Poll: Either/Or, MARS v. One Buck Limit

[farmlegend]

Answer this poll as you'd like to see it for your hunting area. Either/Or. That means, if you're not wild about one, vote for your lesser of evils.

By One Buck Limit, I'm talking about a grand total of one buck for the whole season, all weapons. MARS is mandatory antler restrictions.

[Whit1]

That's a nice poll Dan..........simple.........and well explained!

[Pinefarm]

I was a vocal proponent of MAR's, but that's when the debate was still centered around having to have 2 buck tags offered for sale. Restricting buck harvest options was my only end. However, I am 100% for 1 buck per year if that can be made to happen budget wise.

[Splitshot]

I wouldn’t support either idea! Even though there are a few areas where deer numbers are low I’m quite sure most areas still have to many deer.

I believe QDM’s main goal is to reduce deer numbers to below the carrying capacity of the land for the health and well being of the herd. After that goal is achieved we can concentrate on balancing the herd.

After the habitat does recover, I’d agree with Bob and support a one buck limit if those were my only too choices.

[farmlegend]

Actually, nothing was forgotten. There's a reason the poll was constructed as it was. Re-read the lead post. This is not a poll about your favorite method; it's simply about which type of buck harvest restriction would be preferred, vis-a-vis the other.

I believe QDM’s main goal is to reduce deer numbers to below the carrying capacity of the land for the health and well being of the herd. After that goal is achieved we can concentrate on balancing the herd.
Certainly, an important goal. But how to get there? We've tried 49 days of gun hunting(lengthening season). We've had essentially unlimited antlerless tags. Seems some sort of buck harvest restriction(ie., either of the above) would be helpful to getting a better doe harvest (see BOB@BBT broccoli example). And an "earn a buck" system is seen as a pariah by 70% of deer hunters.

[jimmyboy]

I chose MARS as I feel a little dicipline would go a long way towards lettin'em go,to grow.

[Luv2hunteup]

I voted for MARS for both halves of the combo tag, it keeps me in the woods waiting on another mature animal and shooting does if the deer numbers justify it.

The current system of allowing me to purchase 2 buck tags and a few doe tags suits me just fine. I voluntarily wait on mature bucks anyhow and shoot as many does annually to keep deer numbers in check.

:idea:
Maybe Mandatory Deer Management Education for hunters is whats required. An educated hunter can make an educated management decision without it we are stuck with the present system.

[One Eye]

I did read the post/instructions and simply offered my reason for not being able to vote for either of the offered choices. My post was DIRECTLY related to the poll in question.

Dan

[Splitshot]

Ferg,

I don't mean to disagree but from all the crying I've been hearing for last couple of years about the lack of deer, I'd say it is working.

[Bowhunter30]

If I had to choose, I would have to take the one buck limit, just based on the fact that would give me more leeway when it comes to crunch time at the end of the season.

Depending on what AR requirements were set, I might have to wait for 4 on one side or better before I could take a buck. I might have the opportunity to take a very nice 6 at some point, which would have to be deep into the bow season though - we use the venison A LOT! We already practice AR on our property, but figured this sounded like a good discussion and thought I would throw my two cents in.

Taking the lesser of the two evils in my opinion.

[Pinefarm]

This poll is very clear. If there's to be a possible restriction of available buck tags for purchase, which one of these 2 options seems better to you? There is no option for a combo tag because if MDNR and the NRC does what some of us think they may, there will be no combo tag.

[Whit1]

Ferg,

I don't mean to disagree but from all the crying I've been hearing for last couple of years about the lack of deer, I'd say it is working.

Ray, did you mean Farm? Ferg hasn't jumped into this thread.........yet!....:lol:

[Splitshot]

Yes I did. lol

[farmlegend]

The point of this poll is not to determine one's most favored deer management method. For the record, neither of the choices reflect my optimal route.

The point is to determine the relative popularity of MARS v. a one-buck limit amongst ourselves. Therefore, unless one is really sold on one option or the other, participation requires the choice of the lesser evil.

The reason for the poll is that several members have recently postulated that either of these methods would be easier to sell to Michigan hunters than the other. In order to evaluate such opinions by using a poll, a hypothetical either/or choice is necessary.

When one posts, "I cannot vote, I don't like either option, I prefer the status quo or some other method", (unless they regard both options as equally distasteful (as is exactly 50:50)), or that other options were "forgotten" or should have been listed, the poster is effectively indicating that he has missed the point of this poll. If that sounds cold, I'm sorry about that, but it is what it is.

