Opener date

[Black_Bay]

Ah yes it's taint time again. It taint deer season and it taint ice fishing time. It must be time to complain about why you didn't get a big buck. Same topic with the same complaints comparing grapes to watermelons with the same people complaining.

Boy if we just moved the deer season, all got Marcums, drove Toyotas, had Yamaha outboards on glass boats, used St Croix rods, drank the right beer and on and on we'd have life by the balls.

[Musky Buck]

But Harvey if a hot doe won't bring out a large buck pushing the hunt end of November ish, my pattern on a mature buck would be midnite to 4AM. How can you pattern nocturnal bucks ? There is nothing you can do, at least where the hunt is now you feel like you have a chance in reality most of us don't. Most people don't own and could never own the kind of land to hold deer 24/7 on so it's nocturnal already, can you imagine the drives going on in late November, but I'd be open to anything as long as I have a buck tag in hand, spending that 1/4 mill on land I'd be leasing all my land in 4 counties if I didn't draw a buck tag and that's what the deal would be. My land could become a cash cow, think how many wives would be in that buck lottery, my dog would apply, my cat, my alter ego, lol. Just having a bit of fun guys.

[Musky Buck]

It's deer hunting 2011 or I could say 2012, November 3rd next year whether you like it or not. I guess I should think of the deer 1st myself 2nd. So later would be tougher on the deer maybe, depends on the weather, but those rutted out bucks need some time to repack on the fat after the rut and if we're hunting them a 1/2 million strong we're going to make it slightly tougher on them, same with antlerless deer, there is 0 for crops left in my area, now if opener was late November boy the foodplot gang would be smiling, the illegal baiters would be grinning, and your land with snow on it would be as empty as my grandma's vodka bottle.

[slimngrizzly]

Ive kept my mouth shut here because I always get the vibe no one likes hearing my PRO-QDM speeches...

I do want to say though that for those of you who think MN has some or "enough" good bucks... you ought to thank the few folks who do practice QDM privatly or there would be a lot less. I think, I know, the hunting in my part of MN is lousy compared to most anywhere else in the midwest that ive hunted personally. I live here though and Im going to hunt here and im going to try and make the best of it. I do know of some nice deer around my hunting areas and I was even fortunate enough to harvest one this season. But dont tell me for a second that the DNR and its management practices are responsible for the good bucks we have.... I KNOW its because of the blood, sweat, and tears of my family and my QDM minded neighbors that we have the decent deer we do. If we all did what the state allowed us to do, we could all but wipe out our herd. So thanks to those of you who leave your property as a refuge, to those of you who shoot a doe with your doe tag, to those of you who dont kill every rut crazed buck that comes by, and to those of you who are happy with one deer and dont need to kill the entire partys. Even though its legal, I appreciate it!

[SandPoint]

Harvey, I do belive scouting, homework and hard work is just as effective now if you want to shoot a big buck year after year in MN. What about the guy that does not have the time and/or funds to scout year round but loves to deer hunt? At least he knows he may have a chance at a biggun durring the rut. Nothing wrong with that in my book.

[SandPoint]

That is an awfully arrogant post in my opinion. Maybe that is why you get the vibe people do not like your QDM posts

[Big Dave2]

Big Dave, your son can shoot a larger buck anytime if he is willing to go out and do the scouting and everything else needed to harvest one.

So can those who would rather make changes to the season.

[Musky Buck]

Ata boy Dave, it is what it is, our seasons are fine, when you have 1/2 million deer hunters with longer seasons and muzzy and everything, all you'll primarily do is freeze out the young and old hunters and create a lumber boom in our state to create more fishhouses on stilts with propane. Good for you bad for me bad for me good for you, our season dates are fine it's the weather/climate that has changed, ask the LQP goose managers.

[BuckKiller]

Big dave- so can those who would rather make changes to the season.

WIN

The seasons are fine. The laws are fine, I have no problem with any of them.

If you don't like the deer mn has to offer hunt some place else.

[harvey lee]

Ah yes it's taint time again. It taint deer season and it taint ice fishing time. It must be time to complain about why you didn't get a big buck. Same topic with the same complaints comparing grapes to watermelons with the same people complaining.

