DNR's Deer Management Plan

[monstermoose78]

I would try why not i could not do any worse right

[Musky Buck]

Wake up people we can't turn the clock back to the 60's. It's really the year 2012 and our state has too many deer hunters, that's why we're blaming the dnr, yet they aren't the ones pulling the trigger, they aren't forcing anyone to buy bonus permits, I don't think on purpose they are trying to sabotage certain areas, we just fortunately or unfortunately have a lot of water, a lot of varied terrain, this or that, but however you want to slice it we have 1/2 a million of us that want perfect deer hunting year after year, I'll give you the bad news it aint gonna happen. Can they control winter weather, wolves(now they can), excessive coyote population, dogs chasing deer, road kill, etc. Do you credit the DNR when opening morning the deer you are hoping for comes by and you connect, I doubt it, it's the bad years that you blame the DNR and it takes a whole nuther year to get to do it again. String 2 bad deer years together and heads will roll right. I can agree that the whole deer hunting in MN situation needs to be gone through and some changes likely should be made but for free ranging deer we all have a chance this season. Since we are overpopulated with hunters in so many areas I believe enough deer would still be taken if we each tagged our own deer and that was end of season or at least carrying your bow,gun,or musket in the woods, but my experience is little, I'm an old zone 4 farmland guy who was way opposed to going to zone 2 and we all can muzzy hunt, we used to split up the hunters with 4A and 4B, seemed to work well. I'm ok with whatever develops, but I'm not going to blame the DNR for nothing, they don't drag me uptown to buy stamps or tags or licenses.

[Jameson]

Wake up people we can't turn the clock back to the 60's. It's really the year 2012 and our state has too many deer hunters, that's why we're blaming the dnr,... but however you want to slice it we have 1/2 a million of us that want perfect deer hunting year after year, I'll give you the bad news it aint gonna happen. ...

Bet we could have better hunting year after year if we could accept a buck lottery. But it aint gonna happen.

[Spike76]

Management should be for deer. If you only want big bucks, work harder. Don't deprive someone venison, because you want a trophy. The first trophy deer I harvested was a 107 pound doe. I received a trophy from Mr. Outdoors, and they taught me every deer is a trophy. The D.N.R. should only be managing the deer for amount and not size. Trying to manage for a few who want trophies is wrong. Anyone can pass up any deer they want , but don't make it a regulation.

[MJ1657]

Management should be for deer. If you only want big bucks, work harder. Don't deprive someone venison, because you want a trophy. The first trophy deer I harvested was a 107 pound doe. I received a trophy from Mr. Outdoors, and they taught me every deer is a trophy. The D.N.R. should only be managing the deer for amount and not size. Trying to manage for a few who want trophies is wrong. Anyone can pass up any deer they want , but don't make it a regulation.

+1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jameson]

Spike76, or anyone else with the same opinion: If it can be shown that having more bucks of an older age in our herd than we currently have would make the herd produce more fawns that have a greater chance of survival would you be in favor of a management change that produced more bucks of an older age in the herd? If the same management change made it so that fewer bucks/fawns died of winterkill would you be in favor of it?

[Spike76]

A study is as good as the persons doing it. I would probably question any study on health of fawns because each buck and doe have different traits to pass on to their fawns. The weather plays too big of a part in their survival. I've shot atleast three bucks that I thought were does through the years and I would have hated to leave them lay. I wouldn't have. There should be a common sense law for mistakes in the field, where you could call a C.O., and get it approved, maybe one every five years for small fee. Jameson, I don't want to see any studies like them, because it would change my hunting with my grandkids, during those years, and at the end a severe winter eliminates many of the deer. Good luck hunting.

[Jameson]

...and at the end a severe winter eliminates many of the deer. Good luck hunting.

So, if a management change that included more/older bucks that allowed more deer(does, fawns, and bucks) to survive a severe winter you could see the value in the change?

[Whoknows]

IMO, the DNR is doing a fine job regarding deer populations. We're hunting wild animals here people, you cant expect to hunt the same tract of land year in and year out and have stellar hunting year in and year out. I don't have the luxury of owning my own hunting land (hope to some day). If you consider taking a deer every season as a successful one, get out and hunt public land. Put some time into scouting and set you self up with a few different options. I honestly don't think I've ever had a deer season where I didn't have at least one opportunity to harvest a deer. The folks I hear complaining are the guys that hunt the same spot every year. Put a little effort in or quit complaining. If Minnesota went to a buck lottery it would be the end of what makes MN deer hunting so great. Leave the coveted buck tag and its insanely high non resident price tag to the folks of Iowa.

