Minnesota deer management hits roadblock

[96trigger]

Ahhh Picks, we hunt in some prime area and it could only get better, we might eventually start seeing some bucks during the 3B season. We are lucky that we have it as good as we do. I'm not saying that we NEED to implement the rule, but I think the DNR is going to implement something regardless. All the signs and talk are there, and I think ending party hunting for bucks would be the least invasive and restrictive for all hunters.

[kr8r.tom]

good post nowiser.

alot of people don't understand or can't imagine hunting can be much more than just shooting the first buck they see because they might not see another one before seasons end. watching deer activity is part of the expierence of hunting along with harvesting deer, but filling everyones tag in your party because you have a hot stand and brown its down fever is trigger happy greed, let them hunt for their own backstraps.

[Bear55]

There was a poster a while back who stated that many people don't see the light until they actually harvest a mature buck. Then suddely they completely understand why we let the little guys walk. The sad part is most guys in Minnesota never get the chance to see a truly mature deer let alone harvest one. I know of 4 people myself who were happy to shoot anything that walked by, one by one they connected on a nice buck and now would never dream of shooting a little one. This may not be the case for all people but I think given the opportinity many people would change their minds.

[BullFighter]

I know a lot of people are going to think enforcing the "no party hunting for bucks" rule will be impossible, but it is a start. You've got to think that there are some law abiding sportsman out there. I wouldn't even be able to ask anyone for their tag, as now you are asking them to break the law also.

No party Hunting on Bucks is yet another dumb idea.

The ONLY way you could enforce it, is if the Game Warden were

"right there" on the spot when you committed the offense.

[Bear55]

Bull

There isn't a great way to enforce a lot of the current regs we have now but that doesn't mean we should pull them off the books. Most people will follow the rules and over time people will hopefully come to accept any law changes.

[james_walleye]

Sorry but that threat of the game warden being there should be enough. After all, the reality is that all game laws are violated by some people that get away with it. I fish Lake Winnibigoshish a couple times a year and it has a 17-26" slot. I know there are people out there that put the knife to 18" fish, heck i've called TIP on a few of them, but that doesnt mean because some people get away with it that it should be done away with or that it isnt effective. Sure you will have people breaking this law, but just wait until someone in your area gets caught doing it, people will think twice.

[propster]

Exactly, we can enforce each other. NoWiser, very thoughtful post.

[honker23]

An easier law to enforce would be moving the season away from the rut. To me that would save more deer each year than the other proposed regs. I know this has been beat to death on here, but I do think it would the most effective tool to save some young bucks.

[DaveT]

My taxidermist told me he was told by someone from the DNR that 35 % of the buck harvest are cross tagged deer. I don't know how much of the harvest is bucks, but I bet we'd save close to 30,000 bucks just by eliminating party hunting.

[HNTNBUX]

I really don't like the idea of earn a buck but just about everything else would be on the table. I hunt SD and I like the way they have their drawings divided by areas of the state for both bucks, does and type of deer. People can figure it out for turkey hunting and bear hunting so it is not to complicated. I would also like to see the season outside of the rut and no more party hunting.

People always wants to complain that they did not even see a deer or did not shoot one but then they want to let one member of their party shoot five so they all have a deer, it does not make sense. Why can someone who hunts with a party shoot more deer than me just because I usually hunt by myself? I think most involved or most people that I consider hunters would be happy to eliminate party hunting. I have never given up my buck tag to someone and sure as **** would not give it up for someone to tag a forkhorn, unless it is my daughter before she turns twelve and can get her own tag. I WANT TO SHOOT MY OWN DEER.

I wait all year planning, banking overtime hours, taking vacation, practicing with my bow and rifle to shoot my own deer. This is not a one weekend proposition for me, I will not quit until I have the buck I want down or the season is over. This year I was still hunting on the 30th of December and could not be happier. I had tag soup on 01/01/2009 but passed on over 30 bucks over the course of the season. For me it was a successful season but more and bigger bucks through different management practices would be great.

By the way everyplace that has bigger bucks than us seems to have a lot of does as well, Texas, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas, etc... The two seem to go hand in hand. Management for a healthy deer herd seems to lead to more deer and bigger bucks for everyone.

[Black_Bay]

My taxidermist told me he was told by someone from the DNR that...

Why is it every DNR fact begins with these words?

BTW I'm not picking on you Dave. It just struck me funny.

[skee0025]

as a start seems like the most logical first step.

Its the add on tags like this one that are going to cause the most resistance....the first step. IMO alot of people could go along with some changes, but many, myself included see the slippery slope side of the argument. Give an inch, take a mile. I personally could care less if I shoot a buck. Of the last eight deer I've taken 7 have been doe's and I prefer it that way, but I dont want someone telling me I cant shoot a buck because it doesnt meet their idea of a trophy or its not "mature" enough.

[Bear55]

Our state has to be #1 rated state for meat hunters, they really couldn't have it any better. I don't think a state that has run this way for so long is all the sudden going to do a 180 and impose drastic regulations to grow larger bucks. A few small changed might be all that is needed to open some eyes and get guys passing on the small bucks on their own.

[james_walleye]

Its just like the people who can't stand that the DNR is telling them they have to release a walleye because its in a slot limit. To heck if it actually benefits the lake, or in this case the deer herd, they just dont want to be told what to do.

[propster]

And yet because of some of the restrictions imposed on certain lakes, the fishing is better than it's ever been. I can't believe we really gripe about not being able to keep more fish (I know some do though), it's a heck of a lot cheaper to go buy it in the store if that's your main reason for fishing. I still say we hunt to have hunted, not only in order to have killed something. And the aesthetics and our experiences and what we see is so much more important, imo, than being able to say I killed one (or three or five).