Boy if we just moved the deer season, all got Marcums, drove Toyotas, had Yamaha outboards on glass boats, used St Croix rods, drank the right beer and on and on we'd have life by the balls.

Wrong, I shot my buck. Not complaining at all. Must not have read my posts.

Simply trying to make a suggestion for the better of all.

[reinhard1]

the current regulations are what they are. the only way you are going to change them is to contact your representative or lobby for new laws. if you want to shoot big bucks you can do that. if you are in an area that you can get a bonus tag you can do that. as long as the current regulations are followed it is the right of every hunter to chose the area to hunt and harvest what is legal in that area. i dont think it's constructive to critizise someone who is harvesting what is legal wether it's for a big rack or meat for the freezer. good luck.

[harvey lee]

If you have read my posts you will see I do.

That's quite the attitude you have there Buck. Someone tries to make a few suggestions that may help all in the end. You have no problem so that means all is perfect.

Sounds to me that you want no changes even if it could be better. Thats why Mn will never get any better as so many only are concerned with themselves and not the whole group of deer hunters in the state.

Fishing laws have changed alot ovet the years with slot limits and so forth to better the fishing for all and the future generations.

Not sure why one cannot suggeste the same for hunting but I guess noone wants to try anything to make it better.

It's the old, I like it so who cares about the rest. Now thats really working together as a group. I knew I should never have bothered as it seems it is always the same in this forum.

I got what I want so the heck with the rest.

Classic.

[harvey lee]

Harvey, I do belive scouting, homework and hard work is just as effective now if you want to shoot a big buck year after year in MN. What about the guy that does not have the time and/or funds to scout year round but loves to deer hunt? At least he knows he may have a chance at a biggun durring the rut. Nothing wrong with that in my book.

I guess I have to ask, how many book bucks have you shot to date. Pictures would be great.

If you have not harvested any, just maybe what I suggested may increase ones odds with more larger bucks in the woods.

[harvey lee]

the current regulations are what they are. the only way you are going to change them is to contact your representative or lobby for new laws. if you want to shoot big bucks you can do that. if you are in an area that you can get a bonus tag you can do that. as long as the current regulations are followed it is the right of every hunter to chose the area to hunt and harvest what is legal in that area. i dont think it's constructive to critizise someone who is harvesting what is legal wether it's for a big rack or meat for the freezer. good luck.

That normally may work but if one attends the regional meetings of the DNR's, so many say all is fine as they simply want to shoot any deer.

Thats fine too but there are other ways for those people to shoot thier deer and yet increase the buck size.

It can be done as other states have shown it works.

Only probblem is, in Mn, it cannot work as so many just want anything and the majority could care less about larger bucks. They say they want to shoot a larger buck and then one hears they shot a forkhorn as they did not see anything larger. If you keep shooting the young bucks, not much chance at anything else.

We have 2 sections and we do not shoot smaller deer and one can see the results. We are fortunate enough that the landowners that own approx 5000 acres also hunt the same way in North Dakota.

So yes one can do it on a local level but just think what it could be if the state tried the same game.

[harvey lee]

Big dave- so can those who would rather make changes to the season.

WIN

The seasons are fine. The laws are fine, I have no problem with any of them.

If you don't like the deer mn has to offer hunt some place else.

Thats what is wrong in Mn . Good for me so lets not try and make it better.

Just think for a moment. There may be a way to make all deer hunting better. Should we try or just say, no, I am fine with it.

[BuckKiller]

Im satisfied just going up north, taking time off work to spend time relaxing in the woods and hanging out with family and friends. Sorry if that's selfish.

[BuckKiller]

If you ask me the dnr and their little experiements are what's ruining the state. Changing this so fast people can't keep up with the laws, introducing new species, changing limits and so on. Its getting old fast

[reinhard1]

Harvey i dont disagree with you at all. but just as in politics, if people dont get involved and have their voice heard in numbers we can all express our views and i do appreciate yours. what is good for one state is not the same as another. there are many hunters out there here in our state who dont go for the "rack". i am one of them. i dont shoot fawns. if i get a shot at a forker i'll take him. just as i do many more doe's than bucks over the years.

where i hunt [northern part of the state] in general we dont see as many deer as the guys down in the cornfields i would think. i dont have big fields and many deer to chose from as a rule. not that there are not deer there but we choose to hunt pretty much in the wild and shots that are less than 50 yards with a lot of brush in between.

we dont look at our hunting as getting that big buck, although we talk about the chance at one time or another. there were plenty of years we came home with nothing but great memories of fellowship and enjoying the outdoors. if we can bring back some venison it's a bonus and we usualy get one or two or last year three. two of which were 8 point bucks. but that was a rare occation.

i think that the people who work in the DNR want whats best for the hunter's and do the best they can. good luck.

