MEA weekend deer hunt

[picksbigwagon]

I think anytime there is a hunting season there is danger of being out in the woods. I have been out stream fishing and have had people road hunting for squirrels shooting over my head. But they were adults so it was safe right?

An adult will need to be with the kid, so now we are talking about 2 sets of eyes. If I go grouse hunting and come into an area where I see a dad and kid in a stand, I will honor their right to hunt that area and either go back to where I came from or head in a new direction. I do the same thing when I am grouse hunting right now and come across a truck with a bow case in the back or in the cab. I am not going to blow someones bow hunt either.

I teach, which means I am used to having two or three days in grouse woods to my lonesome. It will be a little different this year but I am not upset about it either.

[heat checker]

My kids already have a "youth season". It runs from any open season until it ends. If they are old enough to shoot, the shot is their's, not mine. Any time they want want to go, I'm up for it. In fact, I've been known to "pester" them a little to go along.

[nonteepical]

maybe this has been asked, but is this a does only hunt? if so it may be part of the overall management plan and not so much about spoiling kids.Blog > What We Do > Articles > Certification Program Readings > Antlerless Deer Management

Antlerless Deer ManagementQDMA Articles

By: Brian Murphy

In the previous issue of Quality Whitetails, two articles emphasized the benefits of aggressive antlerless deer harvest (see “A Rifle and a Plow,” and “Aggressive Antlerless Harvest”). The purpose of this article is to discuss in more detail the specifics of antlerless harvest and how to apply this information to your hunting area.

Before discussing specific aspects of antlerless harvest, it is necessary to define the term. In most states, an antlerless deer is defined as one without visible, hardened antler above the hairline during the hunting season. A few states classify spike bucks with less than a certain length of antlers as “antlerless.” For the purpose of this article, antlerless deer are defined as female deer of all ages and male deer less than one year old — commonly referred to as button bucks, buck fawns, or nubbin bucks.

Why?

The obvious first question regarding antlerless harvest is why. Much has been written and researched on this topic, and many of the key reasons are listed below.

1. To reduce deer density.

In many areas, whitetail populations are at or above the carrying capacity of the land, and herd reduction or stabilization is needed. This can only be achieved through the harvest of adult does — the reproductive segment of the herd. Ironically, one of the greatest obstacles to the acceptance of doe harvest by some hunters is the adage, “I won’t shoot a doe because it would be like killing three deer.” While on the surface this would be true — assuming the doe was mature (generally 2 1/2 years old or older) and carrying twin fawns — it demonstrates a lack of understanding of deer biology. Numerous studies have shown that as deer herds approach carrying capacity, reproductive success and fawn recruitment rates decline. In other words, fewer fawns are actually recruited into the pre-hunting season population than could be recruited from a smaller, but healthier herd.

2. To balance the sex ratio.

Distorted adult sex ratios are common under traditional management programs featuring heavy buck harvests and inadequate doe harvests. Given that fawns are born in approximately equal sex ratios (if not slightly favoring males), the only way to achieve and maintain a balanced adult sex ratio is through antlerless harvest. Since bucks have higher natural mortality rates due to fighting, post-rut stress, larger home ranges, and other factors, the sex ratio will eventually slightly favor does, even in unhunted populations. With the added hunting mortality on bucks, in most cases more does than bucks must be harvested annually to maintain a balanced population. This is especially true in the early stages of many QDM programs.

3. To make room for and improve the quality

of young bucks.

A goal of most QDM programs is the protection of young bucks. However, protecting a group of animals (i.e., yearling bucks) that has historically been harvested only compounds existing deer density problems — unless an adequate number of antlerless deer are harvested. Most bucks protected under QDM are 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 years old, and these bucks consume nearly 1 1/2 times as much forage as a doe of the same age. This should be considered when calculating doe-harvest needs.

4. To reduce the harvest pressure on young bucks

and provide additional venison.

Let’s face it, deer hunters like to harvest deer, especially the first one of the season. I suspect there is something deep inside hunters that becomes satisfied when the freezer is full of venison. Consequently, by harvesting a doe early in the season, this helps relieve the “pressure” on both the hunter and the young bucks in the area.

