Are the glory days of deer hunting coming to a close?

[Baker]

In the beginning my neighbor and I put a fence around the totality of our property. Subsequently, some years later, he started a commercial hunting operation on his property. What we had learned is how much bucks travel. So to be fair , as I had far more plots and feeders than him, we then built a fence between us. So now my 1350 acres is fenced separate from his.

I think building a partial fence is a big mistake. Can do more harm than good. Creates a funnel deer will go around simply out of curiosity especially during their walkabouts. I have no idea what current fence cost is but assume expensive. We built ours ourself. 8' high. T post spacing critical. I can get into all the details if valuable.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=3464922077133375

 

[Turkish]

Yet he’s made a mint off of the run-up in IA real estate prices and managing hunting properties.

“We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Yet he’s made a mint off of the run-up in IA real estate prices and managing hunting properties.

“We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

I actually don’t know who that is. Someone sent it to me. But I’m not sure buying up land is the enemy in this situation. Unfortunately I think it’s our desire to control every variable and not accept “defeat”.

 

[Turkish]

I actually don’t know who that is. Someone sent it to me. But I’m not sure buying up land is the enemy in this situation. Unfortunately I think it’s our desire to control every variable and not accept “defeat”.

Pretty sure that’s Steve Hansen on Jake Hofer’s “The Land Podcast.”

Everyone that thinks they’d like to move to IA because they have big deer is the “enemy” here, myself included. Proliferation of hunting caused what he’s talking about.

 

[letemgrow]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=3464922077133375

Statistically speaking, it's ming boggling the number of deer in the country back in the 40's to say early 80's, and how many of the all time great bucks came from a small number of total animals as compared to today.

The knife handle buck from IA, The general from NE, hole in the horn, del austin's mossy horns to name a few.

 

[Bill]

Blame the VCR. That started it all. I have no idea who that is.

Can’t think of their name but That couple from IA that do all the hunting shows could be in line in front of me at the store and I wouldn’t know them.

I find watching hunting shows as exciting as watching grass grow.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I’m not sure hunting shows are the problem in the quality of bucks? Are they a factor in driving up land prices? Sure, they could be. But I don’t see land prices as a “problem”. They are a symptom of a free market so I have no problem with them doing what they do.
The observation I see is quality is and will continue to slip at worst, plateau at best, due to the technology we have currently. And even scarier is the technology on the horizon. I don’t know what that is but it never stays stagnant when there is money and desire as motivation.

 

[BenAllgood]

Technology will continue to change deer hunting. And, general acceptance of new technology will gradually come about. It's been this way for a long time now. We have purpose built platforms that give us a height advantage, bows with wheels that let us hold them back to wait for an opportune shot, camouflage patterns that let us blend into any surrounding, suppressors that lessen noise from shots, enclosures that help take away scent advantage, and many more things. The line of what's accepted continues to move. Along with that, the "big buck" measuring stick moves with it.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Technology will continue to change deer hunting. And, general acceptance of new technology will gradually come about. It's been this way for a long time now. We have purpose built platforms that give us a height advantage, bows with wheels that let us hold them back to wait for an opportune shot, camouflage patterns that let us blend into any surrounding, suppressors that lessen noise from shots, enclosures that help take away scent advantage, and many more things. The line of what's accepted continues to move. Along with that, the "big buck" measuring stick moves with it.

So I agree with you almost entirely up to the point about the big buck measuring stick. I think by and large free ranging deer in an area have a maximum size within reason. I think what most big buck hunters want is a mature representation of the species. If that’s 125 in your area or 170. Deer are having an almost impossible time making it to that measuring stick in 99% of areas.

 

[BenAllgood]

So I agree with you almost entirely up to the point about the big buck measuring stick. I think bye and large free ranging deer in an area have a maximum size within reason. I think what most big buck hunters want is a mature representation of the species. If that’s 125 in your area or 170. Deer are having an almost impossible time making it to that measuring stick in 99% of areas.

I guess it's different in different areas. I know people passing and killing deer they would have never dreamed of 30 years ago in areas they would have never thought they would. The more people that see what can be, the more they are inclined to make it happen. We used to have doe days, and you shot any legal buck the rest of the time. People weren't passing bucks or does where I grew up hunting. Now, they do.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

I guess it's different in different areas. I know people passing and killing deer they would have never dreamed of 30 years ago in areas they would have never thought they would. The more people that see what can be, the more they are inclined to make it happen. We used to have doe days, and you shot any legal buck the rest of the time. People weren't passing bucks or does where I grew up hunting. Now, they do.

