Shop Rat
10-17-2007, 10:22 PM
I want to add a situation that happened around my property last year. There were 2 big bucks in the area, I have pictures of both. I thought it was great and that is what I would like to see where I hunt. I kind of hoped that a kid or beginner hunter would get one.
On opening morning, one ding-dong saw one of them. He went back to his camp, rounded up at least 15 or more guys and started deer driving all the public land around. ( Perfectly legal, a little dangerous considering the amount of hunters in blinds in public land ) they pushed all week and the deer sightings went to 0 for at least 4 land owners that I know of.
What I was wondering is why does one big deer draw out these guys to totally change their hunting styles? Why is this big deer such a big deal? (zone 2, where trophies are shot less often) In other places, it is not such a big deal. It should be pretty normal to have a 4 yr old buck in the area. This should not be something to go crazy over. Last year summed up my problem with deer management in Michigan, at least for my area.
Is it great hunting when most hunters feel that if they don't shoot a small buck, someone else will? Is it great hunting when 15-20 guys get together to deer drive to try to get one mature buck, because they feel that they will never have a chance like that again? Everyone in the area was talking about this one deer, it is in my gallery and it was not even a huge, just a mature one. I have pics of another 10 from this year and I am waiting for a neighbor to see it while hunting so they can all go crazy again.
My opinion is that with a small change, more c.o's, and a higher value placed on our deer, Michigan can be a place to go and not a place to leave for great hunting.
On opening morning, one ding-dong saw one of them. He went back to his camp, rounded up at least 15 or more guys and started deer driving all the public land around. ( Perfectly legal, a little dangerous considering the amount of hunters in blinds in public land ) they pushed all week and the deer sightings went to 0 for at least 4 land owners that I know of.
What I was wondering is why does one big deer draw out these guys to totally change their hunting styles? Why is this big deer such a big deal? (zone 2, where trophies are shot less often) In other places, it is not such a big deal. It should be pretty normal to have a 4 yr old buck in the area. This should not be something to go crazy over. Last year summed up my problem with deer management in Michigan, at least for my area.
Is it great hunting when most hunters feel that if they don't shoot a small buck, someone else will? Is it great hunting when 15-20 guys get together to deer drive to try to get one mature buck, because they feel that they will never have a chance like that again? Everyone in the area was talking about this one deer, it is in my gallery and it was not even a huge, just a mature one. I have pics of another 10 from this year and I am waiting for a neighbor to see it while hunting so they can all go crazy again.
My opinion is that with a small change, more c.o's, and a higher value placed on our deer, Michigan can be a place to go and not a place to leave for great hunting.