5. To increase reproductive success and fawn recruitment.

In areas where deer populations exceed the carrying capacity of the habitat, doe reproductive rates as well as fawn survival and recruitment rates suffer. In such areas, reducing herd density through antlerless harvests often results in increased herd health and, consequently, increased reproductive success. In other words, a smaller herd can produce more and healthier fawns with higher survival rates. This is why many moderate-density herds managed under QDM guidelines can sustain much higher annual antlerless harvest rates than high-density herds under traditional management.

6. To provide reproductive data.

Until someone can prove that bucks give birth to fawns, only pregnant does can provide valuable reproductive data. Such data typically includes evidence of lactation (“in milk”) and the presence of fetuses. Lactation data provides evidence that the doe produced one or more fawns from the previous year, while fetal information provides evidence of breeding during the year of harvest. Lactation data is especially useful on yearling does, because this provides evidence they bred as fawns — an indication of a healthy herd. In many parts of the whitetail’s range, late hunting seasons enable the collection of measurable fetuses from harvested does. Fetuses typically are not measurable until 40 days after conception. As such, fetuses from does bred in mid-November would not be measurable until late-December or early January. For detailed information on this topic, refer to the article by Joe Hamilton on page 44.

7. To reduce dispersal of young bucks.

Research suggests that active doe harvests reduce the average home range size of young bucks (five to 18 months old) and the percent of yearling bucks that disperse from their birth area. Both result in more bucks staying closer to home instead of dispersing the typical one- to five-mile range found in most studies. For more information on this topic, see the article by Shaw, Lancia, Conner, and Rosenberry on page 30.

8. To reduce negative impacts of white-tailed deer.

Active antlerless harvests also provide benefits to society. Increased antlerless harvests typically result in a lower overall deer population. Fewer deer results in fewer deer-vehicle collisions, reduced crop and ornamental damage, and fewer overall negative interactions with humans.

When?

The best time of the hunting season to harvest antlerless deer is another important consideration. This decision, at least as it applies to adult does, should be based on the health and survival of their orphaned fawns. Typically, a whitetail fawn is weanable between 60 to 90 days after birth. Most hunting seasons are set with this in mind. As such, the majority of fawns (except those born very late) are weanable by the beginning of the hunting season.

Given two studies decribed below, I would suggest harvesting antlerless deer early in the season, except in areas with extremely high predator populations (coyotes, bobcats and black bears) or in areas with extremely late breeding periods resulting in fawns being less than 60 days old at the beginning of hunting season. In most areas, fawns will exceed 40 pounds live weight by this age.

Benefits of Early Antlerless Harvests

1. To reduce the harvest of buck fawns.

One benefit of early antlerless harvest is the reduction of mistakenly harvested buck fawns. This is due to the drastic size difference between adult does and fawns early in the season. As the season progresses, fawns, especially buck fawns, begin resembling yearling does in body size and shape, making mistakes more likely. In addition, fawns are usually traveling with their mothers early in the season (versus being separated during the breeding season), which allows for a direct size comparison.

2. To increase nutrition available to other deer.

Harvesting does early also results in increased nutrition for the remaining animals. For example, since the average deer consumes around six pounds of forage per day, simply harvesting 10 does two months earlier than normal would result in the saving of 3,600 pounds of forage (10 does X 6 lbs/day X 60 days). That’s more than most one-acre food plots can produce during the same period. Importantly, removing deer early leaves forage during the critical stress period of late-winter through early spring.

3. To improve the sex ratio prior to the rut.

While impossible in some areas due to season timing, harvesting does before the rut provides numerous benefits. First, the adult sex ratio becomes more balanced resulting in a higher number of does breeding on their first estrous (heat) cycle. This results in a healthier and more consistent fawn crop. Fewer does during the breeding season also reduces energy expended by adult bucks. In other words, bucks don’t waste precious energy chasing and breeding does that will only be harvested later.

