They continue to impress me

[bwoods11]

There’s no doubt Iowa has a trophy reputation and puts out some-of the biggest bucks in the nation…. Once you have seen them it’s tough to give it up … It’s kind of addicting !

My neighbor is Hillrunner (Brad) he’s on here. We have around 600+ acres total and probably shoot 2 bucks max a year ? Food plots , timber, switchgrass, cedars , habitat improvements, crop land, it’s all here. I still have a lot of work to do ! It never ends … a few pics from past 5 yrs—

Not seeing 200 inchers like other parts of Iowa, maybe someday !!

 

[BenAllgood]

Iowa is beautiful for sure but they don’t have anything from a habitat perspective from central Ky west doesn’t have. I actually think ky has some landscape advantages. What Ky doesn’t have that Iowa does is regs and culture on its side. You’re spot on about regs dictating it’s position in the hierarchy

Yeah, Kentucky has a ton of potential. All over the state is producing great bucks. I love the one buck rule. My asks are selfish. I'd want them to back the rifle season up a week or two so I can hunt it with my kids when they're off the week of Thanksgiving. And, I'd just ask for a little break on NR landowner license fees (completely selfish on my part) It does kind of burn when the guy next to you doesn't have to pay any license fee though.

 

[PatinPA]

Sure the late firearm season helps a bunch. But Iowa just has fewer hunters in general.

I definitely think other states are seeing the advantage of being a destination for quality whitetail hunting. I have read interviews from multiple state game commissioners, and they are well aware of the reputation that Iowa has.

The big game commissioner for Missouri came out and said they would fully support moving the firearm season later if that's what the public wanted. Every year they send out a survey, and it is definitely trending that more people are willing to move the firearm season, but it has a LONG way to go.

All of the people on various hunting forums are still a very minor group compared to the rest of the hunting population. Until they become more aware, things aren't likely going to change.

Holy Hell, PA ONLY moved the gun opener to a Saturday and people have been bitching about it since it happened. haha. I can't imagine moving the whole season.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Holy Hell, PA ONLY moved the gun opener to a Saturday and people have been bitching about it since it happened. haha. I can't imagine moving the whole season.

Would be the end of the world if they took rifle season out of the time when bucks are dumbest in MN.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

What is the biggest management change by a state (in the last 15-20 years) that has had a positive impact on hunting quality?

Indiana moving to one buck only?

 

[Mortenson]

What is the biggest management change by a state (in the last 15-20 years) that has had a positive impact on hunting quality?

Indiana moving to one buck only?

That probably wins by default because it's probably the only one to vote on.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Ive heard PA APR touted.

 

[Brian662]

What is the biggest management change by a state (in the last 15-20 years) that has had a positive impact on hunting quality?

Indiana moving to one buck only?

Some (maybe all) of the 300 series zones in MN moved to an APR a while back and I know of one area in particular where the deer exploded in size. Lots of management in this area coincided with the APR to produce numerous trophies.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

What kind of kills me about Minnesota and Missouri, is that they have firearm seasons in the first and second weeks of November, pretty much peak rut depending on opening day, but are surrounded by states that have later firearm seasons.

It is almost like the states think they are benefiting from the earlier season. I am sure there are hunters in Wisconsin that come over to MN (and vice versa) to hunt each other's firearm seasons, who think they benefit from these offset timings. Hell, there is probably a sizable portion of hunters that would complain if every state used the first week of December.

I think one of the easiest lifts would be for Missouri. Pitch it to people that it would be like Wisconsin - always during Thanksgiving week. People wouldn't need to take as many vacation days or pull kids out of school. It would only move the season back a week, and it still wouldn't affect their immediate neighbors if they hunt in other states.

 

[gjs4]

Have you guys heard the reason why folks say age/racks get better following EHD being that the lazy/easy hunters drop off? Ive heard the same with PA ARs, that some of the masses who claimed they'd quit did so and they were of the shoot anything fraternity.

If OH would drop legal baiting it would be the one to pace. Then again every state is just one reg away from way better or way worse..

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Yeah, Kentucky has a ton of potential. All over the state is producing great bucks. I love the one buck rule. My asks are selfish. I'd want them to back the rifle season up a week or two so I can hunt it with my kids when they're off the week of Thanksgiving. And, I'd just ask for a little break on NR landowner license fees (completely selfish on my part) It does kind of burn when the guy next to you doesn't have to pay any license fee though.

If we’re being selfish, let me indulge! I want rifle season to be 2 weeks in Dec, no bait, no crossbows, and non resident draw unless you own over 40 acres. That’s all!