[Spike76]

Jameson, I don't think trying to get more big bucks is what is best for all. Don't eliminate what some people want, so others can have what they want. It is just like the experimental slots for northerns. Some who want their meal of pike, are being deprived it because some want more larger pike. Work harder, the big deer and big northerns are out there for all. So the answer is no. Remember, your next hunting or fishing trip might be your last, so enjoy them.

[Jameson]

...Don't eliminate what some people want, so others can have what they want....

Think about this. Really think about it.

[jay83196]

I think the point being made is, doesn't make sense to change a rule to cater to some hunters when your going to make as many or more hunters unhappy in doing so.

[matchset]

ok. i admit that i didn't read every post (about 90%) but what it boils down to is.... OUR GUN SEASON!

the Timing of it sucks.

i'm going to spat out statistics about Wisconsin, or Iowa; but in order have a balance, maybe we shouldn't have a gun season during the PEAK of the Rut. the young guns are the deer you see running around like fools during the middle of the day. and the average buck killed in Minnesota is 1.5yr old and the average hunter shoots a buck not a doe. so essentially we WIPE OUT an entire age class every year!

Our deer age structure is so skewed its not even funny.

[Jameson]

Another way to express what I see as happening and what could happen:

These numbers aren't meant to be dead on accurate, just an example. Currently we have about 500,000 deer hunters harvesting about 200,000 deer. Of the 500,000 hunters about 150,000 actually shoot a deer. Those are the successful hunters bringing home the meat. I would like to see it so that we have 400,000 hunters harvesting 250,000 deer with 200,000 successful hunters. So more meat, while allowing everyone to shoot what they want, just not every year. (Obviously this wouldn't happen right away, but rather 5+ years down the road as it'll take time for nature to correct herself.)

If you don't think success is important than ask 10 folks who have stopped hunting why they did. In my experience with talking with those folks it is lack of sightings/success.

Then talk to 10 folks from North Dakota or some other state with a buck tag lottery. In my experience those folks don't mind one bit not getting a license one year. They understand it's for the better, and will just go fishing or duck hunting instead. Still able to get themselves and their kids outdoors, just not deer hunting every year.

[jay83196]

Couple things on the master plan.... Many of us spend the time deer hunting with family and friends and the deer is a added bonus, its about deer camp and getting outdoors too. We wouldn't want to give up that quality time so you can get a bigger buck or everyody every other year can feel better about their chance at a deer. Second many years in Nov its too warm to ice fish (poor ice) too cold or thin ice on lakes to bring out the boat. I guess we could all go stomping around the woods grouse hunting, that would be good for the deer hunters that year lucky enough to hunt Are you also going to raise the license fee to account for the approx 2+million in lost sales on licenses? Honestly if you want a bigger deer work harder they are out there or plan a trip to an area you feel better about. The only thing I would suggest they reduce are bonus permits most of us don't need 3+ deer...I don't know anybody that has stopped hunting (unless no place to hunt or medical issues) I would say the average hunter its an addiction or one of the best times of the year for us nomatter what we shoo and for that reason I don't know one person who would want to stop hunting for one year. The hunting is just fine leave it alone...

[reinhard1]

i agree with your post. deer numbers are due to a lot of factors not just hunters and hunters success. weather for example can play a bigger roll with heavy snows ect. i think the DNR does the best they can do. sooner or later a big buck will come my way. not because of any special skill or extra effort. one day i will be in my stand at the right time, i know there are some big boys there. sure we like to get a deer or two but being there and the experience is something i look forward to every year. good luck.

[monstermoose78]

I hunt because I get to spend a week with my dad, uncles, cousins, brother in the great north woods. I think the dnr is doing ok with the deer herd I dont want someone telling I cant shoot this deer or that deer. I dont shoot many deer most of the time I watch the walk away. In the last 10 years I have shot 2 bucks. I have seen deer every year but choose to let the little ones walk and grow. My brother doesnt get much time to hunt so he normally takes the first deer he sees unless he has the full week to hunt. People need to stop complaining. If you want huge bucks go to a game farm and buy one.

[NoWiser]

5 years ago at the age of 23 I had shot exactly 1 buck in my life (which happened to be my first year deer hunting at age 12.) I blamed the DNR, other hunters, and basically everyone but myself. I was all gung ho about antler restrictions and moving the season out of the rut. I bowhunted Wisconsin while in college and realized how good deer hunting could be and I guess I was just depressed coming back to Minnesota.