4. To increase competition for breeding.

Under traditional management programs with high deer densities and young buck age structures, nearly all bucks actively participate in breeding. This is not to infer that young bucks have poor genetics, because genetics don’t change after conception. However, it is Mother Nature’s way for competition to exist among rival adult bucks, which results in the dominant bucks doing the majority of the breeding. Consequently, early antlerless harvests improve the adult sex ratio prior to the rut, resulting in increased competition for breeding.

5. To ensure the antlerless harvest goal is achieved.

A final yet important benefit of early antlerless harvests is to ensure that the antlerless harvest goal for a property is achieved. All too often when hunters wait until late in the season to begin harvesting antlerless deer, they fail to meet their harvest goal. This is due to many factors. Like bucks, does react to hunting pressure by changing their travel patterns, especially during daylight. Even where does are not harvested early in the season, they can become quite difficult to harvest late in the season. Also, it often becomes difficult to get enough hunter participation late in the season. The rut is over, the weather is lousy, the holidays are approaching, and some hunters have a freezer full of venison from deer taken earlier in the season. To make matters worse, those who are actively harvesting antlerless deer often begin to panic as the season draws near and make poor harvest decisions. This generally results in a higher than normal percentage of button bucks and/or small yearling bucks in the harvest — both mistaken for does. Another concern in areas with very late seasons is the harvest of mature bucks that have already cast their antlers. This is especially common in years of poor nutrition (e.g., mast failures, food plot failures, etc.). The investment required to produce a mature buck is far too high to harvest them by mistake late in the season.

How Many?

The number of does that should be taken from a given property depends on numerous variables. It can vary from property to property and even from year to year on the same property. Some factors that influence antlerless harvest include: property size, shape and habitat quality, management goals, deer density, herd sex ratio, herd productivity, and management practices on adjacent properties. Given the complexity of this subject, it is highly recommended that you seek advice from a professional wildlife biologist familiar with your area. Within a few years, you can generally establish a baseline harvest level that can be adjusted as needed in relation to changes in habitat quality and/or seasonal conditions.

Throughout much of the whitetail’s range, deer densities range from 20 to 50 per square mile. In these areas, the harvest of one antlerless deer per 30 to 125 acres is generally required to maintain herds in a healthy condition. Within this range, most deer managers recommend a harvest rate of around one per 50 to 100 acres.

However, in highly productive areas or in the early stages of a QDM program, more aggressive harvests may be required. For example, in highly productive or highly overpopulated areas, a harvest as high as one antlerless deer per 10 acres may be required. In contrast, in low-density areas or extremely low-quality areas, a harvest of one per 150 to 200 acres, or possibly even no antlerless harvest, may be warranted. Again, seek advice from a wildlife biologist before implementing an antlerless harvest program.

Which Ones?

Which antlerless deer to harvest — fawns, yearlings, or adults — is another consideration. In general, I recommend the first one that offers a good harvest opportunity. This is because in many areas it is difficult to harvest enough antlerless deer, and every harvest opportunity wasted only complicates this situation. When multiple antlerless deer are present, I recommend harvesting the dominant, adult doe. One reason for harvesting adult does is that fewer buck fawns will be harvested by mistake due to the difference in body size. Another reason is because adult does are the most reproductive segment of the herd. In other words, harvesting adult does lowers the population faster than harvesting fawns and yearlings, which either don’t breed or produce fewer fawns. Fewer buck fawns in the harvest results in more bucks surviving to maturity.

A dominant doe is the leader of her family group and generally the oldest. They can be identified if there is sufficient time to watch interactions among members of her group. The dominant doe generally leads her group from bedding to feeding areas and also is more likely to display aggressive behaviors toward other members of her group at feeding areas.

Hopefully, this information will help clarify the why, when, how many, and which ones of the antlerless harvest dilemma. For more information on separating antlerless deer in the field, I encourage you to obtain a copy of QDMA’s poster, “How to Sex and Age Live Antlerless White-tailed Deer,” available for $9.95, plus S/H, by calling (800) 209-3337.

