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ORIGINAL: Germ

Bruce it was about your question on shooting does age class, nothing to do with AR's;)

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ORIGINAL: Germ

So bruce in a county like jackson MI that is over 100% of goal for deer population and every year has permits unsold.

How would you go about reducing the herd in a two buck state like MI. First tag is any buck, second tag is AR of 4 on the side. Been this way for over ten years now, it's only gotton worst.

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ORIGINAL: brucelanthier

My bad LOL. It must be that "Languagually Challenged" thing :D:D. I'm getting confused :D

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ORIGINAL: brucelanthier

If it's so bad why is it a two buck state? Why not a one buck state? Seems to me that would have a much better effect than AR's.

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Proponents of the Quality Deer Management (QDM) philosophy are applauding a unanimous decision by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to enact the "Hunters' Choice" proposal, which is intended to reduce the harvest of yearling bucks (1 1/2 years old) in the state's Upper Peninsula (UP).
"This vote shows that our Natural Resources Commission and our Department of Natural Resources are leading Michigan hunters in the direction of sound deer management," said Bob DuCharme of Coldwater, Michigan, the Great Lakes Regional Director for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). "I think we're going to see big changes in hunter attitudes, possibly even statewide."
Previously Michigan hunters were allowed to harvest up to two bucks. One could be of any age or antler size while the other had to have at least four points on one side. This system allowed a high percentage of yearling bucks to be harvested annually. The new regulation that will go into effect this season gives hunters a choice. One option is a two-buck combination tag, but both bucks must meet certain antler criteria; one must have three points on one side and the other four points on one side. Hunters unconcerned with deer age or antler points can choose the second option: a one-buck tag with no antler-point restrictions.
This regulation was known as "Hunter's Choice" when it was first proposed by George Lindquist of Upper Peninsula Whitetails, a nonprofit sportsman's group that promotes sound deer management in the UP. Supported by the UP Sportsmen's Alliance and other hunters, UP Whitetails also asked QDMA to support the Hunter's Choice proposal.
"The proposal met all three of QDMA's criteria for support of a mandatory antler regulation," said Kip Adams, wildlife biologist and QDMA's Director of Education in the North. "The regulation was designed to protect a majority of yearling bucks while leaving most older bucks eligible for harvest. It included a monitoring program for tracking success. And it was supported by a majority of affected hunters."
"Our survey results indicated that deer hunters are interested in increasing the number of mature bucks in the deer herd," said DNR Deer Specialist Rod Clute.
This was especially true in the Upper Peninsula, where a majority of hunters favored a more restrictive regulation than the Hunter's Choice proposal.
Statewide, the harvest of yearling bucks in Michigan has been high, with 68 percent of the 2006 buck harvest being yearlings. In the Upper Peninsula, yearling buck harvest has ranged as high as 65 percent, but many QDM proponents believe the actual percentage is higher, since hunters who kill older bucks are more likely to bring their deer to voluntary deer check stations.
"We've been trying for more than 10 years to do something proactive to reduce the number of yearling bucks killed in this state," said Leon Hank of Holt, Michigan, president of QDMA's Michigan State Chapter. "We're extremely pleased that Michigan DNR has moved ahead in this way, and we are pleased that the Michigan State Chapter of QDMA could partner with several other outdoor groups like the UP Whitetails to positively impact our buck regulations. The education benefits alone will be fantastic."
Hank also thanked Kip Adams for valuable assistance. Adams was among several experts who gave presentations to the Natural Resources Commission as they reviewed the proposal. He provided a review of the scientific validity of QDM along with data from other states that have successfully reduced yearling-buck harvest.
"That's the power of having a national association that can help a state like ours at a critical time and on short notice," said Hank. "That's why I'm a QDMA member."

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Did I miss the meeting where all hunters get together and decide who and how many spikes and 4pointers we are going to take?

