Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

Why do hunters in northern Minnesota have the atitude that if its brown its down. Then the same people complain that they never see any big deer. I don't see anyone practicing Quality Deer Managment up here. I could be wrong, but when you see the steady stream of spikes on forks flow into the registration stations, it's hard to come to any onther conclutions. I say let the smaller deer walk. give him 3 more years then he will be worth shooting.

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

dunno about you but after spending a summer and fall north of Washkish working in the rice paddies and doing some bear baiting, I saw some real brutes on the dykes! Not to mention my family bringing sheds home from the silver bay area that would make ya drewl so there has to be some bigguns around!

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

Please don't clump us all into one group. I see a lot of those small ones heading south towards the twin cities. A few of the clubs around here are practicing QDM here in northern MN, mine included.

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

I agree with jklein. Haven't seen any big spreads biggest I've seen is a 8 point. They may not be big but there is a whole heck of a lot of them.

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

I've seen some real brutes. Not everyone has the same reason for deer hunting. It's not all about shooting a trophy for all hunters. Many folks just enjoy the hunt and the taste of their venison. In fact I've seen hunters pass on respectable trophy deer just to get one that would be tender and tasty. In their mind you can't eat the horns.

I try not to judge folks because they hunt differently than me as long as it's legal. To each their own.

Have a good one!

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

My point is this. Most people that I see and talk to will shoot a 120 lbs spike or fork over 140 lbs does when they have a doe permit just because it has a set of antlers. I can respect those who like to have meat in the freazer, but when a family shoots 3-4 deer all spikes how much meat is enough.

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

I have thought about this all morning, why should those people stop shooting smaller deer just because you want to hunt for trophy's only. The smaller, younger animals give you better meat. if a 120 pound deer is enough or 3 or 4 or 10 is what they can use why the heck not?

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

interesting......I would bet they would ask you the same thing, why are you passing up a fine eatin animal for one with a big rack? not jabbin at ya, just looking at it from a diff point of view.

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

I HATE THAT ATTITUDE!!! My dad says that, and I just shake my head. I hunt right by Pine River, and there are nothing for big deer. I passed on a spike that I coulda dropped on site, and am proud of it. I went home empty handed, but hopefully that buck grows up to be a big one. I told my dad that and he dropped his jaw and said 'If it's brown, it's down!' I just shook my head, knowing that I did the right thing by trying to improve out hunting area...
~Cody

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

Hey Cody you did the right thing. Over the past few years I have let my fair share of small bucks go. In our hunting camp no spikes and no froks allowed. What I hate is when you let a small buck go, only to here a few min. later shots from the direction that the buck went. Deer need three things to grown big racks, food, genitics, and time. Most deer have the food and the genitics to grow a nice rack, what they don't have is time. I have been to a few of my friends hunting camps, and seen the walls covered with antlers 99.99% of them being spikes, and buttons. Those are the same people that complain that they have no big deer in the area. Let the small ones go. I bet you that if you shot a 10 point buck every year each one of them would be on display, and you could remember how you shot each one. To me that is the best part of the hunt Shoot a spike and the antlers more often than not end up in the back of your garage or in a box some place. Who knows witch one was shot when.

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

If I've got a doe permit I'd rather shoot a large mature doe than a young buck. Have let smaller ones go under those circumstances. I had a friend who hadn't shot a doe in years. He shot one two years ago and can't figure out why he waited so long. A doe definitely taste better than a big rutted up buck. But lets face it. Big bucks make better stories and does make bettter steaks after the season is over. It all depends what you're after. For those without a doe permit, a young buck is the next best thing for steaks. We all hunt for different reasons. I understand your frustration because your looking for bigger bucks. But others in your area don't feel the same way. Just the way it is though. Not much you can do about it. It you keep letting them go others aren't gonna shoot them all so you are having an impact. Just not as much as you'd like to make.

Have a great season!

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

I hear you. My personal opinion on the subject is that if a person gets drawn for a doe permit that person should have to shoot a doe no if's and's or but's about it. I know this past year in my area there was one group in particular (not mentioning names) That had 8 people in their party all had doe tags and not one of them shot a doe. They all shot bucks. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!!!! Biggest one they shot was a 3X3 basket rack that weighed about 170 lbs. That's F*#$@#& pathetic in my eyes. So instead of limiting the mandatory doe taking to just management permits they should limit it to all doe permits. That may help a bit but it's just a question of wether or not the state would pass that type of law. I'm sure other states have done it with some sucess why can't we try it. I shot a doe this year and passed up many many opportunites at spkies and 3X3's because they could use another year or 2 or 3 to grow. I also shouldn't mention it because it's kind of a pride hurter. I missed a very large very nice 6X7 that had lady luck sitting on his shoulders. Anyway. That's my opinion on subject. It's not just the mentallity in northern MN either I'm in west central and darn near ever hunter here is that way.

Wait, wait, ready PLUG EM!!!!!

