Nice to see. - “Clearly this year’s preliminary firearm harvest numbers are below previous seasons, and while bad weather conditions throughout the state played a role, it cannot be the only factor. Once all deer seasons are complete, our biologists will evaluate deer management goals on a county-by-county basis to achieve stability in our deer herd,” said IDNR Director Marc Miller."
So I guess we have no more deer ha. It is kind of odd and I'm sure there are several factors that have played into it but from looking around on here and talking to several different people it doesn't seem to be only a problem that's happening here. Just haveta see what happens now moving forward I guess.
7 days of hunting equaled 80 more deer than just 3 days last season. It's nice that they admit it is not just weather related but the words on a county by county basis are encouraging and scary at the same time. If they do it right we can get somewhere in short order, but this being IL will the county by county assessment be completely biologists or will it be politically coordinated. Still think some counties should be earn a buck, check stations reintroduced to these counties to make sure it's happening, or maybe earn a second buck if they do not go one buck statewide(that's the only way one buck gets my vote). I used to think only outfitters should be the earn a buck requirement, but unless it's high fenced the overpopulation in some areas is outside of outfitted land as well.
Harvest data for archery & 1st firearms season combined. Numbers to change after 2nd season is factored in. 66% decrease in Lake County would explain why I haven't seen a deer in my last 5 sits...
I don't know of many areas that are so overpopulated. I hope to never see earn a buck here, I think it would be a disaster. Most of the state are experiencing super low deer numbers, IMO. They may say they're going to make changes, but I would be willing to bet next year will be exactly the same.
One buk per year wouldn't bother me for two or three years. I think it would do alot of good. Bigger bucks and more deer. Unless im missing something. How is that a bad thing?
Earn a buck for certain counties. Pike is one that has a high deer number regardless of their harvest decrease. I'd never want to see it state wide. My earn a second buck was for those counties only as well, thought earn a first buck may be too aggressive? But issuing unlimited tags in every county because a few do still have population issues is not the answer.
If they made it a earn a buck or even one buck a year I'd think there'd be a lot of resistance from people. Outfitters especially, could be wrong buck idk, how proven are those methods of really increasing the population. Sure the one a year would potentially increase size and age of bigger bucks but is that what the goals should be. Idk just asking questions. There's other states already doing these things but idk if its doin what's the intended purpose is. The decline we're seeing this year didn't happen from last January when the season ended until now, would think its been happening over a couple years. While the weather isn't probably the rewsons for this year you can look at the last couple years and it probably has played a roll. Crops haven't been great the last two years either with not having enough rain to produce or having to much where they weren't planted. Two years ago the farm I hunt averaged less than 15 bu/acre for corn on the fields that the insurance came and looked at. Most around didn't do much beter, and a lot of that ended up getting chopped for silage for cattle over the winter. Which leaves little on the ground left for any wildlife. Like I said idk but would think there's something else going on besides just saying the DNR hasn't done their job and have been issuing too many permits.
I'd be fine with a one buck limit. I'd be ok with making antlerless deer off limits for a season. Dropping the late doe slaughter THIS year would be a sign that the state is serious about correcting the over harvest of does.
any guesses on next years harvest ? I say down again This has been coming for several years in my opinion . I agree that disease has played a factor but I still hold IDNR accountable for a part also. Illinois has issued to many permits . Both resident and non resident . The seasons of buying all the tags a person can get has taken its toll. I think they need to take a strong look at each county and limit permits. I think we need to go to a one buck limit regardless of harvest method. Stop the antlerless late seasons Unfortunately I don't see them doing much..........insurance companies want more deer killed and the state of Illinois wants the revenue .
I agree with you, but how much longer will out of state hunters keep coming and paying the high prices if the trend continues?
A lot of out of state guys that hunt the ground around me came a couple time before first shotgun and left before telling the land owners they weren't coming back this year. And the land owners don't know if they'll be back next year.
Like anything in life there's a point of diminishing returns for the DNR when it comes to the deer herd. They want to keep it low enough to prevent habitat damage and minimize car collisions while keeping it high enough to attract hunters and bring in license revenue. Right now we're on the decline with population and may soon reach the decline in sales to the point where the DNR makes changes to try and bring the population back up. However like many things controlled by politicians I wouldn't expect any major changes very soon. Possibly some minor revisions to archery seasons next fall but Id' be surprised with any more than that. Earn-A-Buck is definitely NOT the answer to a declining deer population. That program was meant specifically to reduce herd growth by harvesting more does which is the exact opposite of what we need. I'd be happy with a 1 buck, 1 doe rule for next year, with possibly a 2nd buck to be harvested after the 2nd gun season.
I could live with 1 buck, 1 doe for a couple years if need be. Im already tossing around the idea of not shooting any does next year on our farm that was hardest hit (went from seeing at least 2-3 deer EVERY sit to only seeing a handful all season this year). That map you posted with the 1st seasons percentage change on it speaks volumes to me, and answers a lot of questions we had this season. By far the worst season I have ever seen.
I think the map really shows the effect that the DNR sharpshooting program has had on Northern counties. The counties hardest hit are the border between IL and WI where all the shooting has been happening. We've had some sporadic EHD but nothing so severe that it would warrant such significant drops in deer harvest. It looks like the DNR is basically trying to create a border between IL and WI to stop CWD from progressing South, which we all know isn't going to happen no matter how many deer they kill.