[hockeybc69]

No idea what that post has to do with the topic of an MEA hunt.

Its not a doe only hunt. Not sure what that has to do with the topic either.

[nonteepical]

i asked if it was a doe only hunt. if it was, then maybe you might understand the post there sonny. minnesota has had early antlerless seasons in the past.

[deerminator]

I agree, why a special hunt for youth? Why not take youth hunting period during the "regular" hunt? We'll end up doing what we do with the youth duck hunt here, driving everything out and/or underground one week before the rest of the hunters get their shot. Put down your gun during the regular hunt and help a kid get a shot. No need for a special season.

[psepuncher]

The reference to easter egg hunting, is in reference to how picks was trying to equate fishing to unexperienced hunters. The seasoned hunters with the traditions and experience won't be doing a solo hunt with their kids. I guarantee it. {I've been there} First timers fail in lots of ways as is to be expected.

Equating fishing and hunting is apples and oranges, and hardly close to that at all period.

I think anytime there is a hunting season there is danger of being out in the woods. I have been out stream fishing and have had people road hunting for squirrels shooting over my head. But they were adults so it was safe right?

[picksbigwagon]

wow, my reference to grouse hunting was that I have NO PROBLEM giving up MY time in the woods or at least sharing it with deer hunting kids. I don't grouse hunt with a dog so there goes that part of your equation then.......

If you (and I mean anyone who has a problem with this season) feel this strongly about this season being implemented, have you contacted the DNR in St. Paul are or you hoping they are reading this online.....

I would like to think that if a "new unexperienced adult hunters" come onto this HSOforum and this page that they are given help and not an earful because they are taking their kid hunting during your time in the woods. I am sure one quick read of the topics the last month would make many

"new unexperienced adult hunters" think twice about deer hunting.

I was once a "new unexperienced adult hunter" and thanks to a couple of friends and a lot of time in the woods gaining experience, I hope that we can foster an atmosphere in here that educates and not rants and raves....

[96trigger]

Why don't some of you just relax a little bit and see how it goes.

I don't think there will be that many kids in the woods for a couple of reasons. Therefor, I don't think it will have a big effect on all other types of hunters.

First, they have to be under 16, 2nd, they have to be with a parent. Many of these families already have traditions like pheasant, grouse, or waterfowl hunts over MEA, they won't all switch.

As for dad shooting little Johnny's deer, this will be a very small portion of the people deer hunting over the weekend. Not going to say it won't happen, but it won't be a widespread issue.

[Freddy1]

Question— does the supervising adult need to have a valid big game or even small game hunting license? Any hunter education? If not, I hate to even imagine the worst case scenarios.

[Powerstroke]

I understand the point of the article. I didn't read it. Thanks for the full page post from QDMA.....

It cracks me up when people compare an early season as being MORE UNSAFE than being out during the normal firearms opener.

Somewhere between 400,000-500,000 hunters hit the woods with guns during the firearms season and more than half of them are hunting on opening day. I would say that the woods have more people during the gun season than during any other point in the fall.

Second point, almost every "accident' that occurs during hunting is either being self-inflicted or within their party. A random victim hunting accident is the most rare. There are still very few gun accidents every year, maybe a dozen total and they usually don't involve youth, unless it is someone shooting the young hunter, not the other way around.

I wish people would drop the safety issue and say it for what it is. They are worried it will effect THEIR season. If you want to be selfish, fine, but call it what it is.

[schmoe147]

So if these young hunters take a deer during the MEA weekend does that count for the regualar season limit. If so alot of deer camps during regualar season will be missing the young hunters

[CANOPY SAM]

Hello? Hello? Is anybody home?

Guys, we've already gone down this road. This horse died a long time ago and we're still beating it?

I think the most obvious point that everyone here seems to repeatedly forget is that youth deer hutning seasons already existed in MN for many years prior to this decision. This new season is only a way to simplify the varied seasons that were in place before this new decision was handed down.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this, but the fact remains, it's happening this fall. It also happened last fall, and many seasons before that.

