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Post by tynimiller on Jan 31, 2023 7:23:46 GMT -5
My thought is, why on Earth would we want to be number one? So we can get flooded with out of state hunters? High dollar leasing replacing all the permission pieces? At some point, hunters need to take some responsibility for their own herd management. By just shrugging shoulders and saying "oh well, I don't see and mature deer so I'll just keep shooting 2.5 year olds". Part of the growing pains is eating buck tags for a season or two. Just one example. Just a disclaimer, if you're happy with shooting young bucks, go right ahead! I will celebrate right along side ya and cheer you on! I have nothing against what anyone shoots. Just as long as it's legal. My point is, there are so many things that hunters can do to improve their herds on their own. It's not all the State's fault. And, just for the record, I am happy with the seasons the way they are now. If I had the choice, I wouldn't change a thing. If your DNR didn't hate you, there would be a quota on non-resident hunters like Iowa has. Iowa doesn't get flooded with NR's, because the Iowa DNR doesn't hate the resident deer hunters. Can you unpack the claim or accusation that the DNR hates us so I understand more. Your second part shows you haven't been to Iowa of late. Most of the land in the prime zones are owned up or leased up catering to tons of out of state guys - shoot the outfitting family I was with and have known for years put me on two farms nearly touching 1,000 acres total and they had over two dozen other farms of various sizes some owned and some leased and their family aren't even Iowa residents (they don't even get to hunt their Iowa owned ground every year...and are treated like NR themselves).
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Post by tynimiller on Jan 26, 2023 16:44:38 GMT -5
How that wasn't attempted manslaughter or murder is something I cannot wrap my head around...
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Post by tynimiller on Jan 7, 2023 13:00:17 GMT -5
Truthfully if it came to choosing wife or family or hunting it’s an easy decision and hunting would be gone.
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Post by tynimiller on Jan 6, 2023 8:21:55 GMT -5
Why do they have such regs to get a tag there. Think maybe that kinda system in place here might benefit us? They have some of the best trophy buck hunting in the states, large parcels - lots of leases and outfitters which already minimizes pressure and such naturally. Indiana doesn’t have the massive swaths of deer habitat like they do and isn’t nearly as attractive or appealing to a hunter. Our largest tracts and chunks of land are closed canopy forests in the southern part of the state.
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Post by tynimiller on Jan 4, 2023 14:27:58 GMT -5
Yea, was figuring we wouldn't get drawn to shotgun hunt till third year. Oh it is worth putting in with one if in zone 4 or 5 but maybe not a guarantee. zone 6 is still a guarantee with just one...or it appears as such if 2023 is similar to 2022.
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Post by tynimiller on Jan 4, 2023 13:49:47 GMT -5
I'm a couple years into building Iowa points. Might get to go next year? Depends what weapon and zone. Odds illustrated from 2022 are here: www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/nrd_draw.pdfPretty much the two hot zones (4,5) you now may not draw gun with just one preference point and need two to be 100%. You also now are not guaranteed to draw with 4 points for bow. Now of course these could swing back a touch or forward but this last year was the first year I heard a lot of archery hopefuls with 4 points didn't draw and a lot of 1 didn't draw for gun.
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Post by tynimiller on Jan 4, 2023 7:36:39 GMT -5
Buck #2's body screaming 3 year old at me personally in the moment is ultimately what made me not pull the gun up. His headgear's frame was special for sure, but without measurable brows I just didn't see 140 happening so elected to try and get some footage of him. Yea that last deer would have been cool. Matching left side he even doesn't push past 140 by a lot but I knew studying him he was mature and most likely I'd bet would have clear 140 Was there a minimum size you were allowed to shoot or pay more money as a penalty? What outfitter did you use? They have a 140 minimum or you're subject to an additional $500 charge. Now they don't typically charge you if you shoot a four year or older buck. Wicked Whitetail Outdoors. I've had a few friends I trust go wit them and 100% was a solid outfit. Lodge was awesome, food was amazing, farms were stellar...weather just sucked plain and simple which they cannot do anything about.
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Post by tynimiller on Jan 3, 2023 18:27:02 GMT -5
Agree. Shoot that one I passed have even brows like that I probably shoot.
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Post by tynimiller on Jan 3, 2023 10:22:46 GMT -5
I liked buck#2. That 3rd one would have been your guy had ne not lost his left side. Tough to pass on those deer I'm sure. But, having a certain type of deer in mind, and the possibility of penalties, makes it a little easier. All three will be studs next year for sure. Buck #2's body screaming 3 year old at me personally in the moment is ultimately what made me not pull the gun up. His headgear's frame was special for sure, but without measurable brows I just didn't see 140 happening so elected to try and get some footage of him. Yea that last deer would have been cool. Matching left side he even doesn't push past 140 by a lot but I knew studying him he was mature and most likely I'd bet would have clear 140
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Post by tynimiller on Jan 3, 2023 9:00:52 GMT -5
Well made it home early Monday morning as I rolled out of camp Sunday night after dinner to get a jump on traveling...talk about a tough all nighter (did pull over and nap for two hours once).
