Post by tynimiller on May 1, 2017 8:39:55 GMT -5
Alright...so I've fielded a decent number of private messages...even some on my Small Acre Hunting asking about the Indiana herd, certain thoughts and groups over the past few months to half a year. The good is that folks seem to be thinking of deer hunting outside the normal October-December time frame, which is something I've never been able to relate to since they're on my mind daily.
However, I've yet to have a conversation not work it's way towards two boiled down things:
Why are there less deer?
&
Why are harvests down?
Now either directly or indirectly there are numerous factors which play a part in the answer to both questions...to what degree though is nearly impossible to measure exactly.
I've already discussed the habitat factor (Row-crop/building expansiion/mature timber deserts)...so I'm going to skip that one...read HERE if you want to discuss that. It is a HUGE factor in some areas IMO.
#1 - Reduction Mode. Bluntly put there are less deer because we've been in a statewide reduction mode for 5 years. The DNR actually made it quite clear reduction was the intent...if we were seeing more deer that would merely mean they have failed miserably. I know on nearly all my properties I am seeing less deer now than back in say 2011. However, one I'd argue has remained the same. Put simply though, we were/have been in a reduction mode...we should be seeing less deer.
#2 - Access. Some are seeing less for a multitude of reasons but for some it is no longer having access to viable good hunting ground. If the ground isn't good for deer habitat wise or pressure wise you will see less deer naturally. Access has long been one of the biggest concerns amongst hunters and nearly all of us know how precious it is to have even just one spot to hunt let alone a few if we do.
#3 - Mentalities. I'll be the first to admit, we live in a society where my generation (31 past month) and those younger MUST have instant gratification or else we/they lose interest usually. Hunting is one of those activities which teaches one failure happens more than success and that hard work increases chances and odds but guarantees nothing. There are no participation trophies in the woods...and this is a tough thing for some to grasp and swallow honestly. They long for the days where you could walk anywhere in average to sub-average deer woods and see 10-30 deer a sit...I cannot tell you how many times I've sat the last few years for hours and complete hunts not seeing a single deer (and would still say my localized herds are fine to stable), it is hunting...it isn't grocery shopping.
#4 - Disease. To say pockets of localized herds in some areas haven't been affected by disease is a naive thing to think/say at best. Nature has it's own reset buttons and sadly some have felt this pretty harshly. I am hoping we have another "light" year for EHD as we had last year.
#5 - Private management. Some areas are seeing less deer harvested because of the increase of private property harvest management plans either by individual owners or co-ops spread amongst a given area.
#6 - Over harvesting. Just looking at the deer harvest summary it is quite clear this is not as big of an issue as many would have led us to believe now...as extremely few people harvest more than 3 or 4 deer a year. Now I will admit just a few years back I know of some that used to brag that them or their families were fulfilling every tag option imaginable. Utterly naive and ridiculous to do so with no justification in many cases...Elkhart Coounty where I hunt primarily had been an 8 quota county and I only harvested more than 2 once...it is called self control. Again though, in recent years this has grown into be a very tiny and some would argue non-issue really but still in pockets it probably is for some folks. Some of the thickest irony I know are some of the fellas described above are now the maddest at the current state of their localized herds on and around their properties....hmmmmm....
#7 - Predators. Some areas this is becoming quite the issue for fawn recruitment. (added in edit, as this is something I usually bring up and didn't)
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Just some of the factors, not all which I feel play a part in how folks few the herd as being down and harvest totals being lower last year (2016).
Oh and I'll add...less deer does not mean the overall statewide deer herd is in dire need or on the edge of extinction as some claim.
However, I've yet to have a conversation not work it's way towards two boiled down things:
Why are there less deer?
&
Why are harvests down?
Now either directly or indirectly there are numerous factors which play a part in the answer to both questions...to what degree though is nearly impossible to measure exactly.
I've already discussed the habitat factor (Row-crop/building expansiion/mature timber deserts)...so I'm going to skip that one...read HERE if you want to discuss that. It is a HUGE factor in some areas IMO.
#1 - Reduction Mode. Bluntly put there are less deer because we've been in a statewide reduction mode for 5 years. The DNR actually made it quite clear reduction was the intent...if we were seeing more deer that would merely mean they have failed miserably. I know on nearly all my properties I am seeing less deer now than back in say 2011. However, one I'd argue has remained the same. Put simply though, we were/have been in a reduction mode...we should be seeing less deer.
#2 - Access. Some are seeing less for a multitude of reasons but for some it is no longer having access to viable good hunting ground. If the ground isn't good for deer habitat wise or pressure wise you will see less deer naturally. Access has long been one of the biggest concerns amongst hunters and nearly all of us know how precious it is to have even just one spot to hunt let alone a few if we do.
#3 - Mentalities. I'll be the first to admit, we live in a society where my generation (31 past month) and those younger MUST have instant gratification or else we/they lose interest usually. Hunting is one of those activities which teaches one failure happens more than success and that hard work increases chances and odds but guarantees nothing. There are no participation trophies in the woods...and this is a tough thing for some to grasp and swallow honestly. They long for the days where you could walk anywhere in average to sub-average deer woods and see 10-30 deer a sit...I cannot tell you how many times I've sat the last few years for hours and complete hunts not seeing a single deer (and would still say my localized herds are fine to stable), it is hunting...it isn't grocery shopping.
#4 - Disease. To say pockets of localized herds in some areas haven't been affected by disease is a naive thing to think/say at best. Nature has it's own reset buttons and sadly some have felt this pretty harshly. I am hoping we have another "light" year for EHD as we had last year.
#5 - Private management. Some areas are seeing less deer harvested because of the increase of private property harvest management plans either by individual owners or co-ops spread amongst a given area.
#6 - Over harvesting. Just looking at the deer harvest summary it is quite clear this is not as big of an issue as many would have led us to believe now...as extremely few people harvest more than 3 or 4 deer a year. Now I will admit just a few years back I know of some that used to brag that them or their families were fulfilling every tag option imaginable. Utterly naive and ridiculous to do so with no justification in many cases...Elkhart Coounty where I hunt primarily had been an 8 quota county and I only harvested more than 2 once...it is called self control. Again though, in recent years this has grown into be a very tiny and some would argue non-issue really but still in pockets it probably is for some folks. Some of the thickest irony I know are some of the fellas described above are now the maddest at the current state of their localized herds on and around their properties....hmmmmm....
#7 - Predators. Some areas this is becoming quite the issue for fawn recruitment. (added in edit, as this is something I usually bring up and didn't)
----------
Just some of the factors, not all which I feel play a part in how folks few the herd as being down and harvest totals being lower last year (2016).
Oh and I'll add...less deer does not mean the overall statewide deer herd is in dire need or on the edge of extinction as some claim.
. same deal, plus now yotes and bobcats.