For the record, I am an "experienced" and semi-"seasoned" deer hunter, and I'll definately be taking my 10-yr. old daughter out during this hunt. She will make the shot herself, or we will not take home a deer. She's very excited about this upcoming season. I bought her a .243 just for this hunt. We'll practice together until she is extremely safe and proficient.

The best part is we can be out together, enjoying a quiet, relaxed, 4-day deer hunt, without the constant intrusion of throngs of other hunters, and guns going off all around us.

If you're unhappy about this "new" combined youth season, please feel free to go hunting sometime during the other 3-4 months of hunting season.

[HunterLee]

First of all the whole state is NOT in the youth deer hunt. It will affect the south east and north west.

[hockeybc69]

You need to check your sources Hunterlee.

Youth deer season: This four-day, youth-only deer season would be conducted statewide during what’s colloquially known as MEA Weekend, when public school students are given a two-day break on Thursday and Friday so teachers can attend the annual Education Minnesota Professional Conference. Youth would be allowed to take one either-sex deer statewide. Adults would not be allowed to carry a firearm. The early antlerless season would coincide with the youth season in areas where an early antlerless hunt already is scheduled.

[hockeybc69]

Canopy,

Are you taking your daughter out for youth waterfowl or some quality time chasing squirrels to get her ready for a big game hunt?

[CANOPY SAM]

hockey,

I may have her along on an early goose hunt, or perhaps walking for some sharptails or ruffies in September, but she will not be carrying a gun. It really depends on the weather, and comfort level for her. To many parents start their young kids out hunting or fishing in crummy weather conditions, they end up miserable, and attribute the thought of hunting and fishing with misery. Their interest in the past-time is pretty much shot.

I have no doubt this will fire off a number of hostile responses, but I don't believe she'll be truly ready to walk with a firearm, raise it to her shoulder, and shoot a flying or running creature until she's a bit older, and has gone thru a certified gun training program.

A 10-yr. old shooting a small caliber rifle from a solid rest is a different story than a youngster, walking with, or waiving a shotgun around in the air. At least in my opinion.

This youth hunt offers us a very controlled, pleasant hunting opportunity. We'll be sitting together in a ground blind, with cumfy chairs, no pestering insects, snacks and drinks, and a stable gun rest from which she can choose to take a clean, standing broadside shot, or pass it up if she's not ready to pull the trigger. I'll leave it completely up to her. I'm only coaching, there will be absolutely no pressure from me to shoot.

To me, and I imagine to her as well, it's about just spending time together, learning how to hunt deer. She's been excited about this opportunity for years, and so have I. All my kids love venison.

My oldest son shot his first deer during an early youth season, and together we had a wonderful time teaching, and learning the basics of deer hunting - without the dog and pony show that the regular season brings.

Personally, I wouldn't dare take her out with me during the regular firearms deer season. In my humble opinion, the MN Firearms Deer Season is the most dangerous time of the year for anyone to be in the woods.

Heck, I'm frightened by how many people in this state are allowed to drive a car, let alone shoot a gun.

[hockeybc69]

I started my son at 6 years old for ducks. Rules were NO SHOTS unless the ducks were on the water. He got 2 teal, and I mounted his first one. An ugly arse teal, but its in his room today.

My daughter is going on her first hunt for ducks this year, and she is 8 years old. GREAT time to get them out and "experienced" in a low impact situation. She is shooting a little bow now too.

Whats wrong with taking your daughter out, camping against a tree for a while with a .410 and wait for some squirrels? A very effective way to harvest some tree rats.

I just cant understand taking a little'un out for their first hunt on big game. A small scatter gun and some small game sure seems like a "better" way to get kids into hunting.

Now dont get me wrong. A small kid getting their first deer at say, 10 years old is awesome.... But my son missed 2 turkeys at less than 25 yds with a shotgun before he finally scored at 11 years old..... I dont like our odds of good clean kills on deer with the inexperienced kids. I think its best for us and for the deer to make double and triple sure the kids can make a clean kill. I wont be taking my 8 year old daughter out for deer until she has some hours on some small game. I dont think its right...... Nor do I think its safe. Sorry to beat your horses guys.