This is where I am at with this topic. I think people are understanding the concept of allowing deer to walk for them to reach their potential. It probably isn't going to happen as quickly as most would like, but I think the benefits will eventually show.

To me, the one thing holding this back is leased hunting ground. Without any ownership over an area, people will be less inclined to let bucks with potential walk.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

This is where I am at with this topic. I think people are understanding the concept of allowing deer to walk for them to reach their potential. It probably isn't going to happen as quickly as most would like, but I think the benefits will eventually show.

To me, the one thing holding this back is leased hunting ground. Without any ownership over an area, people will be less inclined to let bucks with potential walk.

But why are people in places like Iowa and northern Missouri, sw Wisconsin talking about the quality of early to mid 2000’s being a thing of lore? Most everything I’m reading and people I happen to speak to seem pretty bearish on the future for high bucks in most midwest states. There are obviously outliers but I see more concern than optimism.

 

[Electrodigical]

Responding to the initial almost year old initial question, where I hunt, the "glory days" in my lifetime were probably '92 to '00?
I drove my hunting partners for nuts by not shooting far more often than I did. I always decided then and there, and usually chose no. But there were usually several opportunities in a week of hunting. I'm not talking "big bucks", I'm talking any deer. Almost 40 years of hunting there I can count the "nice bucks" I've seen in season on one hand with fingers left over. Now if I SEE deer, it was a good trip. Usually it'll be the same doe and it's twins, if you see it more than once.

 

[Turkish]

I’m not sure hunting shows are the problem in the quality of bucks? Are they a factor in driving up land prices? Sure, they could be. But I don’t see land prices as a “problem”. They are a symptom of a free market so I have no problem with them doing what they do.
The observation I see is quality is and will continue to slip at worst, plateau at best, due to the technology we have currently. And even scarier is the technology on the horizon. I don’t know what that is but it never stays stagnant when there is money and desire as motivation.

The technology would’ve never progressed to this point if there hadn’t been a slew of newly interested hunters to pay for it. Same as land prices in IA.

 

[BenAllgood]

Texas is coming to an area near you. Stay tuned. Now, Texas is different due to super large land holdings with long term ownership or leasing, but there's already fences popping up across the Midwest. Leases will get longer and more expensive. Captive deer will be released or "escape". Oklahoma has already put it into law. Mark my words, we haven't seen where deer management will go.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Texas is coming to an area near you. Stay tuned. Now, Texas is different due to super large land holdings with long term ownership or leasing, but there's already fences popping up across the Midwest. Leases will get longer and more expensive. Captive deer will be released or "escape". Oklahoma has already put it into law. Mark my words, we haven't seen where deer management will go.

That I agree on 100%.

 

[b116757]

This is where I am at with this topic. I think people are understanding the concept of allowing deer to walk for them to reach their potential. It probably isn't going to happen as quickly as most would like, but I think the benefits will eventually show.

To me, the one thing holding this back is leased hunting ground. Without any ownership over an area, people will be less inclined to let bucks with potential walk.

I acually completely disagree with this statement my lease guys are almost without exception looking for trophy class bucks. Now if they bring their kids or grandkids they let them take a smaller buck if it presents itself but that’s understandable to me. Get the kiddos hooked on the sport! Now I’m sure there are areas where my experience isn’t the norm but most guys willing to pay to lease land are looking for mature bucks not the brown it’s down fill the freezer hunter.

 

[homerj]

Captive deer will be released or "escape".

It was widely thought around the Mount Horeb, WI in the early 2000s that captive bucks accidentally "escaping" were the cause of CWD being found for the first time in WI.

 

[b116757]

But why are people in places like Iowa and northern Missouri, sw Wisconsin talking about the quality of early to mid 2000’s being a thing of lore? Most everything I’m reading and people I happen to speak to seem pretty bearish on the future for high bucks in most midwest states. There are obviously outliers but I see more concern than optimism.

I think in many states the insurance lobby is making the deer managment decisions this will always be counter productive to quality buck managment