I would but my rep in north wilmington would be like "what deer problem" and second, i'd wind up on some terrorist watch list or something.

Amen brother! I have little symapthy for farmers who do NOT allow proven responsible hunters access to their land to help control the deer on their property. Giving them a blank check so to speak to kill wildlife that is hurting their crop profits is TOTALLY irresponsible. We have unlimited anterless harvest in this state for just $10 a tag. Let people on the land and they will do the job!

Hell, forchance to hunt a private farm I would put my name on a list and do the following:

I: Take additional hunters safety courses to make farmers feel more comfortable.
II:Sign a liabilty waiver.
III: Pay for addtional tags
IV: Hunt only certain seasons (bow, Shotgun) if farmers have ample family members who hunt lets sayhunt one season more than another.
V. Show the farmers daughter a good time. (Just Kidding)

Im just saying myself, as Im sure many other hunters, would be more than flexible for a chance to hunt someones farm. Giving farmers a lisence to kill is just wrong. They should have to follow the game laws like everyone else.

Well Duck - I think we're gonna see some big changes in the next couple years to manage some of these high density areas.Heck - I rode by a farm field other day off of Rt 1 in Milton and spotted at least 20-25 deer.Thats just what was in the field!

The state reps have got an ear full from John Q public and farmers in recent years.The reps have put the solution smack dab in the lap of F&W. There feeling the heat from all sides inc hunters.I wouldn't have there job.

DNREC does not and so stated in one of the recent meetings - "they do not want to PO farmers". I think behind closed doors the F&W guys are possibly thinking the same thing we're talking about here - Do more for yourself to manage your own Deer problem.

DNREC wants to some day buy up development rights on many of these farms.The farm I hunt on although not an active AG farm is one of the ones they want to buy rights to - and the 600 acre farm next to us - which BTW Pat Emory hunts on. He's the F&W director. This new tax or fee there imposing on developers is going into the fund that will buy up land and/or development rights to protect it from the Habitat Rapists.

Alos - getting your "Master Hunter" certification might be one way to get onto farms with deer problems.F&W suggested they could keep a list of cert hunters they could refer to farmers/land owners.

I'm going to look into taking those classes.

I heard about this too, but also heard there was no real pushing the idea to farmers. If I start hearing that there is alot of interest from landowners on this program, I will be taking the extra classes also.

Well heck, count me in also but I'm new to the state so I will have to be lead by the ear. AJ, where are you seeing these deer, I travel the whole state and see very few deer. I was all the way down in Selbyville, Milsboro, Frankford and Dagesboro today and didn't see a deer anywhere and beleive me I'm checking all the fields.

Rick,
Your hitting the hot spots buddy. I travel Rt 1 from Milford to Delaware beaches 3-4 days a week at 4-5 am.Always have my eyes peeled for deer.I usually see from Milford to beach areas 6-12+ deer in fields or ditches next to roadway.Thats only what I'm seeing and obviously trying to avoid from deploying my airbags!!

Late in evening(before sunset) is usually when I see big numbers in fields.Some deer can be seen 300-400 yrds off roadway in fields. Late at night they move closer to road browsing or trying to cross over.Early am and just before sunset.

I also ride down street from house where I can see from 6-10-20+ deer hanging in fields in summer,roadway,walking down street at 1-2 am.I've had them walk thru my back yard.Saw 3 swim across lake 2 years ago at about 10am while sitting on back porch.

I've got my trail cam out on farm and just starting to get some pics on some good numbers - 6-8 deer per frame.

Don't forget the arial survey showed 15-20+- DPSM in the areas/zones we're speaking of.There out there - lots of them!

If you like to cruise and spot deer - other hot spots are Rural - Rural Maryland E. Shore(Caroline,Queen Anne,Kent County) to see big numbers and some nice bucks in mid late summer around sunset.My bro in law and I have seen many a deer in those rural areas while nursing a 12 pak

In Pa,farmers have always been allowed to kill as many deer as they want for crop damage.The animals need to be gutted and a WCO has to be called to pick them up.

AJ,
By time I hilt Milford on my way down state it's proablly 7:30-8:00 am and I'm back in Delaware City by 2 so that may be the reason I don't see them, heck I see more deer stands from the road than deer, stands everywhere.Tomorrow I head down to Laurel and Delmar. I see plenty deer up in Delaware City. I work out of the Old Ft Dupont for the state and hit all the schools in the state with the food program, hence all my travel. I used to hunt in Denton many, many years ago, took some very fine deer there including my first.

Yes - Denton - Caroline county. Shush - Hush - thats a secret over there!

I hunted private land in Templeville.The owner had big problems with deer eating his grapes.Hunted a nice farm in Goldsboro.Deer were eating about 15% of his beans every year.

Hunted in back of Mitchells Used Cars/Salvage Yard(Greensboro)many years ago.Still have a stand back there from 20yrs ago.Took a couple nice "Junk Yard Bucks" outa there in the late 80's.

The place I hunted the ol man died so I havn't been back there since 1980.