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

What is the biggest management change by a state (in the last 15-20 years) that has had a positive impact on hunting quality?

Indiana moving to one buck only?

Good point…I’ve only seen net negative changes. It’s all about lowering the bar. Night season is coming one day

 

[BenAllgood]

I was reminded by a recent podcast about something we have in a couple of the southeastern states that isn’t in other states. It does help with management on hyper-local levels. That program is DMAP, or the Deer Management Assistance Program. It is slightly different per state, but generally, the cooperators provide data as well as a goal for the property. A local biologist works with them to analyze the data and make recommendations and provide harvest tags for how many bucks and does should be taken as well as what bucks should be taken. Hunters gather weights, antler measurements and jawbones for the biologist. Browse surveys are taken regularly to make sure carrying capacity isn't exceeded. There are a number of other things that go into it, but it is a great program, especially when data is shared with other cooperators in the area. Large neighborhoods are built with the goal of raising age structures and managing for better hunting. I wish more states could adopt that.

 

[SwampCat]

I was reminded by a recent podcast about something we have in a couple of the southeastern states that isn’t in other states. It does help with management on hyper-local levels. That program is DMAP, or the Deer Management Assistance Program. It is slightly different per state, but generally, the cooperators provide data as well as a goal for the property. A local biologist works with them to analyze the data and make recommendations and provide harvest tags for how many bucks and does should be taken as well as what bucks should be taken. Hunters gather weights, antler measurements and jawbones for the biologist. Browse surveys are taken regularly to make sure carrying capacity isn't exceeded. There are a number of other things that go into it, but it is a great program, especially when data is shared with other cooperators in the area. Large neighborhoods are built with the goal of raising age structures and managing for better hunting. I wish more states could adopt that.

We have the DMAP program here in Arkansas, also - except here it means Doe Massacre Assistance Program

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

DMAP is a fine program in places like Mississippi, ark, Alabama and others with large tracts in conjunction with other large tracts. Wouldn’t work north of say middle Tennessee. Waaaaayyyy too many small tracts make up a neighborhood.

 

[BenAllgood]

DMAP is a fine program in places like Mississippi, ark, Alabama and others with large tracts in conjunction with other large tracts. Wouldn’t work north of say middle Tennessee. Waaaaayyyy too many small tracts make up a neighborhood.

Yeah, it used to be and still is in some cases restricted by acreage. But, some of these states are starting to let joint landowners of small properties join together to meet the minimum acreage requirements.

 

[BenAllgood]

We have the DMAP program here in Arkansas, also - except here it means Doe Massacre Assistance Program

When i did it in Louisiana, we only received one doe tag per hundred acres.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

The apr’s in the areas I hunted in southeast minnesota dramatically increased the number of older bucks. There were so many 2.5 and older bucks running around that even the brown is down crowd held off for a bigger buck because they were so common.

We were pretty disappointed when the apr rules were removed when cwd showed up.

 

[Tree Spud]

What is the biggest management change by a state (in the last 15-20 years) that has had a positive impact on hunting quality?

Indiana moving to one buck only?

When Wisconsin went to Earn-a-buck in the early 2000's. You had to shoot a doe first to get a buck tag. for 7-8 years Wis lead the nation in trophy class scorable bucks.

 

[Brian662]

What kind of kills me about Minnesota and Missouri, is that they have firearm seasons in the first and second weeks of November, pretty much peak rut depending on opening day, but are surrounded by states that have later firearm seasons.

It is almost like the states think they are benefiting from the earlier season. I am sure there are hunters in Wisconsin that come over to MN (and vice versa) to hunt each other's firearm seasons, who think they benefit from these offset timings. Hell, there is probably a sizable portion of hunters that would complain if every state used the first week of December.

I think one of the easiest lifts would be for Missouri. Pitch it to people that it would be like Wisconsin - always during Thanksgiving week. People wouldn't need to take as many vacation days or pull kids out of school. It would only move the season back a week, and it still wouldn't affect their immediate neighbors if they hunt in other states.

MN could move it back a week and still not interfere with WI too much. Second weekend of the 9 day season would coincide with WI opener.

I drive the river road down on the MN/Iowa side to my WI property and there are several public areas with parking lots along that route. During the MN gun season, there are about 50% of the plates from WI/IA so your theory is correct (granted this is right on the border). Easy to see 5 trucks parked on MN public, then you get down into Iowa at the same time of year and there will be one or zero bow hunters on the public only 10 miles away.

It's incredible how the season structure choices from the state impact the quality of deer in different states with the EXACT same habitat.