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

Usually in our group we strive to fill the doe tags, the bucks are just extras. But since I take a bow during the gun season, I like to have a chance at a buck. I agree though, too many guys shoot a little forkhorn and complain that there are no trophy bucks around.

"Playing under the table and dreaming"

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

judging by what I have read so far I wonder. Growing up we hunted much the same "if its brown its down theory". Antlers were a plus! Some folks just dont care if they get them or not but will take them over a biggun! Others dont have the time or want/desire for a big buck. They shoot the first buck that walks and then conjure up dreams of bigger ones, not to mention the heckling you'd get in camp for shooting a spike....but what is wrong with it? If you're not managing a particular plot of land for big bucks...shoot what you want. The tags dont say you cant shoot a buck if you have a doe tag. I wont disagree, I would much rather shoot a big fat doe then a spike but its just another optoin! I dont mean to stick up for them but come on...yall are going to make this a rich sport REAL quick if antlers are why you are in the woods!

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

2 deer I was damn proud to hang $200 worth of tag fees over!

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

Well...the last generation of "If it's brown, it's down" hunters are getting to the point they don't really hunt anymore. I'm the beginning of the new generation (oldest of the cousins) and am going to try to teach them to hold off their shots. I will admit, my first deer was a button. But he was my first deer, and I was so excited I just started shooting. I swear there were 6 or 7 deer, but I dout it. Everything was so fast, I got brown in my scope and pulled the trigger. But that's the only spike I will take (on purpose). I could make a mistake and take a button thinking it's a doe, but I'm gonna be pretty sure of my prey you could call it. Hopefully I get things changed around our hunting area.

My uncle claims to have seen a 'Huge Buck!' that he shot at 4 times and missed. That gets me encouraged!! I just hope he avoids the poachers bullets during this off season and presents me the shot next year!!
~Cody

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

JKlein, I hunt northern MN and have owned land up there for decades. I have to say that the main problem practicing QDM in the northern pine forest is the vast amount of public land and the equally vast number of hunters. Passing on a young buck to let him grow up doesn't much help when the 10 guys over the next ridge will gladly take him to fill their freezer. Now if you owned a nice chunk of land where you could truely manage a herd and the hunting pressure, I think you could practice QDM, but such large tracts of private land just aren't easy to find. In addition to hunting pressure, there is an active wolf population that takes a lot of deer and some really brutal winters that disproportionately impacts bucks exhausted from the rut. Remember the late 90's?

Another reason is economics. While I am sure most hunters would love to shoot a bruiser and let the spikes pass, I think the reason a lot of people shoot inferior deer is to put food in the freezer.

I agree with Deerslayer Still... there are a lot of little deer heading to area code 612.

Personally, I love to shoot a nice buck once in while, but if I have to take a deer with my rifle, I prefer if it is a nice middlin' size doe. Now if I could just make sure I get that antlerless permit <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

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SuperX

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

inferior....dang tell that to my freezer LOL!

Hey you ever think about leasing a bunch of different land? Then you would have control over the land and the land surrounding it. Also dont over look it just because there is a small tract you cant lease/hunt as they might not let anyone else hunt it either! You could then do your supplements and what not to get your big deer, then again if you dont have the knowledge to hunt them you are just shootn in the breeze!

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

LOL Lil, didn't mean inferior that way, I guess I meant less than a &quot;QDM&quot; trophy buck. I have eaten many an &quot;inferior&quot; deer and they are delicious! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Leasing - no luck so far getting USFS and State of MN to lease to me - heck, it took 4 years to get an easement to my land across the USFS land and that included a biological survey and an archeologist to determine if we crossed over any artifacts. You may not realize just how much land up there is federal and state forest as well as national parks (Voyageurs, BWCA, Superior, etc.)

*I* am not complaining about the size of my deer. I am just stating how challenging it is for most people to practice QDM in Northern MN and defending folks up there a bit from the &quot;brown its down&quot; comment. (by the way, if you ask my neighbors, Duluth is not in northern MN)

Re: your last sentence... was that directed at me?

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SuperX

Edited by - SuperX on 01/13/2002 18:56:38

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

yuppers, good eatin stuff eh LOL! Just makin sure. I ment lease from farmers and the bigger land owners and such...kinda the same as they do in Texas. To the last sentence...for anyone and directed at no one! I think you know what I mean. hope so <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>!!!

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

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SuperX

RE: Minnesota hunters, QDM
 

Don't let anyone fool ya &quot;if it's brown it's down&quot; hunters aren't putting much of a negative effect in this area as you think.

They are doing it on select area's but the Big deer don't hang around there too much anyway once the hunters hit the woods.

During early bowseason I find the same big bucks over and over again once rifle season begins I hunt a near by area that has no public access and guess what that is where I find those big bucks that I had earlier in a different area.


I would say I practice a form of QDM I only still hunt em and with the long season we have I make it a point to not take a deer unless 1) It is big and 2) I can get close enough for a shot. Which in this area I am sure you know is no easy task.