I can relate to that.
I feel the pain and I guess so do others
http://www.wideopenspaces.com/nationwide-deer-shortage/
I want to die like my father, peacefully in his sleep, not screaming and terrified, like his passengers.
I can relate to that.
I think the huntable herd is in trouble. The unhuntable herd is a different story. What I'll call "city deer" are growing in numbers pretty rapidly. Cities are going to have to find a way to deal with this in the near future. We may be pest controllers sooner than we think.
Speaking of shortages, where are all the posters on this site?
I may be opinionated...but, my opinion is the only one that matters anyway.
Sure makes you wonder what the heck is going on. Many of the guys I know in Michigan had a very similar season as well. I know up here we had quite a bit of EHD all over the middle part of the state but I'm not so sure that is the only answer. Coyotes are becoming quite a big nuisance on/around our property down there in Ohio as well as the farms we hunt up here.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
- Thomas Edison
It must be the Goverment! Lol...didn't get my butt out in the trees this year much, but have seen no loss of deer in my areas of hunting..Still scouted a bunch and used the cams a bunch..mineral sites are getting hit hard...it might just be location, location, location.
Last edited by Seeker Bp; 02-14-2014 at 03:40 PM.
Former (TEAM TREESTALKEN BUCKNUTS) 2009/2010 Season (TEAM HORN PORN) 2011/2012 Season (TEAM GUTPILE) 2012/2013 Season (2012/2013 Champions)
I agree seeker all about location and selective harvest I hunted with a guy that shot a doe early season with her fawns and when he field dressed her there was still milk will they make it not sure
Sightings are down around here too. I believe a lot has to do with the yotes. A lot more folks are seeing them lately. Neighbor watched one chasing a deer during gun season. Lost our last dog in 2 minutes right from the driveway. No tracks in the snow anywhere around. Don't what else could have happened other than a yote snatching her up and running down the road a ways before heading back into the woods. We searched quite a ways with no blood or tracks. Any ideas from you guys are welcome.
I have strong opinions about God, Guns, Guitars and Harley Davidsons, I can remain open minded about everything else.
Member of Pope & Young, and Buckeye Big Buck Club.
Member of the Bloody Blazers, 2011-2012 team challenge winners.
Lots of coyotes around here, many many more than 5 years ago, and add to that the 2-3 years of 6 doe tags and you have a lot less deer. I have yet to tally my number of deer seen this year yet, but I saw fewer for sure. But I still had plenty of opportunities and killed three so I can't complain. I took a short walk today and did see where a live pine tree got knocked over by the ice recently. And the deer have been eating the heck out of the needles. That tells me this persistent snow cover is probably going to cause several more to not make it through the winter.
"...the deepest, most permanent features of all great moments outside are the names, faces, descriptions, and emotions. The antlers on the wall...well, they're just bones affixed to boards. But what they represent, however, is flesh and blood - fathers and sons, friends spending time with friends and the the seasons of life when the people we love were still with us. These old antlers on the wall...well, take a seat, my friend, and I'll tell you all about them." -Rev. Zeke Pipher
So I can only speak to what I have witnessed in PA. I think the biggest impact on deer herd numbers is first and foremost the liberal doe tag allocations in PA over the past ten years with the goal of herd reduction and boy oh boy did us hunters do our job in that one.
The next part of the equation has been a maturing habitat particularly in the northern tier of the state. Big woods with little under story and nothing done for habitat improvement.
We had a severe round of EHD which hurt herd numbers and now we have CWD in parts of the state so the out look isn't too good.
Predators have an impact but I don't feel it is nearly on the level that hunters and high doe tag allocations and a 2 week buck/doe combined firearms season had.
Now. The in PA there have been some changes in areas to firearms seasons and doe tag allocations and the herd has rebounded very nicely the last two years. This season was the best I have had in a very very long time when it comes to deer sightings in the northern tier.
I think in regards to Ohio the adjusted doe allocations are pretty good. But I think the total doe allowed may need to be adjusted a bit. Im PA there is no total deer limit but unless you are in a special regs area around philly or pittsburgh you can get 2 doe tags and possibly a third but the tags are typically all sold out.
This winter though will be particularly hard on the deer herd unfortunately. The extended cold and snow cover could make a poor situation even worse.
“I don't partake in assembly-line convenience. I don't say that killing things is bad while I hire people to kill things for me.” ~ Ted Nugent
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