"Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

The high percentage of your average hunter having the "brown it's down" attitude was mentioned in another thread. I checked to see if I could find some numbers for the 2001 Wi deer hunting season , to see just how high the percentage really is. To some , the following numbers might seem apalling , to others , it might seem that Wi is headed towards fewer "brown it's down" attitudes , but remember , the following numbers only represent a tiny percentage of harvested deer that were aged by DNR bioligists.

2001 Aging Results

Yearling Buck Percents (YB%’s)- The big story this year is that harvested YB%s are down substantially statewide compared to last year and relative to the 10-year average. The YB%’s in the south (56%), northwest (48%), and the northeast (51%) were down –23%, -19%, and –18%, respectively, relative to the 10-year average. The central forest, west central coulee country, and the east central farmland YB %’s were 58% (-13%), 65% (-13%), and 67% (-12) respectively.


Ordinarily, we'd suspect that recruitment was down, but this does not seem to be the case. Declining YB%’s statewide are long term trends over the past 10-20 years that reflect a longer term change in harvest dynamics and, to a certain extent, declines seen this year are also part of the long-term trend. Our best guess is that hunter selectivity and season timing are the mechanisms behind this year's declining percentages. This year's season seemed to coincide with the peak of the rut and weather conditions that were very poor for hunting. Anecdotal reports were that bucks were shot while pursuing does and that check stations were seeing a higher percentage of older bucks (2-3 yr olds). Moreover, this season followed a successful October Zone T and Zone T hunts the year before, making it less imperative for the hunter to put more venison into the freezer. Taken together, we believe that hunters were selectively waiting for older bucks and that rutting activities were making older bucks more vulnerable.

Yearling Doe Percents (YD%’s)- Harvested YD%’s were down as well this year relative to last year and relative to the 10-year average. Declines were small, however, and the absolute values for this year were well within the range considered normal and healthy for Wisconsin’s deer population. The YD%’s in the northwest (27%), northeast (29%), central forest (32%), west central coulee country (39%), east central farmland (39%), and the south (37%) were -8%, -3%, -4%, -8%, -2%, and –9% respectively relative to the 10-year average.

The farmland units declined the most, possibly because of reduced breeding among fawns during the 1999 season. Fawn breeding is relatively unimportant elsewhere. The fact that we're down relative to the 10-year averages is expected because the 1990’s were marked by a series of mild winters and an increase in artificial feeding. Therefore, recruitment during the 1990’s was likely elevated. Solid recruitment among does (YD%’s in the 27-39% range) suggests that the decline in yearling buck percentages is due to something other than depressed recruitment.


Off the topic , I also found out that Wisconsin sold deer hunting licenses to residents from all 50 states and 10 foreign countries<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

I thought that stat was pretty neat.

RE: "Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

Very interesting data! Am I reading this correctly? Does this mean that in the northeast 51% of bucks taken were yearlings? That number seems incredibly low to me. I would have believed more like 80%.

And it does not surprise me about Wisconsins license sales, your state has been the leader in book bucks for years!

NRA,UBP,BASS Member
New Stanton,PA

RE: "Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

I'll bite....If it's brown it's down sums it up for me to a point. 90% of the deer I take are does, usually 1.5 year olds or older (I did shoot one 'lil one once at the end of the season).

I like a freezer full. If the deer is legal, get out the wrapping paper. If a doe walks out....I'm shooting. If a meager racked 6 walks out....I'm shooting. If a monster walks out....I'm falling (out of my treestand!!!!!!!). Then I'll shoot.

I think that balance is a good thing. There are plenty of horn hunters letting little bucks go that if I take one, it's no big deal. If we all sit there waiting on 130+ bucks...how many will be left at the end of the season?????

Everyone has (and is entitled to) their own standards. Hunt and let hunt I say. You like big ones....go for it. But please don't chastise those who are not of a like mind. This sport is taking enough shots from anti's without becoming divided from within.

Visit my hunting homepage.... http://www.geocities.com/hogshooter_2000

RE: "Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

Interesting that the past year was substantially less than the 10 years average. What exactly is a yearling buck? Is it this year's fawn, or is it a 1.5 yr buck?

RE: "Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

Bigcountry

The percentages are more than likely very misleading. They only aged roughly 12,500 deer out of a total harvest of nearly 500,000



Meathunter

This thread was in no way intended to chastise anyone for hunting the way they choose. I just wanted to find some facts and post them to see if it was at all possible to determine the percentage of hunters who harvest anything to fill the freezer.

Straightarrow

Wisconsin refers to a nub buck (fawn) as a yearling.

Edited by - bowfanatic on 09/10/2002 22:54:34

RE: "Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

The ranch I lease its 8pt or better.

RE: "Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

I find the topic of this thread very interesting and the statistics in the first post even more so. If those stats could eventually be applied to Pennsylvania's harvest then I would be trully shocked. But, then again, with PA's new antler restrictions and larger doe tag allocations maybe it is a distinct possibility.

Something that I do think needs to be discussed is the perceived mentality of those of us who have the &quot;if its brown its down&quot; mindset. I think alot of folks use that phrase to describe reckless hunters who see something brown moving and immediately unload a full clip at it...deer, squirrel or other. Those folks are, in my mind, not hunters...and barely human beings for that matter.

Then there are folks like meathunter up above who sound entirely responsible and ethical. They choose to shoot a deer regardless of gender just for the food that it provides.

I just thought the distinction needed to be made between the two...as some folks immediately use that phrase in a negative connotation.

RE: "Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

PA,

Around here, the hunters use that phrase with pride. <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle> The vast majority make sure of their target. If it's brown, with long ears and a white tail, it's down.

I tried to find some statistics on New York's harvest, but couldn't on their website. Maybe I'll give them a call. I did find out that there are 400,000 acres in the state when they're practicing QDM. The state has actually helped in setting up these areas. Compliance is voluntary. This is a very small portion of the overall land area.





Edited by - Straightarrow on 09/11/2002 08:47:14

RE: "Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

Bowfanatic,

Since you hunt WI, I'd like to ask you what your impressions are of the state in this regard. Do you think WI has more hunters practicing QDM than the average state or less? I was under the impression that WI had more big bucks, because they had more land devoted to QDM. If that is the case, your statistics are even more startling.

RE: "Brown it's Down"??? or not?
 

Well, I think if it's brown, it's down is an inappropriate phrase and one that we should eliminate from our vocab. I realize that we use that phrase to describe those hunters who will take any legal deer however, I feel that anti's will and do take this to mean that ALL hunters will shoot at anything without confirming the target. It only serves to fuel their fire IMO. I personally try to avoid using it epsecially outside a circle of hunters. The wording of that phrase lends itself to mis-interpretation. Very easily I might add. I just feel we need to be cautious about how and when we use it.

Now, coming down off my soadbox :), I'm alot like meathunter.

-Mike