Is your state's hunting better or worse then when you were a kid?
01-22-2008, 07:43 PM
#31
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 343
RE: Is your state's hunting better or worse then when you were a kid?
I starting hunting in SW PA in the early 80s and the hunting was not all that great. My father spoke of the great times in the late 60s. He would see herds of 40-80 andshoot 2-3 boxes of shells at pheasants and rabbits. My best 2 years were when they just started the deer management program, but after a few years, hunters decided to shoot doe on the first few days instead of holding out til the end of the now 2 week season. The season before the dmp was only 3 days. This past season wasa joke. I almost got shot crossing a feild. Several doe were coming over the ridge in a feild while hunters were flinging bullets from over 300 yards from my left and right. I could not see the deer nor the hunters. I tried moving forward thinking that the shots were behind me until I saw the deer and the dirt flying. Sure I would agree that there are some larger bucks being taken yet the #s are down and I think that it is not as safe. Hunter safety was taught in my school and now I think that only sportsman associations have them. Not sure if this is the only reason. Might be all that orange that I have been seen and not so much brown. I now live in MI and have been hunting in both states for the past 10 years and it just depends on the private land. Forget about the public land. You might get lucky but the odds are not in your favor. Overall, I think that MI and PA have some work to do. I'd love to see doe season tags be limited for a few years and continue the antle restrictions in both states. Heck, I have a better idea. Let's stop gun hunting in all states and have a 4 month archery license and a min. 140 class.
01-22-2008, 08:20 PM
#33
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location:
Posts: 854
RE: Is your state's hunting better or worse then when you were a kid?
Speaking for my area in SE MN, it overall is not as good as it once was.
Although I still see a good amount of deer, there aren't nearly as many as when I first started, 17 years ago. MN continues to hold its gun season right smack dab in the middle of the rut. This does nothing good for increasing the number of big bucks as so many young ones are taken. Access is harder than it has ever been before, I'm starting to see leases popping up more frequently which many cannot afford, and there are people that have stopped hunting because of the limited access.
I personally am blessed with good access on good properties, but in general I dont think MN is headed in the right direction.
Although I still see a good amount of deer, there aren't nearly as many as when I first started, 17 years ago. MN continues to hold its gun season right smack dab in the middle of the rut. This does nothing good for increasing the number of big bucks as so many young ones are taken. Access is harder than it has ever been before, I'm starting to see leases popping up more frequently which many cannot afford, and there are people that have stopped hunting because of the limited access.
I personally am blessed with good access on good properties, but in general I dont think MN is headed in the right direction.
01-22-2008, 09:09 PM
#35
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NW Oklahoma
Posts: 1,166
RE: Is your state's hunting better or worse then when you were a kid?
I first hunted deer in Oklahoma in about 1971. It is ten times better now. At least. Back when I started you rarely saw a buck and it was illegal to shoot a doe. Now you can kill up to 7 deer and you could kill 50 if they would let you.
01-22-2008, 10:43 PM
#37
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 9,445
RE: Is your state's hunting better or worse then when you were a kid?
ORIGINAL: MNpurple
Speaking for my area in SE MN, it overall is not as good as it once was.
Although I still see a good amount of deer, there aren't nearly as many as when I first started, 17 years ago. MN continues to hold its gun season right smack dab in the middle of the rut. This does nothing good for increasing the number of big bucks as so many young ones are taken. Access is harder than it has ever been before, I'm starting to see leases popping up more frequently which many cannot afford, and there are people that have stopped hunting because of the limited access.
I personally am blessed with good access on good properties, but in general I dont think MN is headed in the right direction.
Speaking for my area in SE MN, it overall is not as good as it once was.
Although I still see a good amount of deer, there aren't nearly as many as when I first started, 17 years ago. MN continues to hold its gun season right smack dab in the middle of the rut. This does nothing good for increasing the number of big bucks as so many young ones are taken. Access is harder than it has ever been before, I'm starting to see leases popping up more frequently which many cannot afford, and there are people that have stopped hunting because of the limited access.
I personally am blessed with good access on good properties, but in general I dont think MN is headed in the right direction.
01-23-2008, 04:37 AM
#38
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 7,208
RE: Is your state's hunting better or worse then when you were a kid?
SW Pa here. My hunting is WAY better, although many I know, say it's worse. Land access is FAR less though. As a kid there were probably 8-10 contiguous properties we could all hunt on. Now I have 3. The deer pops are higher & the chance at a 3.5+ yr old buck is very realistic now adays.
01-23-2008, 05:09 AM
#39
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Is your state's hunting better or worse then when you were a kid?
According to how you look at it.....but I'd have to say that most NC hunters would say it's "better".
Our state's deer population has risen 450% since 1975 (excuse me if that's not the exact year....but you get the picture). I can recall it being a big deal for my deer hunting friends, back then, to see a deer. I grew up in VERY rural NC....and I can count on ONE hand the number of deer I saw in my years before college. Now....I see sometimes a dozen on the drive home from my office.
I wish there were a happy medium in terms of population. I do think the NCWRC is making strides to help control the population, with the advent of the new late urban archery seasons. As more and more cities sign on to this program....my hopes are the herd will get in better control.
Our state's deer population has risen 450% since 1975 (excuse me if that's not the exact year....but you get the picture). I can recall it being a big deal for my deer hunting friends, back then, to see a deer. I grew up in VERY rural NC....and I can count on ONE hand the number of deer I saw in my years before college. Now....I see sometimes a dozen on the drive home from my office.
I wish there were a happy medium in terms of population. I do think the NCWRC is making strides to help control the population, with the advent of the new late urban archery seasons. As more and more cities sign on to this program....my hopes are the herd will get in better control.
01-23-2008, 07:13 AM
#40
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Delaware, Ohio
Posts: 89
RE: Is your state's hunting better or worse then when you were a kid?
Ohio
Worse and better.
Better: I see more deer and better quality bucks than ever before. When I started you were lucky to see and kill a buck or doe. You had to apply for an antlerless permit in the summer and you were only allowed one deer per season. Now with urban permits you can take up to 7 deer per season in the state(one buck). The state definitely is not afraid to manage the herd by taking does.
Worse: The outfitters and the rush of out of state hunting. Alot of locals are losing hunting spots to the almighty dollar. I know it helps the economy but the state needs be pro-active and protect the home team before they have to be reactionary and the state becomes a pay to hunt state.
Lost land to Housing. The housing slump has slowed this process down but it will pick back up I'm sure.
Worse and better.
Better: I see more deer and better quality bucks than ever before. When I started you were lucky to see and kill a buck or doe. You had to apply for an antlerless permit in the summer and you were only allowed one deer per season. Now with urban permits you can take up to 7 deer per season in the state(one buck). The state definitely is not afraid to manage the herd by taking does.
Worse: The outfitters and the rush of out of state hunting. Alot of locals are losing hunting spots to the almighty dollar. I know it helps the economy but the state needs be pro-active and protect the home team before they have to be reactionary and the state becomes a pay to hunt state.
Lost land to Housing. The housing slump has slowed this process down but it will pick back up I'm sure.
