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Post by mattfinney on Dec 2, 2023 6:35:23 GMT -5
youtu.be/nwD4W79ntTY?si=UzuGMZSlHx7SVml6Go to the dnr harvest totals page and click on Switzerland county. It is on a downward spiral towards crap canyon. What do you all think is going on? Do you think they are harvesting more than what the herd can replenish? Hate to see the hunting quality diminish like it is in many areas.
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Post by parrothead on Dec 2, 2023 6:46:41 GMT -5
I hunt on the Jefferson/Switzerland county line and have been seeing less for years. 15 years ago opening morning I would hear 350-400 shots between 7-11. Yes I kept track for something to do. Last few years 50 and less during the same 7-11 time.
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Post by boonechaser on Dec 2, 2023 6:52:34 GMT -5
youtu.be/nwD4W79ntTY?si=UzuGMZSlHx7SVml6Go to the dnr harvest totals page and click on Switzerland county. It is on a downward spiral towards crap canyon. What do you all think is going on? Do you think they are harvesting more than what the herd can replenish? Hate to see the hunting quality diminish like it is in many areas. Most of county was hit hard by EHD in 2022, although I did not find any dead deer in my immidiate area, justv3 miles away I had a friend find over 40 on his farm near Floence, IN. The closer to river or creeks entering seemed the worse. Did not kill any doe's last yr., or this year, but could have as I saw plenty antlerless this summer and during this season. All that said Switz. Co. still has plenty of deer, had way to many in late 90's and 2000's and reduction was badly needed. |
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Dec 2, 2023 7:25:31 GMT -5
DNR did the big pitch of harvesting more does for several years. Everyone bought in to it and started dropping does.
Well, Then we got hit with EHD several times. really haven’t bounced back. I’m sure this summers drought cause an outbreak.
Over harvest and EHD is the cause is the problem. Just bad timing.
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Post by bill9068 on Dec 2, 2023 8:39:26 GMT -5
EHD hit had about 3-4 years ago around my property in Perry county. Haven’t hunted it but maybe twice in 3 years, now it’s full of deer from what it used to be. I hunted it this year and had 4 shooter bucks all over 135-140. To many does to count, usually saw 5-6 does and a couple bucks every sit. Keep in mind it’s only 60 acres but not to many hunters in my area. Have 2 food plots in that aren’t big but deer are in them all the time. Standing corn was taken out around me just after thanksgiving. Have not killed a doe here in about 10 years. Kill a doe at my vanderburgh county spot.
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Post by boonechaser on Dec 2, 2023 9:30:19 GMT -5
DNR did the big pitch of harvesting more does for several years. Everyone bought in to it and started dropping does. Well, Then we got hit with EHD several times. really haven’t bounced back. I’m sure this summers drought cause an outbreak. Over harvest and EHD is the cause is the problem. Just bad timing. Yea, Didn't find any dead this year but probably worst drought since 06, I am sure we lost some. The herd definitely needed brought down, but could stand to come up some now. I expect bonus tags will remain low or maybe even go dn again. I message Joe Caudell few times a year, seems very receptive to input. |
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Post by greghopper on Dec 2, 2023 10:16:58 GMT -5
I would think most folks in that county are Trophy hunters vs meat hunters even if the deer are there they may choose not to shoot them.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 2, 2023 10:32:32 GMT -5
The DNR "was under the gun" (pun) by certain politicians to reduce the herd. The Pol said "do it or we will do it for you". The DNR came up with one proposal and it got shot down as they wanted to shorten and move both the firearm and muzzleloader seasons. 80% of the public input was against that. Proposal 2 was much better accepted. It came into affect in 2012 and unfortunately EHD hit hard that year too. Lots of deer died that year. EHD is a fact of life and has been with us a long time.. I think the present Deer Biologist is more in tune with what is going on with the Indiana deer herd than the previous Deer Biologist. I've had EHD hit my area at least twice that I know of. In a couple years you couldnt tell it was ever hit. Deer are resilient and if you have good habitat deer will backfill from other areas. I see the Special Late Season as a great management tool that can be turned off and on like a spigot. Dont have as many deer as you would like in your area? Dont shoot any does. Pretty simple. I started deer hunting in 1968 and deer were few and far between. I'm used to famine and feast!  |
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Post by mattfinney on Dec 2, 2023 13:07:00 GMT -5
I would think most folks in that county are Trophy hunters vs meat hunters even if the deer are there they may choose not to shoot them. Ok, but why are the current harvest numbers around half of what they were back in 2015? They were all meat hunters back then, and now trophy hunters? And harvest has decreased every single year? Personally, I think it's a combination of over harvest and EHD. Or another way to think about it is a failure to readjust doe quotas in response to a hard EHD year(s). Here's what I would like from our DNR. A habitat accessment for each county, and then a corresponding buck harvest target. Then set doe quotas based on whether you are achieving the buck harvest target or not. If buck harvest is low, decrease doe quota. If buck harvest is high, increase doe quota. I think this would work well on FWA properties as well so that we can have more precise control over populations. What do you all think? |
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Post by boonechaser on Dec 2, 2023 14:21:43 GMT -5
