughly ONE FOURTH the hunters. We have to do whatever we can to keep the herd numbers in check. Reducing harvests is NOT the answer. First....we need to get a handle on the numbers.

I'd be in favor of reducing the buck harvests for a year or three. Make killing does more attractive to the everyday hunter. I'll kill more deer with my bow, this year.....than THREE COUNTIES I could name you. We need more people killing more does.

Still......if we have a 1.5:1 buck/doe ratio.....we'll still never have the size deer other states have. We have our share of anomolies......but they're the exception and not the rule.

I really cant believe this fact is still debated by some.