[bottom-bouncer]

I am amazed at the people who think this is a good idea. first when these kids take to the field it will affect your opening weekend and not to the positive. I know there are a whole bunch of people on this site with absolutely no experience with early seasons but think that they do In southeastern minnesota we have had early antlerless seasons for a number of years. And it shuts the deer activity down The deer go nocturnal and daytime movement is almost nonexistent. I know that a whole bunch of you think I am joking but it is a reality. Second this special hunt was or is designed to introduce under priviliged kids to the outdoors. So someone explain to me if a kid is underpriviliged how are they going to go hunting chances are that a child in that situation does not have a parent or other adult in there life that is going to take them or that has the means to take them. Were is the mentoring program how are these youth going to get into the woods. That is what this hunt was originally meant for. For those of you who do not think this will affect there hunt please gain some actuall experience with the effects of early seasons then comment.

[CANOPY SAM]

My eldest son, Peter, shot his first deer during a youth hunt two years ago. He was 12-yrs. old. It was the first time he killed an animal. We hunted together for two days, and we finally dialed in a close, standing broadside shot with only a few minutes left of the season. He made a perfect shot, and a mature doe dropped dead in her tracks. It was an awesome ending to his first, gun-carrying deer hunt. He'd been by my side hunting deer for at least 5 seasons before that, but wasn't quite ready to pull the trigger on his own till then.

Abbey (the 10-yr. old) and I will spend plenty of time practicing shooting both light rifle loads (.22), .410 shotgun, and the .243, at still targets, and until she's comfortable with all. I'll even draw a picture of a deer on a box (target)to give her some perspective of proper shot placement. If I don't think she can make the shot, I won't take her out. We'll wait another year. Perhaps if she feels ready to shoot at other targets we'll give it a try.

I'm not a huge fan of squirrel meat, and I teach my kids not to shoot anything they don't plan to eat, so squirrels are probably not a great option for us. You do make a great point though. I think she'd love to walk along with me down an old logging road looking for ruffies. If we're lucky enough to catch one lounging on the ground I wouldn't hesitate to quietly ask her if she'd like to take the shot. We'll give the early youth duck hunt some thought.

Please don't take offense hockey, but to me at least, 6-yrs. old seems pretty young to be shooting a gun. Particularly, if it's being used to kill. I'm sure it all depends on the maturity level of the child, but I don't know too many 6-yr. olds that truly understand the nature of hunting and shooting, and I really want my kids to know the meaning of why we hunt, before they pull the trigger. Franky, I know a lot of really naughty, dysfunctional, willfully disrespectful 6-10 yr. olds out there that I wouldn't let have a wrist-rocket, let alone a gun.

Both my 10-yr old daughter, and 7-yr old son shoot youth bows around the yard at stable targets. They also shoot BB-guns at plastic milk jugs, etc. The boy is anxious to shoot a living creature, but I feel it's only out of carnal blood lust, and for bragging rights. I don't want that to be the basis for why he starts hunting. I want him to appreciate all the aspects of the outdoors, and what it means to take an animal's life for food. I just don't feel he's at that point yet. I think Abbey is, but we may find this Oct. that she is not yet comfortable with pulling the trigger on a deer.

Maybe, that's why I appreciate the youth deer hunt so much. It gives me an opportunity to instill these values in my children without the constant competition for game, the parade of traffic, and the orchestra of high-powered rifles exploding in the distance that comes with regular firearms season.

Again, please don't take offense by my meanderings. No offense is intended. These are just my thoughts.

If you can, I'd send you a buck to make the "ugly teal" your avatar!!!

[CANOPY SAM]

Bottom-bouncer,

If you spend a little time looking back at the history of this decision you'll see that the MN DNR introduced this legislation to "simplify the varied seasons" that already existed in the regulations books. I don't believe it was directed at any particular group of kids.

I have no doubt that it will adversely affect deer hunting in some areas, likely near major cities, but honestly, you're just not going to see that many extra people in the woods during MEA.

