Deer herd on Public Property

I routinely see more does than bucks by a large margin when hunting PPs , since I'm a meat only hunter I understandably don't have a problem with this . ;D

The quest for the mythical 1:1 doe to buck ratio that those dipsticks at QDMA proselytize is a fool's errand at best since it's impossible to achieve in the wild , it can only be accomplished under controlled conditions on relatively small scale like a shooting zoo . I'll be as pleased a punch when the day arrives that the hunting public finally realizes this and stops trying to bully the DNR into achieving it solely for chest thumping potential . It ain't gonna happen , ever .

This is just my guess. I would say the FWA can handle more deer than state parks. FWA have ample amounts of food to support the herd, where state parks dont. I know here we used to see a gazillion deer in Potato Creek state park, but not anymore. Drive 15 miles west to Kingsbury FWA and it is loaded with deer. But they have lots of agriculture fields also. No bonus tags in Kingsbury. Its is "doe heaven" there.

That also goes a long way toward explaining the current "I'll take a buck or nothing" attitude of contemporary hunters . If the majority of hunters don't shoot slicks their numbers swell , no big mystery there .

Here we go again, another thread spinning out of control. Only took until the 3rd post to change course and start the name calling.

Classy real classy.

From the IDNR...

It is the philosophy of the Division of Fish & Wildlife that there is no such thing as too many deer on a WMA unless the deer are damaging adjacent off site property or damaging the natural vegetative deer habitat (crops excluded). Given the current recreational demand for a specific property for antlerless harvest via archery & muzzleloading hunting; if there are sufficient deer present to allow additional recreational opportunity for firearm hunting without reducing the population then we desire to also provide firearm antlerless recreation. The property manager makes recommendations about the level of the deer population and archery & muzzleloader demand to the statewide supervisor of WMAs who then makes the decision about the use of bonus antlerless permits on the property. Bonus permits are only used where the archery & muzzleloader antlerless harvest is not sufficient to maintain the deer population at the desired level.

Not bad.....at least you have 2 excuses for not knowing it was a button buck.

Even bow hunting I feel naked without my binos. Too many other things in the woods besides deer that I'd love to see "up close". I [glow=red,2,300]WANT[/glow] to know what I am shooting before I pull the trigger or release the string. My Dad taught me that 32 years ago....way before there was trophy hunting.

to know what I am shooting before I pull the trigger or release the string. My Dad taught me that 32 years ago....way before there was trophy hunting.


I know what I am shooting at a deer. Glad your dad was able to teach you. My birth dad died in ww11. My adopted dad died in 70 after I got out of the service. He only hunted squirrel and rabbits. He did teach me to hunt them though. Deer are food and all are trophys.

LOL.

It won't work on public land, I'll give you that. But it certainly will on private ground.

Management works if you stick with it, get others on board, and work your butt off to achieve it. Will you ever reach the magical 1:1 ratio? No, but you don't have to to have a successful program. Nothing is impossible though. You have to want it bad enough and you can make management work.

Don't think it is working? You should see the general area that I hunt. Myself and many others have banded together and produced a little honey hole area here in N.E. Indiana. It is an awesome place to be during October and November.

But go ahead and keep believing it can't work.

Management can work if private landowners work to make it work. 97% of Indiana is in private hands. While the deer herd belongs to the state, private property owners can play an extremly important role. Will the herd ever get to that mythical 1:1 ratio? Nope, but I submit that that's more up to private landowners than the state really. What I do think is extremely reachable is a 3 or 4:1 ratio. Conservation without action is simply conversation. Unfortunately, more times than not, people in general practice more conversation than conservation. I'm not slamming anyone when I say that but making a general observation.

I'm also curious as to those who shoot a button buck thinking it was a doe, do you place your buck or doe tag on it? I know what happens most of the time, but just curious as to what happens with folks on this board.