[Whit1]

Farmlegend has tried to explain himself twice in here. Guys, let's either vote on the poll as it's presented are don't vote and if you don't vote you miss his point. He can't put it any simpler.

What's the deal? If you actually vote for the lesser of two evils (in this non-binding...do we forget that?.....poll) do you think the sky will fall?........the polar ice caps will melt?.....and...:yikes: this is a secret DNR poll and they will actually implement which choice "wins"?.......:rolleyes: :confused:

Vote if you want. Don't vote if you want? But accept the poll as it was formulated. They guy has a reason for wording the poll the way he did and has explained his reasoning, but let's not hear anyonther..."I won't vote because my choice isn't there.".......

I'm trying Dan!!!!

[November Sunrise]

What's the deal? If you actually vote for the lesser of two evils (in this non-binding...do we forget that?.....poll) do you think the sky will fall?........the polar ice caps will melt?.....and...:yikes: this is a secret DNR poll and they will actually implement which choice "wins"?.......:rolleyes: :confused:


Farmlegends polls spread fear far and wide.

OBR phobia:lol: ?

[Ferg]

Farmlegend has tried to explain himself twice in here. Guys, let's either vote on the poll as it's presented are don't vote and if you don't vote you miss his point. He can't put it any simpler.

What's the deal? If you actually vote for the lesser of two evils (in this non-binding...do we forget that?.....poll) do you think the sky will fall?........the polar ice caps will melt?.....and...:yikes: this is a secret DNR poll and they will actually implement which choice "wins"?.......:rolleyes: :confused:

Vote if you want. Don't vote if you want? But accept the poll as it was formulated. They guy has a reason for wording the poll the way he did and has explained his reasoning, but let's not hear anyonther..."I won't vote because my choice isn't there.".......

I'm trying Dan!!!!

Well said Whit1 - Me too :SHOCKED:

ferg....

Start you own poll if you don't like this on - I bet you all do write in votes for president too if you don't like the choices ?:help:

[GRUNDY]

One buck. If people are hunting for meat only and want two deer, I would suggest applying/buying doe tags. Does anyone know when Mich went to 2 bucks. I remember just before I started deer hunting my dad's camp would always have at least one nice buck hanging. Now we hang the braches that deflect the occasional shot. Had a real nice poplar sapling a couple years ago had excellent g1's and alot of sticker points!

Brian

[Joe Archer]

I honestly could not choose one over the other. My choice would vary each year depending on the deer population in my area. Currently, with low doe numbers I would choose the one buck limit to best allow me a chance at venison in my freezer. In years with a huntable doe popuation I self-impose MARS anyway and target doe for the freezer. I understand the intent of this poll completely, but for the most conscientious of us, it really may be a coin flip!
<----<<<

[QDMAMAN]

I voted for MARs but not the conventional type ie: point restrictions. I would prefer a spread restriction as this would protect +-85% of our yearlings compared to around 50% protected with a 4 pt. restriction and not the prime 50% at that.

I could however live very comfortably with just one buck tag although it may keep me from enjoying the Thanksgiving weekend in the UP each year because I often have harvested a buck by then. Just a note, in 20 years of hunting the UP over the Thanksgiving weekend I have harvested one (1) buck. This annual pilgrimage is more for the fellowship with family and a chance to hunt some wilderness each year.

Big T

[Gilbey]

I voted for MARS for both halves of the combo tag, it keeps me in the woods waiting on another mature animal and shooting does if the deer numbers justify it.

The current system of allowing me to purchase 2 buck tags and a few doe tags suits me just fine. I voluntarily wait on mature bucks anyhow and shoot as many does annually to keep deer numbers in check.

:idea:
Maybe Mandatory Deer Management Education for hunters is whats required. An educated hunter can make an educated management decision without it we are stuck with the present system.

I'm in the same boat as this. I would also like to state, even though the poll was very simplistic, that the results would be skewed very heavily from a high gun hunting population, which is what's being sampled here.

[Rustyaxecamp]

I voted for one buck. The people who want to pass on whatever their idea of a small buck can do so. They will need to remember they only have one tag.

ARs will make for a lot of short horned deer left in the woods and a lot of deer camp butchering. (maybe the one buck tag will too, but to a lesser degree in my mind).

Now, what about the does?........:confused:

[walleyechaser]

I voted for MARs because of having to choose just one. However, I would not support either unless both were implemented jointly!