Lacky
Active Member
I haven't ever shot more than one deer in a year. I would have to poach or go out of state to shoot more than one. Don't know what percentage of the country is single deer but I think most of the west is.
In Arkansas it’s 6 statewide no more than 2 bucks. Some zones are lessI haven't ever shot more than one deer in a year. I would have to poach or go out of state to shoot more than one. Don't know what percentage of the country is single deer but I think most of the west is.
That sounds like mis-managementLast year in my state ,if you used all the tags that comes with your licence and bought all the extra tags provided you could kill eighteen deer . Not a good thing . The dnr just started tagging deer the last couple of years. Hope to see some change soon.
Heck when I decide to take a few does I try to do it in one day! lol killed 3 does in one sit quite a few times. @catman529 has to but he like to kill them as far away from the truck as humanly possible.
Dont be jealous yes here in Michigan you can shoot alot of deer, but keep in mind 78% of our yearly buck harvest is yearling bucks and 22% are 2yr old bucks. Do the math its not a pretty picture.That leaves very little chance for seeing a true older class buck. It's a wack'em and stack'em deer hunting state with no regard for herd health. Ya I applied to Iowa tag again this year...its my third yr on the draw but at least ill be able to experience really good hunting. All I can say is Michigan deer management is a political hot potatoHere in Utah you can only get one deer tag, if you're lucky enough to draw out. You have to pick your season (archery, muzzleloader, or rifle), pick your area (the state is divided into about 40 small geographic areas, and you can only hunt that area), then put in for the drawing. General or limited entry (all the quality areas are limited entry). All draws are on a preference point system where you earn a point if you don't draw that year. Most general tags take 2 or 3 years to draw. Limited entry takes about 10 years on the average. So I'm lucky to get the opportunity to harvest a single deer every other year at best. The seasons are short. 3 - 4 weeks for archery, and 10 days or so for muzzleloader and rifle. There are a few other limited opportunities for antlerless or special depredation hunts, but they too are on a lottery draw and mostly hard to get. I can't hardly comprehend the opportunity for long seasons and multiple tags every year like most of the rest of you get in your states. I'm jealous! I would try to hunt out of state more often, but as you know it's expensive.
Hi Dewey, ya like yourself not on the number game myself. I truly enjoy the total experience while out hunting. I pass alot of harvest opportunities, but alway enjoy the majestic sighting or close encounter with mature bucks. We are the true stewards of the Whitetail resourse. I remember when here in Michigan you could shoot 5 bucks in a season. My neighbor shoot 5 bucks that season and wounded one that he never recovered. Over harvesting bucks and does impacts the future in such a negative way makes me wonder what the heck are these people thinkingI’m happy with one buck a year with the bow and maybe even one with the gun. It’s rare I kill 2 deer in a season. Never been into the numbers thing. If I took a shot at every deer that gave me a shot opportunity I could easily pile up the kills but that type of hunting never appealed to me. I don’t kill does and put all of my energy into pursuing one good shooter buck. Some years I eat my tags and I’m perfectly fine with that. It’s all about the chase to me and filling the freezer isn’t my goal. If I killed 5-6 deer a year I would feel pretty bad because I know the herd around me couldn’t handle that even if I had the tags. I have seen firsthand how areas where guys killed 15-20 deer a year are now completely destroyed even 10 years later with many years of greatly reduced harvest. If you live in an area that can handle it more power to you but just be aware that you don’t take more than is healthy no matter what the DNR says.