Have you ever hunted deer with muzzle-loader the week after the regular firearms season? 5-days later they're pretty much back to their original patterns.

Again, youth firearms deer hunts have been around for a while. This isn't something new. It's just combining various seasons into one, 4-day long youth hunt, statewide, at a time that is convenient for many, many MN families.

Daytime deer movement is pretty limited at anytime of the year. Just after sunrise, and just prior to sunset is when most deer are harvested - even during regular firearms season. Just listen to the cadre' of gunshots during opening day of the regular firearms season. Deer are primarily nightime feeders. A few kids scattered across a massive MN forest are not going to shut down deer movement.

Every year, for the last 25 yrs., I've watched deer milling around the woods as normal, even with guns going off all around them. You just have to put yourself in areas where deer are living and moving. They won't all wait till dark to get up for dinner.

[NWBuck]

When Iowa began its youth season years ago, I too balked about it. It overlapped a weekend of my bowhunting...blah, blah, blah. Then my son and daughter became old enough to take part, and my perspective completely changed. I'm guessing most opposed have never had the opportunity to take a kid hunting, because its a blast!!

Late September is the perfect time for youth season here in Iowa, but I understand it's different in Minnesota because your archery season opens earlier.

[bottom-bouncer]

Canopysam I spend a fair amount of time in the woods each year I think last year was something like 210 hours on stand. yes the youth hunts do affect deer movement drastically. I know I live were these hunts have been taking place. As far as how deer are affected after the regular firearms season last year I hunted with my nephew during the muzzy season we hunted 6 days in a row and only seen 2 deer in an area that I usally see anywere from 1 to 10 deer in a single hunt. Unless winter hits hard and early the deer do not go back to there regular patterns. As far as people who opose this early hunt not having kids NW buck I have six a son thats 17 two 12 year old daughters a son thats 10 a son thats 6 and a daughter who is 5. So yes I do have perspective on what it is like to bring your child hunting my kids all wait untill the regular season to hunt. something that nobody seems to mention about this is what about the kids who use this particular weekend to bow hunt how are they going to be affected. And yes this hunt was origanally designed as a way for kids who would normally not get the opertunity to hunt otherwise to have a chance to do so. Wich is fine but who is going to take them? Not me! why because all the kids I know already hunjt with there family during the regular season. So unless there is a mentoring program how will people like myself meet these kids? I am 100% against this But please do not use safety as an excuse for this hunt If you are against this or for it hunting is one of the safest activitys for you and your child to enjoy. There are more kids hurt or that suffer fatal accidents playing hockey, football,baseball,basketball in a single season than there has been injured or killed in hunting related accidents in the past one hundered years. I would like to add that the timing of this hunt is what really has alot of people upset. I invest alot of time and money into bowhunting for myself as well as my family The weekend going into the rut is not the time for this I do not care that it is mea weekend so they will get four days to hunt instead of two. If this were earlier in the season I as well as others would not have a problem with it. I mite even let a couple hunt my land. So would a few other land owners I know. But as it is now the land I own as well as the land I lease are closed to these kids.

[brittman]

You need to check your sources Hunterlee.

Youth deer season: This four-day, youth-only deer season would be conducted statewide during what’s colloquially known as MEA Weekend, when public school students are given a two-day break on Thursday and Friday so teachers can attend the annual Education Minnesota Professional Conference. Youth would be allowed to take one either-sex deer statewide. Adults would not be allowed to carry a firearm. The early antlerless season would coincide with the youth season in areas where an early antlerless hunt already is scheduled.

[HNTNBUX]

I am glad to see some honesty coming out in this topic. Those saying that it will effect their hunt I think are being honest in voicing their opinion against this. I think this hunt very well could cause some deer to change their behavior. That is a fair assessment and reason to oppose this hunt. I still support the hunt and will split the time between deer and ducks. For those that own or lease I support your individual choice as well. If I have to reduce my chances at shooting a deer to help my daughter increase her chances I am fine with that. It is all about deciding what is most important to you.