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ORIGINAL: SteveBNy

100% against for central and western NY.
Management needs to be done on a far smaller level then statewide.
I shoot a bunch of does every year and let the younger bucks walk BY CHOICE because I like watching them.
You want more bucks then make it mandatory to use a buck tag on ALL button bucks.
Statewide average is 30% !!! of the antlerless kill is BB's!!!!!!!
Stop this and you will save far more then any misguided AR program.

Steve

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ORIGINAL: GMMAT

LOL....:D

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ORIGINAL: Germ

OMG I want to hire you as head of the DNR:D I 100% agree, now get 500,000 pissed off gun hunters calling you ever day because now they can only shoot 1 buck[8D]

I prefer an OBR also. In the UP we just passed "Hunter's Choice" I think is a great plan

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ORIGINAL: bawanajim

Here in PA its only the does that take out Oldsmobile's grills ,Toyota headlights and Chevy front fenders,these damn doe's cause more crop damage and timber lossesthan Stile chainsaws or flash floods. Our bucks are genetically trained to stay off of or busy highways and understand oak seedlings and soy beans are off limits,invasive grasses and soft maple are our bucks main food sources.;)

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ORIGINAL: PreacherTony

It may be assuming Jimbo ..... but are you against all the doe permits that PA hands out? [8D]

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ORIGINAL: Germ

Preach I am going doe hunting in PA this year[8D]

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ORIGINAL: Germ

Preach I am going doe hunting in PA this year[8D]

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ORIGINAL: GMMAT

Gary...

Seriously....I went to BOTH meetings;)

How do you think we got our current doe harvest plan implemented? Trust me....it wasn't something "they" came up with.

I wasn't born LAST night.

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ORIGINAL: brucelanthier

Just make sure they are3.5+ yr oldDoes

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If NC had AR's or OBRwould the doe harvest increase for the state? yes or no

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ORIGINAL: bawanajim

The blind faith some give our Biologist to get it right "this time" amazes me.

How many times have they destroyed the very game they are paid to manage?

I will not follow the lemmings off the cliff on this one, I spend over 300 days a year in my woods and we do not have any where near what the habitat will support.

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ORIGINAL: GMMAT

Bruce:

No need to worry. They implemented a minimum 3" teat length restriction, last year.

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ORIGINAL: GMMAT

Bruce:

No need to worry. They implemented a minimum 3" teat length restriction, last year.

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ORIGINAL: bawanajim

The blind faith some give our Biologist to get it right "this time" amazes me.

How many times have they destroyed the very game they are paid to manage?

I will not follow the lemmings off the cliff on this one, I spend over 300 days a year in my woods and we do not have any where near what the habitat will support.

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ORIGINAL: GMMAT

No. We'd have LESS hunters (don't tell me I can't shoot the buck I want) and MORE poachers.;)

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With the right food plots and mineral supplents teats are getting huge at younger ages these days :D

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ORIGINAL: PABuckbuster12

FINALLY!!!! Couldnt have said it better myself, obviously I have tried! BINGO!!!!!! Im not the only one that sees the sad truth! Thank you bawanajim.

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ORIGINAL: Germ


Just so you guys know

QDMA gave top award to PA for mangement this year:D

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Steve .... having to tag buttons with a buck tag would not be a good idea ... what happens when your buck tag is filled and you shoot a button by mistake??

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ORIGINAL: bawanajim

Well Tony

That didn't work out copying and pasting but here are some #'s
Totals
849,000 doe tags for PA

And some areas its unlimited ,kill as many as you want. its a sad joke.

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ORIGINAL: SteveBNy

BB are not that hard to identify.
Do a graduated fine - x for the 1st, 5x for the 2nd, 10x for 3rd etc.
Hunters would learn quick.

If they do mandatory AR in CNY and allow the slaughter of BB to continue, every antlerless I take on public land will have buttons.
Lots of public land around me and they are not hard to identify.

Steve

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