Some interesting stats found in a local paper today. Harvest numbers are WAY up so far this year. Could have something to do with the unusually cold weather we've been having, enticing deer to move more during daylight hours. The current 2009 archery harvest through last Sunday stands at 17,408 whitetails, compared to 12,644 (2008), 10,798 (2007), 16,228 (2006), and 15,845 (2005). Top five counties are Pike (835), Fulton (466), Jefferson (457), Peoria (419), and LaSalle (399). Harvest sex ratios to date (archery season only) have been 69.3% female; 30.7% male. From the looks of things if this weather can hold out for another couple of weeks it should be a banner year. Bring on November!
It absolutely amazes me that Pike is nearly 200% of the next county. Is this simply due to more hunters because of outfitters? Is it geographically larger?
Pike is geographically one of the largest counties in the state. Plus it has the highest deer density, and the most outfitters. Put them all together and you have the results you see before you. Every time I go down there it truly amazes me how many deer you see. They are like rats, standing around in the fields at all times of the day and night.
On top of that...when Pittsfield at population 4200 is the major metropolis of your county...deer can live absolutely anywhere...there are just no people living in Pike County (total pop. 17000)
I live just north of Jefferson county. Geographically its large, too, but the amount of deer there is mind boggling. I used to hunt some public ground there that was better than any private ground I've ever hunted. The hour drive got old and I stopped hunting there.
Driving around up there at night is just plain dangerous! Lots and Lots of deer. I think the temps have a lot to do with it. Plus it's been so wet the farmers can't get in the fields so they bowhunt.
I partly blame the increase harvest numbers on Deb's (Lady Forge) husband Louie. He's taken five does and 1 buck so far. What's interesting about the harvest numbers is that they are just now really getting the corn out of the fields. Usually, everybody blames standing corn for low deer harvest numbers.
I'd say the cold snap not only got the deer moving, but enticed more hunters to hit the field in the first place....a LOT of people stay at home when it's hot out.
Every Friday while working I get to travel through Jersey, Calhoun and Pike counties. We see some deer in Jersey, then quite a few in Calhoun, and Pike is just plain ridiculous. During the 2nd shotgun season a few years back, me and the boss saw 2 stud 8 pointers, and then a 10 pointer that would of challenged 170, all within 2 miles of each other. I get to stop at Heartland Lodge every so often for a delivery, and they will have some slammers down there, and then I drive down the road to a processor, and they usually have some nice racks in their cooler too.
