lack of bigger bucks??

[lungdeflator]

Has anybody noticed a lack of bigger bucks this year?

We hunt northern MN and between 4 of us we run ~15 trail cams throughout the summer and fall. usually every year we get pits of 8-10 decent bucks during that time. this year we have see only earnings and the occasional 2.5yr old.

is it just us? was the extra long winter extra hard on the mature bucks(dominant breeders)? are the antlers way under developed?

[Musky Buck]

Seeing you're in that Bemidji area there is quite the poaching organization in those parts. They tend to not poach inferior bucks as they don't bring much $. I've been hearing the same thing from some others but they're around, maybe they will be there November 9th when you really want them to be. I guess the ? is when you guys connect on 1 is it a buck you have t-cam pics of already ? Kinda nervous some, have 3 t-cams in 3 counties and have 0 decent bucks on any of them and usually would have 3-4 that at least wandered by, by now. The way I see it with such a boatload of pressure on the deer nowadays is I just hope for 1, one that's decent, the days of having several good bucks around are over.

[mntatonka]

you obviously need APR's up there. We'll work on getting it statewide for you.

[96trigger]

Here we go again....

[jentz]

Here we go again....

YEP sitting here looking out the window, I havent seen a buck at all!! I know there arent any anywhere!

[nonteepical]

theres been a lack of older age bucks for 30 years.

[PurpleFloyd]

We are seeing more of them the past few years in this area and there is no APR in place. You might just be suffering from wolf depredation or something like that. The big ones get big for reason and it isn't because they make their appearance known to everyone.

[sportfish]

About the same for a few years about 3 shooters on each property i hunt . thats what the cameras say .

[nonteepical]

where is "this area"

[certified jumbo]

I believe he speaks of 184. One thing to remember is most of northern mn has been lottery for around 4 ish years. This means most hunters can only harvest legak bucks. That takes a toll on bucks obviously. Combine that with a winter that lasted to the second wkd of May. Also an expanding wolf population. These could be factors in your area.

I hunt NE MN. We hunt a area that is managed by our party and our nieghbors. We have done well in previous years on harvesting quality bucks. This year it appears to be down on numbers of deer. I believe it to be in large part due to a long winter. But of course that is just my opinion. We had 5 large bucks on cam till antler drop and have not seen them since. Still hoping they are on neighboring farms but no sightings.

Northern MN is a great place to hunt. Gigantic bodied bucks with dark chocolate antlers. Not always scoring the highest though. However winters, wolves, bear and other factors can play a role. I hope theyvshow up for you.

[RangerJack]

Yeah, remember that bucks go into the winter in worse shape physically than almost all the other deer in a herd. I feel like their aren't as many 4.5+ old bucks in central Minnesota this year as in years past...I don't know why, but that's what I'm feeling right now. There are just too many people trying to hunt in too small of areas nowadays.

[PurpleFloyd]

where is "this area"

299

[surewood]

I'm running 6 cams up here. First year I haven't had 2 or 3 mature bucks. Area 171-179. Hoping the rut will bring something new. My guess is the combination, hunters, wolves, and a long winter.

[slimngrizzly]

Im nowhere near you guys... but this is the worst year ive had for getting pics of the big guys. This goes for MN and WI. Some years are just that way for me I guess. Lots of factors really. I guess for me, I KNOW of several good bucks that survived the winter, I just cant get them on film... usually I can... so its frustrating. But Im confident they'll show up.

If your not SPOT ON a mature bucks summer range, you probably wont see him. You may be off by 40 acres and never get a photo of him. And they do relocate from year to year. But come about OCT. 10th or 15th all those good ones you've been wondering about will start putting the miles on at night checking scrapes in the areas they haven't been in a while.

This year we have a full moon on Oct. 18. You check your cam around the 20th and I would be willing to bet you'll be singing a different tune! I hope were all seeing the MIA big boys then!!

Then Oct 25-Nov 9th.... new moon phase.... bow in hand... I think things could get crazy!

[slimngrizzly]

theres been a lack of older age bucks for 30 years.

Agreed! This is really a better summary of the situation

[archerystud]

I only had one buck on my 4 cameras at first check and he was barely legal (Southern MN). I do think I'll see something decent by the 20th. One of my cams had a bunch of apples but 6 does can knock out 20 gallons of apples in 3 days!!! Good news is 4 of the does are mature and will make good decoys by the end of the month.

[sticknstring]

It's been all downhill since 2010 imo. In 2009, we had standing corn for most of gun season across much of the state. The next year, I had 4 really good bucks on camera. The next year I had 2. Last year 1. This year none. Pretty amazing what some good cover can do. If this wet pattern can hold for a few more weeks and keep harvest minimal, we may be in for a recovery year.

[Musky Buck]

I have to admit this has been a really lackluster year of scouting/tcams etc. No nice bucks at all however it could be timing and the mass amount of standing corn, even then by now with acorns I usually have a couple to wonder about, even going fishing off and on never really saw a decent buck anyplace this summer/early fall etc. But who knows, they could wander in at any moment, just bachelor herds in my many areas are a couple yearlings here and there, pretty lean but something must be out there I hope with fingers crossed. 1st year ever in the last 30 that bowhunters aren't hunting our neighbors place, I need to find out why is it a lack of deer or a nice buck to hunt or what ?

[laker1]

Big bucks were still in our area in April,since than have not seen the tracks or on cam.

I think in some areas winter was harder than people think,and also expect less antler growth this year. A year ago we had no winter.

[SmellEsox]

We need to quit mowing the grass every year. Let some live.

[InTheNorthwoods]

I have not been running cameras as much as usual, but I have had VERY lackluster results so far this season in the northern 1/3rd of the state. I am getting discouraged.

[pikerliker]

IMO just because you aren't getting pics of big bucks up to this point this year really doesn't mean much of anything. It could be as simple as different weather than last year, changes in food sources or locations, neighbors with bait piles changing movement of the deer, etc. could be dozens of reasons why and it may have nothing at all to do with a lack of mature bucks. I'd say be patient and maybe move the locations of your cameras to see what's up

[96trigger]

Piker isn't far off, the two spots I normally get pics of bucks were not yielding much, the two spots that I don't generally see much have been doing a lot better. Different crops planted in different in locations this year changed their patterns.

[nonteepical]

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[lungdeflator]

The post wasnt about apr or regulations. Just an observation of the past 4-5 yrs and what others are experiencing. Thanks to those that responded. It must have a lot more to do with the late winter than I thought. Nothing else about this yr has been abnormal, ie different crops,weather. Like I said the las 4-5 yrs w get pics of several nice bucks but none this yr. why the sudden change?