I would think most folks in that county are Trophy hunters vs meat hunters even if the deer are there they may choose not to shoot them. Ok, but why are the current harvest numbers around half of what they were back in 2015? They were all meat hunters back then, and now trophy hunters? And harvest has decreased every single year? Personally, I think it's a combination of over harvest and EHD. Or another way to think about it is a failure to readjust doe quotas in response to a hard EHD year(s). Here's what I would like from our DNR. A habitat accessment for each county, and then a corresponding buck harvest target. Then set doe quotas based on whether you are achieving the buck harvest target or not. If buck harvest is low, decrease doe quota. If buck harvest is high, increase doe quota. I think this would work well on FWA properties as well so that we can have more precise control over populations. What do you all think? For one SC had way, way to many deer and population needed reduced. I have lived here since 2003. (My hunting today is considerably better than when moved here in 2003) IMO we currently have the best deer biologist since I began hunting some 45 years ago, and antlerless deer tags have been reduced here, I have no desire to see population levels get back to early 2000 levels. Think Joe is doing a good job and am sure "IF" any changes need made he will do so. |
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Post by scrub-buster on Dec 2, 2023 14:36:31 GMT -5
I'm in Switzerland County and we have too many does on our property. When I was the only one hunting in the family I tried to kill 3 does a year. Now that my wife and step kids are hunting and killing deer we don't need that much meat. I'd like to get at least one more doe this season. Preferably one of the does that were eating my garden all summer. They should be healthy.
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Post by mattfinney on Dec 2, 2023 15:00:52 GMT -5
Think Joe is doing a good job and am sure "IF" any changes need made he will do so. I was under the impression that the biologist only has the power to make recommendations, is that not correct? |
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Post by greghopper on Dec 2, 2023 15:27:32 GMT -5
Think Joe is doing a good job and am sure "IF" any changes need made he will do so. I was under the impression that the biologist only has the power to make recommendations, is that not correct? Depends on the subject…..bonus permits he can rule on from my understanding! |
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Post by boonechaser on Dec 2, 2023 16:22:06 GMT -5
Think Joe is doing a good job and am sure "IF" any changes need made he will do so. I was under the impression that the biologist only has the power to make recommendations, is that not correct? Woody can probably answer better than I. But I believe Joe is the head of the wildlife division of DNR and Deer Bioligist. He was promoted and took back over deer biologist position when Chad left. I have been pretty impressed with him. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 2, 2023 21:53:27 GMT -5
I was under the impression that the biologist only has the power to make recommendations, is that not correct? Woody can probably answer better than I. But I believe Joe is the head of the wildlife division of DNR and Deer Bioligist. He was promoted and took back over deer biologist position when Chad left. I have been pretty impressed with him. Amanda Wuestefeld, is the Wildlife Division Director, but I guarantee you that whatever Joe wants (deer wise) Joe gets. |
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Post by duff on Dec 3, 2023 8:08:28 GMT -5
I'm in Switzerland County and we have too many does on our property. When I was the only one hunting in the family I tried to kill 3 does a year. Now that my wife and step kids are hunting and killing deer we don't need that much meat. I'd like to get at least one more doe this season. Preferably one of the does that were eating my garden all summer. They should be healthy. I like gardens that grow meat! |
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Post by boonechaser on Dec 3, 2023 10:35:57 GMT -5
Woody can probably answer better than I. But I believe Joe is the head of the wildlife division of DNR and Deer Bioligist. He was promoted and took back over deer biologist position when Chad left. I have been pretty impressed with him. Amanda Wuestefeld, is the Wildlife Division Director, but I guarantee you that whatever Joe wants (deer wise) Joe gets. Joe's bio reads Indiana Asst. Wildlife Director.Indiana Deer Biologist. Has educational bacground in Deer diseases , notably CWD. Indiana is lucky to have him. |
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Post by M4Madness on Dec 3, 2023 11:27:27 GMT -5
I think the state has done a great job of reducing the antlerless quotas -- lots of counties with 2's now. I recall not too very long ago when the quota map was covered with 8's. Not a single 4 on there now, which means no special antlerless hunt. Short of dropping the county quotas to 1, I don't know what else can be done.
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Post by boonechaser on Dec 3, 2023 13:04:53 GMT -5
I think the state has done a great job of reducing the antlerless quotas -- lots of counties with 2's now. I recall not too very long ago when the quota map was covered with 8's. Not a single 4 on there now, which means no special antlerless hunt. Short of dropping the county quotas to 1, I don't know what else can be done. I'm a firm beliver in the "State macro manages deer herd, hunter's micro manage it". Deer herds can very widely in a area for many reasons. (Habitat, food sorces, hunting pressure, predators,disease, etc.), Ultimately it is up to hunter's. It's not rocket science, IF not seeing good #'s don't shoot doe's, IF you want bigger bucks, stop shooting immature bucks, it really is that simple. Yes, not everyone hunt's for same reasons, and there are varibles out of your control, but it all starts with you. |
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