Either way only truly saw three bucks worthy of trying to get footage of them. They're in the order of which I saw them...with the first being the most mature but I struggled to decide to shoot him as the place has a 140 minimum score or a penalty...now they don't penalize you if you shoot a mature buck (unless say it is a four year old on a no shoot list)...but I didn't come all the way to Iowa personally to shoot an awesome but short tined eight that would struggle to get above 130s.
The second buck had a frame that instantly made me grab my gun...when all I saw was his height he made my mind jump to a very similar high ten on that particular farm; but with zero left brow, a short right one I just didn't see a 7 pointer that would break 140. Again back at camp many of the other hunters couldn't believe I passed this one too...even one of the outfitter family members was. But I guess call me crazy I didn't see an old deer, I saw a deer that was borderline 140 (if he had that left brow still) that was a 2023 STUD walking.
The final buck was the final morning of my trip and his split G2 was cool, his G4 can barely be seen at end but shot sideways inward....if he had a left side on his head good chance I'm shooting him.
Unusually WARM (60+ one day, 50+ three days...only one day below freezing high) temps for late season hunting is just abysmal for movement.
Was still incredible...and I've never sat for as many hours as I did so fully attentive to every glimpse of movement, because I was legit hunting 170+ deer on every farm I was on and I've never experienced that chance. Iowa had been a dream I chalked up as just purely not happening ever...now I'm already thinking that around 2026 or 2027 I might try to have money saved up to justify it again.
Video of the bucks I passed is linked below...once I knew I wasn't shooting tried getting footage...the first buck guys walked from behind blind and was so close that the first thing I could see of him was just the tips of his antlers (he was three feet from blind below me).
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 22, 2022 18:52:06 GMT -5
Read what they considered deer habitat…I’d argue they over sell big closed canopy timber.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 22, 2022 17:08:18 GMT -5
My personal opinion is that what is hurting Northern Indiana is lack of security cover. I seldom travel north of Indy, but when I do, I'm always shocked by the flat land and small woodlots. It's very hilly and forested in the southern half, and that's why my county (Lawrence) and the surrounding counties have good deer numbers. There are lots of places for deer to hide, and lots of places hunters aren't willing to venture. Just reading the story of how the Beck buck was taken makes me wonder how any deer reaches maturity in those flat woodlots. Yup! Much of northern Indiana is open ag fields and what isn’t is usually developed or small broken up woodlots. It’s not the greatest habitat for deer by a long ways.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 22, 2022 15:36:58 GMT -5
I said it years ago and I still stand by it... If bowhunters want the gun season moved/shortened whatever, they need to prove that they can manage the deer herd not expect gun hunters to kill does and keep the herd in check... I actually discussed this with a state deer biologist once I crossed paths with and it was VERY insightful. He explained how that very thought he has seen used to both justify long firearms seasons and short. He caught my eyebrow curl up at that and he summarized - warning I will not do NEARLY as good as he: Typically he said if you study harvest trends the majority of harvests occurring in firearms seasons will be in the first weekend in it and really die back with only a slight uptick the final weekend of that season. With that in mind some states have argued is why a split up approach of say two shorter day seasons (3-5 days exist in some places) is actually more effective at harvesting goals than say even a 21 day season might do per statistical harvest trends. I found it very interesting and we talked more but that is the bread and butter of the convo and then we got cut off. And no that person was not Moriah or Joe and this was about six years back at a outdoor show. However JJAS is right it is NOT archery hunters that drive the harvests and honestly even with the uptick of crossbow harvesting I doubt it will ever even come close to sniffing it really. I do recall MSU Deer Lab I believe it was discussing how some states have proven that the timing of firearms seasons doesn't change the amount of deer harvested as much as some might think...and is why we've seen some states remove the majority of "the most" pressure off the breeding window and you see December the main firearms month - Iowa is an example of this with the only non December gun season of any kind is their Early Muzzleloader season which this year was October 15th through the 23rd. Otherwise outside their youth and disabled seasons there is no firearms pressure till December. However to be fair their arguably one of the only main midwest states that do this approach and the states around us KY, OH and MI all are somewhat similar to us with timing and length of firearm season. Illinois is the only one that while they have firearms in November it is only a three day period. Who knows....I still never think we will be taking any days away from firearms season...only way possibly would be if they got say days in Octobeer, days in November and days in December that maybe end up slightly less than the current concurrent style - however I just don't think that will happen. Shoot tons of hoosiers struggle to read and understand the regulations as they are now....I don't want to see Facebook if you add in THREE firearms seasons LOL.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 22, 2022 13:40:41 GMT -5