[Getanet]

As some have stated, the biggest problem I see with moving the season back is the impact on hunting numbers. Hunter recruitment is a serious issue that impacts anyone with an interest in MN's outdoor activities. Moving the season to later November would likely force older hunters to hang it up a little sooner planned, and we're already having a hard time getting teens into hunting. Moving it to colder weather won't make the Xbox less attractive.

Some may say that if guys/gals are too fair weathered to hunt the colder months that's though. But quite frankly we need a strong hunting population. The sale of deer hunting licenses pay for fishing management and habitat that is used by many other animals besides deer.

If the sale of hunting licenses suffers other outdoor activities will suffer right along with it.

Right or wrong, if we're going to make changes it should be to encourage hunting participation - even the fair weather kind - not making it less attractive to those thinking about getting into the sport or harder on the older folks.

[harvey lee]

RH1

With what I proposed, you could still shoot whatever you would like as that would not change.

All I am saying is give some bucks with the genitics the chance to grow more that's all.

You can still shoot whatever you wish too.

The only issue I see that would effect you and your party with moving the opener a few weeks later would be the fact that it could be a bit cooler. That could also be debated as we seem to get some wierd weather every year too. This weekend I will be in ND muzzleloader hunting and the temps could be in the high 40's to low 50's for Thursday threough Sunday. Thats pretty warm.

[harvey lee]

As some have stated, the biggest problem I see with moving the season back is the impact on hunting numbers. Hunter recruitment is a serious issue that impacts anyone with an interest in MN's outdoor activities. Moving the season to later November would likely force older hunters to hang it up a little sooner planned, and we're already having a hard time getting teens into hunting. Moving it to colder weather won't make the Xbox less attractive.

Some may say that if guys/gals are too fair weathered to hunt the colder months that's though. But quite frankly we need a strong hunting population. The sale of deer hunting licenses pay for fishing management and habitat that is used by many other animals besides deer.

If the sale of hunting licenses suffers other outdoor activities will suffer right along with it.

Right or wrong, if we're going to make changes it should be to encourage hunting participation - even the fair weather kind - not making it less attractive to those thinking about getting into the sport or harder on the older folks.

Wisc does not seem to have any issues with a loss of hunters with the later season. I do not believe they are that much warmer than MN. Iowa also has a very late season I believe into Jan and they also have plenty of hunters looking for deer. I realize Iowa is warmer but not that much from thier Jan to our November.

If people want to go, they will as they do in other states. The facts have proven that.

I am done with beating this dead horse.

[BuckKiller]

If you have read my posts you will see I do

It's the old, I like it so who cares about the rest.

First off I did see that, I was making a generalization.

Second, how is that any different then I don't like it so let's all change for me?

[harvey lee]

Im selfish? Im satisfied just going up north, taking time off work to spend time relaxing in the woods and hanging out with family and friends. Sorry if that's selfish.

When you tell others to leave the state for deer hunting due to the fact that the rules work for you, then yes, you are very selfish and childish.

You need to not change what you stated.

If you look at what I stated, I simply suggested a change to make deer hunting maybe better for all, not just me. It was taking nothing away from you if you can even understand that which I highly doubt.

[reinhard1]

ok, Harvey i think you dont have that bad an idea. i could live with that. good luck.

[BuckKiller]

So because I like the way things are and don't want them to change im selfish and childish... nice tom your truely a class act guy

I simply suggested that if you want a state with a late season, hunt a different state which you do. The reason why none of the surounding states areis the sameway is so the openers dont over lap... or so I've heard Same goes for walleye opener, none of the surounding states are the same weekend.