Ok, ok.... I got a bunch of PM's, emails & even some calls to put the "Shed Buck Poll" back up.
Got it. This thread is not about me!! The last one I was trying to have some fun with. Couple Jack-Wagons had to get too personal to bother listening to. Which, if they don't like this, whatever, don't read it. Aint about me. It's about a season with a variety of stances and a lot of folks out there that don't get into deer hunting like the "hard core" guys that frequent here.
SO- post your experiences. YOU MAY CHOOSE MULTIPLE SELECTIONS IN POLL & can choose to do that only. What are your thoughts, what do you see when you run into other groups hunting? Do you feel this season needs to be added to our Oct 1 to Jan 10 deer season (and that's not including summer depredation tags & youth season) ? OVER-ALL, on AVERAGE, what do you think this season does- good or bad? Do you agree with DNR & majority of hunters surveyed (was either Litchfield or another sharing before) that this season needs to go? HAVE AT IT.
**My OPINION (& if you don't agree, great! Just don't be a Jack***), strong opinions welcome no matter what they are!......
1) The DNR has overwhelmingly "lobbied" this season should end. Beyond served its purpose & was created with the knowing it's a "temporary measure". FB is the overwhelming fighting force of $ & special interest that's trying to run over the public & is the overwhelming reason this season exists.
2) If you can't get an adequate amount of does shot Oct 1-Jan 10- your area either doesn't need more deer shot or you are doing a very poor job at trying to kill does.
3) Shed bucks are DESTROYED by this season. The list of personal examples is disgusting that I know of. I have FIVE personal examples now of basically confirmed 200" deer being killed during shed season. That's not including dozens & dozens I've personally seen that you have no idea how big they are.
4) there's a small group of people that glass deer to no end before shooting. They are a MINORITY to the extreme. From my experience, most groups use rifles at long distances, don't care what they shoot, also smack lots more button bucks, shoot at running deer, do big deer drives, etc. They also come out of the woodwork with rifles to "blast" & really are just there cause of the opportunity to slay in big numbers with big guns. Often, not the regular deer hunter from bow season. Don't know, don't care and will never have the knowledge, education, awareness or any concern when they do shoot shed bucks.
5) The amount of bucks I've seen get shot late season again is staggering- the amount of folks I know that found sheds BUT the buck was never to be seen again the next year & COINCIDENTALLY had a neighbor group whack 3-4 shed bucks - huge #'s & folks impacted. Unusually high amount of good bucks you found sheds- "never show up the next year" for you??? Never is 100% sure BUT I think we all know what happened to many of them.
6) Every year I go to 2 major meat lockers. Ratios of 5 does, 3 shed bucks & 2 button bucks is COMMONPLACE & probably what I've seen year to year to year from my non-scientific observation.
7) this year we are seeing huge extra #'s of bucks shed due to drought stress & possible recovered EHD exposure. Friend today found 17 on his farm (he's probably reading this post) and another friend has found 11 - both of which are hard core guys who shoot straight with what's going on. I've legitimately saw 6 out of my blind. I had a "DOE" come from 200 yards down to 20 a few nights ago. It took the deer until it got to 20 yards before I had the "right angle" to realize it was a shed buck. This was at 3:30 in afternoon with high quality 10x42 binocs. Rarely is this caution exhibited by even well intentioned folks.
8) there are guys who do this responsibly. Just like you could give some rifles all year long & their farms would be great BUT - the average guys across the state- it's a disaster- the average guy does not have this discipline, sorry, they don't. Regulations will be the only true way to properly manage deer. If NOT, then how bout we leave the season open year round??? Or have rifle hunting Nov 1 on??? We all know with all the "average joes" - regulations are the only way to keep proper deer management truly in average good quality (another reason why Iowa blows away its neighbors for quality as of NOW).
Is this destroying all of iowa hunting? NO, of course not! & I am pleased in the reduction of the late Shed Buck Season hunting dates this year! BUT- Is the season doing major damage all over in many average neighborhoods, OF COURSE! It's the average guy that's getting destroyed for future bucks and possibly in already decimated areas. DNR wants it gone, most hunters do, it's damaging low density areas and having huge detriment to bucks that evaded hunters Oct 1 to Jan 10 to only be mowed down now. Vast #'s have shed (and yes, many will still have their horns in Feb) & many will be killed by "mistaken hunters" or those that just don't care. JANUARY 10, the TRUE Iowa deer season that was always meant to be the end before this temporary season, should be the end of deer hunting for the year and these clever but stressed animals need time to recover & have a break until next Oct. But- that's this little guys take.