Don't think there is any DEBATE. Shortening firearms was proposed once before and was met with heavy opposition. There are more non archery hunter's than archery only, and many archery guy's like myself who enjoy the longer deer hunting seasons for each weapon that Indiana offers. Yup agreed. I still think if anything you may see the non-modern muzzleloaders actually gain a season of their own again say a five day period around the time of the bonus antlerless only season (if a county qualifies). The original muzzleloader only season pre-dates the inlines and such and I could see granting an additional chance for percussion and flints.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 21, 2022 22:41:27 GMT -5
Woody would message me or shoot even call me I bet if he truly thought I was attacking him. He knows that is the last thing I’d ever mean to do - written text isn’t always best form of communication too. Woody is a man I’ll defend till I draw last breath to many if they attack his character and heart - man would never purposely do another harm and he has done far more for hunters than most of us collectively will ever. It's for a rise and you are giving to him. We all know nothing is ever going to change with our seasons or weapons to manage like our neighbors it's just a pipe dream. That ship sailed I personally don’t want or feel seasons need changed or anything removed from options. The whole Crossbow sharings was actually prompted when someone asked my opinions of why I desire to have one sometimes and what advantages I see in them. Crossbows are here to stay, and personally I think used properly has opened up doors to so many hunters to extend their archery seasons, introduce kids to archery or help many who simply cannot figure out vertical for numerous reasons a way to get out and enjoy a time of the year a lot of us love to be up a tree.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 21, 2022 22:06:21 GMT -5
Did I miss a post or something? Who came here attacking in such a manner? Woody and I love and respect eachother FTR and I hope this cryptic post wasn’t directed at me, but if it was please let me know. Its not you. I'm not sure what is going on honestly but he is a good dude and a great hunter maybe calm down a little. Woody would message me or shoot even call me I bet if he truly thought I was attacking him. He knows that is the last thing I’d ever mean to do - written text isn’t always best form of communication too. Woody is a man I’ll defend till I draw last breath to many if they attack his character and heart - man would never purposely do another harm and he has done far more for hunters than most of us collectively will ever.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 21, 2022 22:04:07 GMT -5
I hunt some St. Joseph County and Elkhart County - Pigeon is just west of me in St. Joseph County (at least his urban spot is) My reduction spot is north st joe. My regular is south st joe right next to potato creek. That area has property lines every 10 to 30 acres. Try hunting those conditions. Know it well. Grew up primarily hunting our nine acre woods behind house that come firearms season i at minimum knew of eight different neighbors within a distance they’d hear you if you rattled antlers. My other main spot was a four acre chunk with neighboring pressure to west as close as fifty yards and to the south as close as eighty. Trust me it wasn’t until we gained access on a seventy acre farm (only about 22 actually not open tillable) that I could hunt a day and usually not see another hunter once firearms season would hit (that place crazy enough had some of the worst neighbors back then tho) Then 2016 I bought my 22 acres and it has a dozen or thirteen different owners that touch a boundary and over those six years have had over 20 trespassing cases and even a pot grower trying to set up shop. Small acres, tons of pressure is literally all I’ve personally ever known sadly. However still I’m incredibly blessed as I have spots to go, albeit with their issues and I even was blessed with 22 acres I get to try constantly to make better. I have many a friend whom I’d love to be blessed with their access and I have many that would love to have what I have…fact is blessings abound I try to only focus on that when it comes to what I can hunt.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 21, 2022 21:35:42 GMT -5
But you did say one thing that makes me think you might be reading. You said maybe my local area. And this NW corner does have a higher hunter density.. 2 hunting friends live in Hebron area, and another, Logansport. They kill some damn good deer on regular basis. All 3 killed 150"+ in 2021, 1 killed a 150+ in bow this year, 2 others still at it. I hunt some St. Joseph County and Elkhart County - Pigeon is just west of me in St. Joseph County (at least his urban spot is)
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 21, 2022 21:34:15 GMT -5
Guys...this site has not had much drama for a good while. Let's keep it that way. Woody has given more to Indiana hunters than most of us realize. If you come to his site to cast shade on a guys legal choice or want to restrict hunting seasons, I recommend you do it without pot stiring or passive aggressively poking at a person you have never met. Did I miss a post or something? Who came here attacking in such a manner? Woody and I love and respect eachother FTR and I hope this cryptic post wasn’t directed at me, but if it was please let me know.
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Post by tynimiller on Dec 21, 2022 21:31:58 GMT -5
Far from done. I have 6 tags left... I’d not be having bait put down, intentional or not wouldn’t mess with it.
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