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Also in Davis County...we experienced significant EHD die off in Aug-Oct 2023. Prior to that, things were not as good as the good ol' days, but still pretty good. 2023 - was very bad, I hunted once or twice and purposely shot nothing. 0 bucks, 0 does. My son shot one old buck that year...

This ^^ is a reality for many, unfortunately IMO. I hear you, I think we are talking about a real "tragedy of the commons" scenario these days. Even in good "neighborhoods" where multiple like minded people choose not to shoot the young hi po's...it only takes one, or few, in the area that...

I don't know the number, but I certainly will use an "extra" tag to knock out a lo po buck. I sense it is more than 1% that will do this...but I think it is probably a low number, FWIW. I am not really opposed to a one buck limit, but I am not at all convinced that it is the solution to the...

I don't have a lot of "on the ground" insight on the goings on in Missouri, but I don't find that number surprising, FWIW. Lots of NR's flow to northern Missouri v. southern Iowa to purchase land because as a NR there they can get buck tags every year there v. waiting 4+ years to draw in Iowa.

Well said ^^...I totally agree. My point in sharing was just to illustrate the realities of high grading, which has received much mention here. Deservedly so, IMO, as a factor these days as to why giant deer are more scarce. Aided, I think, largely by technology, most specifically cell cams...

FWIW...the subject buck from my example ^^ was harvested the other evening. Just off of my adjacent neighbor's property. I am NOT suggesting that anything illegal or unethical was done at all, because I don't know that AND I truly suspect that it was on the up and up. But...a hi po 4 year old...

Glad to hear that we aren't the only ones. Last night was bad, although I did miss a doe that I should have hit. Harrumph. My son sat a good spot and saw NOTHING. What the??? I think they are still on acorns mainly.

There is always the potential for infection, etc. But otherwise, that looks like the type of deer that someone shoots in the future and there is an old broadhead lodged in the skeleton. His vitals are safe there, so I think he has a good chance of survival.

Not a drop tine, but a "third beam" buck once upon a time. It was very prominent when he was 5 and he was so close to me that I could hear him breathing! But...I shot a different buck in that moment, the one that he had been jousting with and had gotten behind me. By the time I got all turned...

Fairly slim pickings last evening, but did have 1 nice 3 year old come in tight. I hope we can catch up to him in 2 or 3 years. Didn't see anything that resembled active chasing, etc. I still think that there are plenty of acorns available in the timber though.

Nice buck!! Congrats!!

Yesterday, 10/30. In my son's back yard in Iowa City. Presumably there is a doe just out sight in the brush.

Yes, IMO, there is an argument that cams can be used to help avoid high grading. FWIW, I feel like that is what we do on our place. We use regular cams to document things, study up on them and then usually end up with a very short hit list, as we are quite committed to getting bucks to older...

I saw the same thing ^^ you did and had the exact same reaction. And I know and like Pat. But goodness, gracious...what's left in terms of electronic surveillance? Implanting tracking devices into the quarry and then following them with telemetry and/or drones? I may regret sharing this, as...

Not from a podcast, but from a friend of mine that grew up hunting that area...he would say the same thing today. Total FWIW. I really don't have any fresh, actual facts myself, I haven't been on that ground for decades now. I will say this though...that region SHOULD be producing multiple...

We have three I think, but only use them for remote security at our hunting farms. If a deer walks through the yard, etc, he/she will be captured, but we never use them to facilitate hunting. I have one back home that I have had out in the field behind my house, but I don't hunt there, so also...

1. I think an easy one, to me, would be to restrict cell cams...for wildlife tracking purposes. Yes, there are many ways that such a rule could be bent, or violated, but we have LOTS of rules on the books that could be similarly skirted, that shouldn't stop us IMO. No cell cams in hunting...

In a given localized area, I agree that EHD can override everything else, at least for a 2-4 year period. But my observations are reflective of areas that haven't had as much EHD, or any to speak of. The BIG bucks are much more scarce in all areas than yesteryear...without the impact of EHD...

Multiple good and valid points being made here IMO...but I am in the "cell cams changed it the most" camp and I don't think it is even close...IMO.

FWIW, I sat last night on a spot that could have produced, but was on the extreme outskirts of our farm...so no "intruder pollution" in the good areas from me at this early stage. :) Passed a doe/fawn and had a little pencil rack come in to. But...while I knew it was a "good acorn year"...it...