Results of 3A and 3B survey

[Scott M]

Good work lcornice!

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Survey gauges hunter’s opinions on deer regulation changes in southeastern Minnesota

A majority of southeastern Minnesota hunters support regulations that protect a majority of yearling bucks, according to a new survey from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The survey, conducted this fall, was designed to assess proposed or possible regulatory changes. It was mailed to a statistically representative sample of 3,000 deer hunters age 18 or older who indicated they hunted either the 3A or 3B firearm deer seasons during 2008.

Hunters’ top choices for deer regulation changes in southeastern Minnesota were prohibiting the cross-tagging of bucks and instituting an antler point restriction.

The DNR received responses from 1,740 hunters - a margin of error of 2.2 percent.

Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game coordinator who developed the survey with the assistance of DNR research staff and three deer hunting groups, said hunter support for various management strategies was as follows:

* 53 percent support enacting regulations that protect a majority of yearling bucks.

* 54 percent support implementing a four-day youth-only deer hunt over what is commonly known as Minnesota Education Association (MEA) weekend.

* 50 percent support requiring hunters to shoot and tag their own buck, rather than allowing cross-tagging.

* 47 percent support instituting an antler point restriction regulation.

* 41 percent support restoring the 3A season to 9 days.

* 34 percent support restoring the 3B season to 7 days.

* 31 percent support delaying the 3A firearm season one week.

* 18 percent support delaying the 3A firearm season to late November.

“It’s interesting to note there weren’t any differences in attitudes between hunters from the 3A and 3B seasons,” said Cornicelli, who noted 3A hunters self-identify as more traditional and selective buck hunters whereas 3B hunters describe themselves as more meat-oriented and less concerned about mature bucks.

“The survey results illustrate that 3A and 3B hunters have the same opinions on deer management issues,” he said. “The differences lie in the season they hunt, not the type of deer hunted.”

Overall, Cornicelli said, a majority of hunters support regulations that protect yearling bucks.

While support was lower than previously reported in other DNR surveys the question was more specific on this survey. Previously, DNR has asked generically if hunters supported mature buck regulations and support was hovered around 60 to 65 percent.

“This survey specifically mentioned protecting yearling bucks so it wasn’t surprising that overall support was slightly lower than previously reported,” Cornicelli said.

Responses to other survey questions indicate:

* 24 percent also hunted the archery season and 15 percent also hunted the muzzleloader season.

* The average of number of years a person has been hunting is 25 and they have hunted their specific deer area for 18.5 years.

* 30 percent hunt on land they own, 74 percent hunt on land they don’t own and 4 percent leased land for hunting.

* Only 7 percent belonged to an organized hunting group.

* Only 8 percent hunted exclusively on public land.

* 3 percent of landowners allow public hunting to anyone who asks.

To put the survey in context, beginning in 2003 the DNR made antlerless permits available during the 3A season in response to increasing deer populations. Also in 2003, several other changes were instituted that included shortening the 3A season by two days and lengthening the 3B season by two days. In 2004, youth hunters were allowed to hunt both seasons.

The full survey report is available on the DNR Web site at mndnr.gov.

[tracker x-2]

Thanks for the update its nice to see my results and opions paid off.

[Musky Buck]

Interesting. Since I'm far away from zone 3 it makes sense that old zone 4 first weekend hunters with 2 days were more into trying for a mature buck vs the 4 day second weekend people were a bit more meat hunters, however you could get doe permits for either weekend. Interesting.

[lungdeflator]

pretty survey but should be more responses with all the complaining we hear on here. it would be nice if they could find a way to survey everybody in the zones they want, approximatly 50% feedback doesnt give much. They should have 10 questions max and have people take the survey or else they cant buy a liscense.

[Bear55]

I wish they would try an online survey, just put in your individual DNR number and starts answering questions.

This brings up another point, how is it that this day and age we can't easily buy licenses online. I know we can now but who really wants to pay the $3.50 convenience fee. When I buy anything else on the web they certainly don't punish you for it. It seems like the DNR is wasting a golden opportunity to survey us while we purchase our licenses.

[bassNspear]

intersting information.

I will have to pass this on to the guys i hunt with. Thanks

[96trigger]

I smell more changes coming. We will have to see what happens. Not sure how they would move the season back without screwing up 3A and 3B. Can't wait to here what is in store.

