200" typical zone 3

[96trigger]

Quote:

kinda don't think APR had much to do with it

From what I've been seeing down here this year, I would have to disagree, APR has had a lot to do with it. I don't want to start a debate, but man, really some awesome deer taken this year, and we still have another season yet to go.

[BartmanMN]

Beautiful animal right there. Man what a trophy to be prod of.

[B. Amish]

APR had absolutely NOTHING to do with this deer. that deer is likely older than 5 years which means it's first rack where he might have been smaller than an 8 point was BEFORE the APR's.

if anything, APR would've put MORE PRESSURE on this buck the last few years because he would've been a legal deer.

[Archerysniper]

From what I've been seeing down here this year, I would have to disagree, APR has had a lot to do with it. I don't want to start a debate, but man, really some awesome deer taken this year, and we still have another season yet to go.

Another big factor is the ending of cross tagging bucks.

Wow those are all great bucks

[CANOPY SAM]

What a beautiful deer. How come my hero pics with deer never look that good? Oh yea. I've NEVER even seen a deer that big.

[96trigger]

Quote:

APR had absolutely NOTHING to do with this deer. that deer is likely older than 5 years which means it's first rack where he might have been smaller than an 8 point was BEFORE the APR's.

if anything, APR would've put MORE PRESSURE on this buck the last few years because he would've been a legal deer.

OK....we are definitely going to have to agree to disagree.

B. Amish, do you hunt in zone 3?

[ERdeerhunter]

APR had absolutely NOTHING to do with this deer. that deer is likely older than 5 years which means it's first rack where he might have been smaller than an 8 point was BEFORE the APR's.

if anything, APR would've put MORE PRESSURE on this buck the last few years because he would've been a legal deer.

The world record Hanson buck was believed to be 3.5 to 4.5 years old when shot. The James Rath buck from MN was aged at 3.5 years and take a look at the rack he grew. A lot of world class bucks are actually younger than most people think. I have never seen such a collection of giant racks taken in a specific part of the state like this year and that is more than just coincidence with APR.

[B. Amish]

ha, i knew i'd get the response that this thing is 3.5 and was a fork or six the first year of APR's.

[96trigger]

I think no matter what the results say, or how overwhelming the evidence, there will still be people that will NOT believe it works. If they fundamentally disagree with APR's, that is one thing, but to not believe that it has made a difference is completely delusional thinking. I have hunted and lived here my whole life, and it has made a huge difference. Again Amish, do you hunt in zone 3? If so, I'd love to hear your perspective on it?

Next year is going to be amazing.

P.S, I already said he did not have a big body, he could have easily been a 4.5 year old deer, doubt it, but possible.

[B. Amish]

i'm not talking generallities. i was talking about this specific deer. if you think this deer is the result of APR's then you must believe that it is 3.5 years old and was a forky at 1.5, the first year of APR's.

Otherwise, this specific buck was not saved by APR's.

that's what i'm saying...

[ERdeerhunter]

i'm not talking generallities. i was talking about this specific deer. if you think this deer is the result of APR's then you must believe that it is 3.5 years old and was a forky at 1.5, the first year of APR's.

Otherwise, this specific buck was not saved by APR's.

that's what i'm saying...

So you are saying that APR only gives bucks the opportunity to grow 130-150" class racks, but not 180-200"? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[hockeybc69]

Edit

Misunderstood B Amishs last reply.

Carry on.

[TruthWalleyes]

but to not believe that it has made a difference is completely delusional thinking.

Been hunting zone 3 for the last 5 years...I've never seen so many small bucks...Let over 20 small 8's or less walk this year. Seen 1 large deer from a distance.

So yeah, i think it made a difference when very few bucks have been harvested the last 3 years...Horn Porn Hunters...

[hockeybc69]

Good seed for next year Truth.

[B. Amish]

So you are saying that APR only gives bucks the opportunity to grow 130-150" class racks, but not 180-200"? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

OMG! what?

[TruthWalleyes]

Been seeing these "Good seeds" for quite a few years now. More this year than last...But you'd think that the racks would get bigger

[Getanet]

I have no doubt APRs work. Let any animal get older and it will get larger and exhibit signs of aging.

My problem is with the philosophy of imposing one's beliefs on another, when either way the end result is you're killing an animal and removing it from the population.

But, I will say, I have much less of a problem with people who are just honest with me and themselves, and say they support APRs for big racks only. The rest of the stuff about health of the herd, age structure, etc is just a bunch of talking points that soften the position that large racks are the ultimate goal. Otherwise, if larger/older bucks are that valuable to the herd, APRs should be reversed and larger/older bucks should be protected, not specifically targeted.

[TruthWalleyes]

Who has zone 3, 10 year information on qty of bucks tagged?

Ya for APR

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/pressrelease.asp?party=2&pressid=4622&memid=15286

[sticknstring]

Just saw two more 200 inchers in the ODN today - that's 6 over 200". Three of the 6 were taken in APR areas. The best is yet to come however. Next year will yield the highest percentage of 4 year olds in the herd and in 2014, those bucks will reach full maturity. For those who enjoy seeing/taking mature bucks, it will only get better.

[ERdeerhunter]

OMG! what?

You are implying APR can grow nice bucks, but not world class bucks. Once they get 4 points to a side they are fair game, likely 2.5 to 3.5 years old, but according to you it takes at least 5 years to grow the rack on this buck. I disagree.

[tengy]

I hunt the whitewater area both gun and bow. Smack dab in the middle of APR. I think APR has saved a lot of spikes and forkhorns from making it to the grill. And thats it. A lot of these big bucks were already there before APR went into affect. I believe we are seeing more high caliber deer due to the fact that people are not shooting the first antlered deer they see. Think about it...you shoot the first buck chasing that hot doe and would have never known there were other bucks following behind. Now you just harvested yourself a basket 8 rather than that 150 class 10 pointer that was 2 minutes behind. And I think that after 3 years of APR people are just more patient now. I dont think APR was designed to manage yearling bucks but hunters instead. Making them really look twice before shooting. Whether its a 2.5 yr old 8 or 5.5 nontypical if its legal it will be shot. Hunting public land, if you pass that legal 8 then thats probably the only buck you'll see all season with the amount of pressure down there. Unless your on private land where your chances of harvesting a better deer are greatly increased. Its like playing the powerball on public land.

All in all, that typical is MAGNIFICENT!!!!!

[TruthWalleyes]

Unbelievable RUT action during shotgun season this year too...I'd expect some big boys to get taken!!

[sticknstring]

Quote:

I dont think APR was designed to manage yearling bucks but hunters instead. Making them really look twice before shooting.

Uh huh.

[ERdeerhunter]

Been hunting zone 3 for the last 5 years...I've never seen so many small bucks...Let over 20 small 8's or less walk this year. Seen 1 large deer from a distance.

So yeah, i think it made a difference when very few bucks have been harvested the last 3 years...Horn Porn Hunters...

So why are you letting small 8's walk?

[96trigger]

Truth, what is your definition of very few? There was a decrease initially, but it has slowly increased each successive year of APR. I would say this year, there have been plenty of bucks taken.