Iowa DNR Biologist Conversation

[BenA]

Every farm around me is leased or owned by someone not living in MO....including my farm now that I live in KS.

That 6% just isn't spread out evenly across the state, because let's face it, most people aren't driving hours there to simply put meat in the freezer.

Yeah, those maps definitely show where the non-residents are concentrating on. They're going north and probably because of the reputation of north MO bucks. I know I was looking there when deciding where to buy between MO and KY.

 

[MN Slick]

North MO = High Graded

 

[BenA]

Can a state manage for age structure while allowing crossbows, non-residents, guns, etc? Meaning, can you manage for age structure while managing population densities regardless of weapon or residency? I think you can, but you'd make some people unhappy.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I’d say no because you are depending on restraint. People have proven to have very little of that. So you have to legislate for a lack of a better term, failure in buck harvest. Even if half your neighbors are good, the other can ruin an age class with zero problem.

I’m talking about bucks that have are close to or reaching potential. 5 plus. If you are looking for 120” 3 years olds, sure you could achieve that im sure

 

[escpen]

Can a state manage for age structure while allowing crossbows, non-residents, guns, etc? Meaning, can you manage for age structure while managing population densities regardless of weapon or residency? I think you can, but you'd make some people unhappy.

I think you are right on age structure but it likely depends on timing of seasons, when specific weapons are allowed, how many non-resident tags are allotted, etc. Undoubtedly there will always be unhappy people.

 

[letemgrow]

Can a state manage for age structure while allowing crossbows, non-residents, guns, etc? Meaning, can you manage for age structure while managing population densities regardless of weapon or residency? I think you can, but you'd make some people unhappy.

Population is managed by doe harvest so stands to reason they could.

If they wanted fewer deer they would allot more doe tags and fewer buck tags to increase age structure.

My state of MO could start with only one buck tag for all seasons....there'd be some hard decisions made on the bucks shot before rifle season even started then.