Don't fear change, try it, you might like it.

[lcornice]

I won't chime in on the discussion but here's the full report:

Zone 3 survey report

I will say I don't like questions asked at the ELS terminal. Previous research (and experience) has shown the questions aren't asked (especially at the big box stores) and 'no' is most often checked by the person selling the license. So, if you want an answer of 'no', put the question on the ELS terminal. One example - how many of you were asked to donate to the venison donation program?

[Musky Buck]

I was asked ! I hear that, are the paper tags a lot cheaper ? I loved the old metal ones you could fold and put in your bill fold, then a big old metal ball was added to the metal tag so the wallet trick was done. Just wondering, I know much has changed since 1983. Those were man you got a doe permit lucky you days. TY

[sodajerk]

I won't chime in on the discussion but here's the full report:

Zone 3 survey report

I will say I don't like questions asked at the ELS terminal. Previous research (and experience) has shown the questions aren't asked (especially at the big box stores) and 'no' is most often checked by the person selling the license. So, if you want an answer of 'no', put the question on the ELS terminal. One example - how many of you were asked to donate to the venison donation program?

I'm disappointed but not surprised to see the lack of support for consolidating the 3A and 3B seasons.

I hunt with gun and bow but consider myself primarily a bow hunter. Even though I was raised hunting with a gun and didn't start bow hunting until about 18 or 19 years into my hunting career, I now consider the gun seasons to be an intrusion into my bow hunting.

Gun season is a complete disruption of the peace and quiet of bow season and every year I am disappointed to see it arrive, even though I enjoy gun season but not nearly to the extent I enjoy bow hunting. Hypocritical? Maybe, but it's how I feel and how I have evolved as a hunter.

I would have loved to see the two gun seasons consolidated into one nine-day season and run during Thanksgiving week the same as the current 3B season does. That's how Wisconsin does it and it has worked for them for a long time. It would mean less pressure on the deer and give me two more weekends of bow hunting the rut with no gun hunters in the woods.

[fsh4trout]

Quote:

It would mean less pressure on the deer and give me two more weekends of bow hunting the rut with no gun hunters in the woods.

So bowhunters should be able to hunt the rut, when bucks are most vulnerable, but not gun hunters. If we really want to protect bucks how about NO hunting during the rut. A dead buck is a dead buck regardless of whether an arrow or slug ended its life.

[buckhunter21]

Quote:

It would mean less pressure on the deer and give me two more weekends of bow hunting the rut with no gun hunters in the woods.

So bowhunters should be able to hunt the rut, when bucks are most vulnerable, but not gun hunters. If we really want to protect bucks how about NO hunting during the rut. A dead buck is a dead buck regardless of whether an arrow or slug ended its life.

You can hardly compare bowhunting during the rut to rifle hunting during the rut. For starters im not sure exactly how many people bowhunt in this state but Im guessing its not even half the number of firearms hunters. Second its a little harder to kill a deer when you have to get it within 30 yards almost every time compared to being able to blast them at over 100 yards without blinking an eye. Bowhunters kill I think around 20,000 deer a year maybe while firearms is usually over 200,000.

However I have changed my mind since last year and really dont know if moving the season out of the rut will do much. It might prevent people from shooting the mature bucks that make their only mistakes during this time of the year but arent those the ones we want to be shooting? Will it really protect the younger bucks by moving the season back a couple weeks? A yearling buck buck is dumb during the rut but their still pretty dumb after the rut too making them vulnerable really any time of the year. It might save a few younger deer to make it another year but I dont think it will be noticeable.

Im not sure what the answer is to give these young deer a chance to grow up. I dont think any law besides APRs will make a big difference and I will be shocked if I see that go in effect at least on a large scale. I think the only thing that can be done is for individuals to put it on themselves to let these deer walk and hope it catches on everywhere.

[fsh4trout]

They are not same, true. But the principle is why should some hunters get to hunt the best time to kill a mature buck while others are excluded?

If there is support among gun hunters to move the season back a week, which there isn't 31% support, then do it. Vocal trophy hunters who primarily bowhunt should not be able to hunt the rut, if they exclude the gun guys.