Got it. This thread is not about me!! The last one I was trying to have some fun with. Couple Jack-Wagons had to get too personal to bother listening to. Which, if they don't like this, whatever, don't read it. Aint about me. It's about a season with a variety of stances and a lot of folks out there that don't get into deer hunting like the "hard core" guys that frequent here.
SO- post your experiences. YOU MAY CHOOSE MULTIPLE SELECTIONS IN POLL & can choose to do that only. What are your thoughts, what do you see when you run into other groups hunting? Do you feel this season needs to be added to our Oct 1 to Jan 10 deer season (and that's not including summer depredation tags & youth season) ? OVER-ALL, on AVERAGE, what do you think this season does- good or bad? Do you agree with DNR & majority of hunters surveyed (was either Litchfield or another sharing before) that this season needs to go? HAVE AT IT.
**My OPINION (& if you don't agree, great! Just don't be a Jack***), strong opinions welcome no matter what they are!......
1) The DNR has overwhelmingly "lobbied" this season should end. Beyond served its purpose & was created with the knowing it's a "temporary measure". FB is the overwhelming fighting force of $ & special interest that's trying to run over the public & is the overwhelming reason this season exists.
2) If you can't get an adequate amount of does shot Oct 1-Jan 10- your area either doesn't need more deer shot or you are doing a very poor job at trying to kill does.
3) Shed bucks are DESTROYED by this season. The list of personal examples is disgusting that I know of. I have FIVE personal examples now of basically confirmed 200" deer being killed during shed season. That's not including dozens & dozens I've personally seen that you have no idea how big they are.
4) there's a small group of people that glass deer to no end before shooting. They are a MINORITY to the extreme. From my experience, most groups use rifles at long distances, don't care what they shoot, also smack lots more button bucks, shoot at running deer, do big deer drives, etc. They also come out of the woodwork with rifles to "blast" & really are just there cause of the opportunity to slay in big numbers with big guns. Often, not the regular deer hunter from bow season. Don't know, don't care and will never have the knowledge, education, awareness or any concern when they do shoot shed bucks.
5) The amount of bucks I've seen get shot late season again is staggering- the amount of folks I know that found sheds BUT the buck was never to be seen again the next year & COINCIDENTALLY had a neighbor group whack 3-4 shed bucks - huge #'s & folks impacted. Unusually high amount of good bucks you found sheds- "never show up the next year" for you??? Never is 100% sure BUT I think we all know what happened to many of them.
6) Every year I go to 2 major meat lockers. Ratios of 5 does, 3 shed bucks & 2 button bucks is COMMONPLACE & probably what I've seen year to year to year from my non-scientific observation.
7) this year we are seeing huge extra #'s of bucks shed due to drought stress & possible recovered EHD exposure. Friend today found 17 on his farm (he's probably reading this post) and another friend has found 11 - both of which are hard core guys who shoot straight with what's going on. I've legitimately saw 6 out of my blind. I had a "DOE" come from 200 yards down to 20 a few nights ago. It took the deer until it got to 20 yards before I had the "right angle" to realize it was a shed buck. This was at 3:30 in afternoon with high quality 10x42 binocs. Rarely is this caution exhibited by even well intentioned folks.
8) there are guys who do this responsibly. Just like you could give some rifles all year long & their farms would be great BUT - the average guys across the state- it's a disaster- the average guy does not have this discipline, sorry, they don't. Regulations will be the only true way to properly manage deer. If NOT, then how bout we leave the season open year round??? Or have rifle hunting Nov 1 on??? We all know with all the "average joes" - regulations are the only way to keep proper deer management truly in average good quality (another reason why Iowa blows away its neighbors for quality as of NOW).
Is this destroying all of iowa hunting? NO, of course not! & I am pleased in the reduction of the late Shed Buck Season hunting dates this year! BUT- Is the season doing major damage all over in many average neighborhoods, OF COURSE! It's the average guy that's getting destroyed for future bucks and possibly in already decimated areas. DNR wants it gone, most hunters do, it's damaging low density areas and having huge detriment to bucks that evaded hunters Oct 1 to Jan 10 to only be mowed down now. Vast #'s have shed (and yes, many will still have their horns in Feb) & many will be killed by "mistaken hunters" or those that just don't care. JANUARY 10, the TRUE Iowa deer season that was always meant to be the end before this temporary season, should be the end of deer hunting for the year and these clever but stressed animals need time to recover & have a break until next Oct. But- that's this little guys take.
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