Finally I decided that it was a lot easier to change what I did then to try to change what everyone else was doing. I spent two full years pouring over maps and scouting. I found myself a nice spot to hunt (on public land) with no competition. On the second year after the search began, I finally hunted my new spot, and since I started hunting there in the last three years, I have shot the three biggest bucks of my life, two of which are now on the wall.

The deer are out there, people. If you hunt like everyone else, and where everyone else hunts, you will shoot what everyone else is shooting (1 1/2 year old bucks). If you truly want to have a consistent shot at mature deer, it can be done, it's just going to take a heck of a lot of money to buy a bunch of land, or (in my case), a heck of a lot of work to go where others aren't willing.

The DNR is doing just fine IMO. Also, I think having a buck lottery would ruin the deer hunting traditions in this state. Its a horrible idea that I hope never even crosses the mind of our lawmakers.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Wise words from someone claiming to be No Wiser!

Well said!

[certified jumbo]

I agree completely with you Nowiser. We didn't shoot a lot of nice bucks until the past 5 years. We hunt hard, scout hard and have been rewarded with very nice MN bucks.

The DNR has a horrible job trying to appease everyone. In general I think the DNR does an OK job managing the MN deer herd.

[hockeybc69]

As I have said on here many times...... the last thing I could ever wish for is anyone on this forum to take over the management of our fisheries or wildlife.......

[Jameson]

I don't think up new regulations with antler size in mind. If they make it so all antlers need to be turned over to the DNR when we register deer I would support it. Don't much care about bringing home antlers. (The only pic of me with a buck I've shot is one that was required as part of a management hunt. I will never have a shoulder mount.) Also I have been hunting mostly public land recently and have enjoyed enough success to be happy with it. But it could be better.

Actually my proposals would benefit the private small parcel landowners as much as anyone. The areas with many small parcels are usually the heaviest hunted, to the point of being over hunted. More so than our large tracts of public land. As many of us are figuring out. Once more people figure out what we have figured out than what are we going to do?

If spending time with family is important and a deer is a bonus then you don't need to be deer hunting, right? Grab a camera or sit in a stand together without a gun. If we are making our regulations with how much money they bring in as the primary goal we are doing it wrong. It should be about the deer. Keeping them within carrying capacity, and a properly proportioned herd resulting in them being as reproduceful (I'm making up words ) as possible. Resulting in the most meat brought home by hunters.

Quote:

...I don't know anybody that has stopped hunting (unless no place to hunt...

Care to expand on the 'no place to hunt'? It's a complete lie. We all have a place to hunt with the public land in the state. What's their real reason?

Quote:

I would say the average hunter its an addiction or one of the best times of the year for us no matter what we shoot and for that reason I don't know one person who would want to stop hunting for one year.

squirrel, grouse, pheasant, coyote, duck, goose, moose, elk, porcupine, turkey, dove, wolf, crane .... (fishing, mushrooming...)

If it doesn't matter what you shoot it doesn't matter what you shoot. If we don't have a deer tag their are plenty of other things to shoot.

Also a reminder: We have doe lottery in the state, but the entire state does not have doe lottery. It would be the same for buck lottery. Also if someone did not get a buck tag their may be leftover doe tags for the area so they could still go deer hunting. Lastly with party hunting as long as everyone had a license, not everyone would need a tag.

[jay83196]

Jameson your clearly missing my point and if you haven't gotten it by now you just won't...I think the best thing here is you should just deer hunt every other year and only shoot big monster bucks or whatever it is your trying to impose on the rest of us and not try to sell these BAD ideas. IMO the majority of hunters (not to mention dnr and legislators) don't agree with you and think things are just fine.

Enjoy your mushroom or porcupine or coyote or dove or crane camp while I'm at deer camp

[picksbigwagon]

It is June 15th and we are starting this topic already????? Three years ago I was against any changes, I still do not agree with APR and most of the talk about "balanced herd age structure" to me seems like a veiled attempt at getting everyone to shoot monster bucks or at least to mandiate what a persn can shoot. The only logical plan the state can introduce is to move the season out of the rut. Let the bow hunters hunt in it, but lets push the season back. Parts of Iowa grow some big bucks, but we can't compare our deer population to any state or our numbers to "deer institutes" in Georgia or Texas. Show me the Minnnesota age surveys and I will listen to this conversation.........

[dietdew]

Half of the guys on here sound just like most o the duck hunters in the state. Hunt the same spot every year on the same lake and then beach about not shooting a limit. Guess what if you hunt the same 40 acres every year and haven't figured out that every swinging Richard around you is gonna shoot the first deer that pops out you ard retarded. Just like the duck hunters that hunt the same spot every time if you don't get out and scout your not gonna see any changes.