Late doe season

[Mark D]

What does everyone think about the late doe season? I like the idea of tring to get the buck to doe ratio in check, but I saw two really nice bucks this year that I did not get a shot at. I was hunting on the 30th of Dec. with my bow, and heard alot of shooting coming from the farm next to me. I had a bad feeling that they were not just shooting a does. so I got down to go and take a look. There was two guys looking for the deer they shot they said it was a doe. Come to find out they did shoot a doe but they also shot at one of the big bucks that I saw. They did not get it as far as I know but I did hear that they wounded it. I think that the late season is to tempting for most and that they should eliminate it. I also think that you should only be able to take one buck per year and two does. I would like to hear some of your guys thoughts.

[Thunderhead]

bI was hunting on the 30th of Dec. with my bow, and heard alot of shooting coming from the farm next to me. I had a bad feeling that they were not just shooting a does. so I got down to go and take a look. There was two guys looking for the deer they shot they said it was a doe. Come to find out they did shoot a doe but they also shot at one of the big bucks that I saw. They did not get it as far as I know but I did hear that they wounded it. I think that the late season is to tempting for most and that they should eliminate it.

You heard ? How do you know they shot at a buck, let alone wounded it ?
Tempted to poach because of late season? lol

Poacher don't have seasons. It's just as easy to poach during the regular firearm season as the others, including small game.

[Letmgro]

Between the neighbors properties and mine, we harvested 15 does on 320 total acres this hunting season. 9 of these does were harvested in the late season. If it wasn't for the late season, we'd be overrun with deer next year.

We have been hacking away hard at the does for four years now, yet every year we seem to shoot more.

Hunters have been in such an uproar because "there's hardly a deer left" in NE Michigan. Well, this is a perfect example of what quality habitat will do for your hunting.

[Adam Waszak]

You heard ? How do you know they shot at a buck, let alone wounded it ?
Tempted to poach because of late season? lol

Poacher don't have seasons. It's just as easy to poach during the regular firearm season as the others, including small game.


I skinned my doe this year and I found 6 shot in it throughout the shoulder area. I think we need to outlaw the squirrel and othe small game seasons so the paochers won't have a chance at the deer during those times as well;)

AW

[Mark D]

The farmer was talking to this guys brother and he told him.

[deputy]

So turn him in to RAP and stop whining :dizzy:

[huntingfool43]

I think they need to rethink it, if they want it put it the first week of November or earlyer. Had a freind go out the 31rst, a group of deer came through and he shot the 2 biggest figuring they were mature does. He got a big suprize when he walked up on them and they were both bucks that had shed their antlers. As far as poaching Mark D, you will have that problem no matter when the season is or if there is no season at all.

[Luv2hunteup]

I would much rather see an early season than a later season on does if it's required. I would like a September hunt for does but that would only be in areas where excess does need harvesting. If that means just private land so be it.

An early season would allow for more does to get bred on time plus there will be more food available for the remaining deer later in the season.

[buck37]

I have to agree with the poster to a certain extent. The fact that people are allowed to hunt with a gun in late season is just too tempting to many people to not shoot a buck if it walks by. If it were only bow season, there wouldn't be people deer hunting with a gun and shooting bucks. I know that poachers will poach, but I believe that late doe season is to tempting to many people.

[Ed Spin04]

Hi letmgro,

Strange isn't it, the more one gets into deer and habitat management the more deer one sees no matter how many does one seems to take. I think it's called QDM.

Actually there is a limit and a right number of does to take and in a large COOP of a couple thousand or more acres you can control the sex ratio, age structure and deer density very easily. Set your protection rate of yearling bucks to attain a more natural buck age structure and take a certain number of bucks per doe to attain a certain adult sex ratio and that is all there is to it. Of course you need to keep records and keep that habitat in tip top shape, especially the winter deer carryover capacity. In no more than 5-6 years you will attain that desired sex ratio, more natural buck age structure and deer density.

Example, for the NLP an adult sex ratio of at least one buck per 1.75 does to no more than one buck per 2 does should produce enough fawns to replace the bucks that are taken indifinitly.

To attain and maintain that desirerd sex ratio a yearly doe to buck harvest ratio of one doe per 1.3 bucks gets it done. This is where keeping records tells you where you are at. Observation of deer during the late summer months will tell you if you need to tweak that doe to buck harvest ratio a bit.

Getting that sex ratio in line will improve the recruitment (number of fawns to one year of age) off the chart and that is one reason why it appears that the more does you talke the more you see.

To make that herd more natural in their age structure all that is necessary is to protect close to 90% of the yearling bucks. A case of simple math and keeping records.

Hi deputy, You noted another simple solution to percieved problems.

Life and solutions to problems can be simple.

[deputy]

Hi Ed:D