APR alone should be be able to protect young bucks even if the gun season is during the rut. Although there are plenty of little 8 points that would be fair game.

[zepman]

Combining the 3A and 3B seasons for YOUR benefit is laughable. Don't fix what's not broken.

Land issues would create huge problems with this and you would end up with a huge # of hunters who would be S.O.L. in terms of hunting at all. The # of deer/does taken would drop substantially ending up in an unbalanced heard.

Regulations don't need to be changed in order to have what most people are interested in...more and bigger bucks. Look in the mirror and personally decide to take the kind of actions needed on the land you hunt in order to make this happen. Pass on those baskets!!

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Quote:

It would mean less pressure on the deer and give me two more weekends of bow hunting the rut with no gun hunters in the woods.

So bowhunters should be able to hunt the rut, when bucks are most vulnerable, but not gun hunters. If we really want to protect bucks how about NO hunting during the rut. A dead buck is a dead buck regardless of whether an arrow or slug ended its life.

Something to think about....

If you only allow bow hunter to hunt during the peak of the rut and bump the rifle season back, the numbers of people bowhunting will probably double. Everyone will want a piece of the action, so they'll take up bowhunting to get it.

[james_walleye]

I don't think this would be true. The "hardcore" hunters all bowhunt already. I know alot of people who strictly gun hunt and for the most part its the "tradition" of the gun hunt that keeps them coming back. They have no interest in bowhunting at all and not being able to gunhunt during the peak rut wouldnt affect them at all.

[buckhunter21]

I dont think you would see much of an increase in bowhunting numbers either because i dont think many people are willing to go out and drop an extra $1000 or so to get set up with archery equiptment, but even if you did think about all the extra thousands of dollars it would make our state in license sales and profit from equipment sales.

And to everyone who complains about it being unfair if rifle hunters didnt get to hunt the rut while bowhunters did, hasnt it been unfair that the firearms hunters have been able to hunt the rut every year while basically running bowhunters out of the woods? Yes true we can hunt the rut at the same time but most people dont for the reason that it really doesnt pay off becasue every deer you see is running for its life and then eventually start moving only at dark.

[picksbigwagon]

If the push to move the firearm season back is in the best interest of the bucks, then no one hunting them from November 1st- to December 1st would be the best option. If you truly want them to live and get bigger, then NO ONE hunts them during that time.

[heat checker]

I dont think you would see much of an increase in bowhunting numbers either because i dont think many people are willing to go out and drop an extra $1000 or so to get set up with archery equiptment, but even if you did think about all the extra thousands of dollars it would make our state in license sales and profit from equipment sales.

And to everyone who complains about it being unfair if rifle hunters didnt get to hunt the rut while bowhunters did, hasnt it been unfair that the firearms hunters have been able to hunt the rut every year while basically running bowhunters out of the woods? Yes true we can hunt the rut at the same time but most people dont for the reason that it really doesnt pay off becasue every deer you see is running for its life and then eventually start moving only at dark.

I agree totally with this and agree the majority of hunters either don't have the time available to put into practice, scouting, hours spent on stand ect, or lack the drive to want to take up bowhunting.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Really? You guys don't think bowhunting would increase at all, huh? I'm sure it definitely wouldn't over night, but over a ten year time period or so I would think a lot more people would take up bowhunting to get in on the rut and to plan their hunt during a warmer time period.

If the rifle season was bumped back, don't ya think a lot of people would quit that and either quit hunting, or start a bowhunting camp?

I think there are a lot of "part-time" "hunters" out there that if they suddenly had to plan on being in the woods during a time where temps are, more often then not, hovering around 0 or colder vs. a time where there is a better chance of above freezing temps in Nov. they would likely take up a method of hunting that allows them to be in the woods when it's warmer and the deer are more prone to harvest.

Hopefully, we'll never find out if I'm right or wrong.

[96trigger]

I don't think you would see a lot of increase. Some yes, but not a ton. Bow hunting is way more difficult and frustrating than firearm.

I would have to disagree with you on this PBW. I can't think of a state out there that closes the archery season during the rut. Archers just don't kill enough deer in relation to the total harvest to make a difference.

I don't know if pushing it back would do a lot to help the buck population. The little bucks are still stupid regardless of what time of year it is. I venture to guess that all it would do is cut down on the mature buck harvest.