How many of you will be bow hunting areas or zones that are buck only? Why? For the first time in a long time Wisconsin has some northern zones that will not allow the taking of a doe this year for bow or gun and I happen to be in one of them. The deer numbers are down big time and the blame game has begun for sure. T
I think if I was in that situation, I would still harvest a doe or two, I guess I would try to pay attention to the deer heard myself by scouting to try and see what numbers are on my specific hunting property?
Well we hope he misunderstood Conversely to your situation, I'm hunting in an EAB (earn a buck) area. You have to kill 2 does before you can take a buck. I'll also be participating in county park hunts where you must take 3 does before a buck. BUT...the does don't count against your tags and you can take as many as you want to, unlimited per day, per season in the parks.
I'm going to be hunting one of those area's. Between over hunting the does and the wolf population getting out of hand. I wouldn't shoot a doe in that area or in the area where my cabin is either. The #'s have been dropping over the years.
I'm also hunting EAB counties here in VA. I'm not sure if it's different "up north " but I'm allowed to kill a buck without first taking a doe. BUT I have to kill a doe before taking my second buck, and another doe before taking my third buck.
Yeah, that's how it works I just stated it wrong for outside of the parks. In the parks you must take does first. Last year in the parks no bucks were allowed and I had the BIGGEST buck of my life walk 10 yards and stop broadside, look at me, say howdy Rob then just walk off in the crunching snow.
I'm in the same situation here (no does). What really stinks is that we (my family) usually eat 5-6 deer per year...I guess that will not happen this year...1 buck for archery and one for gun season-if i'm lucky....
For the record..... a surplus of doe tags for many years is a big big part of why the deer numbers are so low in northern Wisconsin. The over harvest of does, a couple of hard winters and now the increasing numbers of wolfs and bears. Tony I give you credit for hunting that area. It's tough going.
Gotcha...I had the same thing happen in 2008. Biggest buck I'd seen came by my stand at 35 yards eating acorns. I needed to kill a doe before I could take this buck (would have been my 2nd buck). I drew down on him just to see what it felt like. Had to watch him walk away.
I like venison as much as the next guy, but I only take one or two a year. Part of the issue we face here in Wisconsin is the number of deer taken every year. We all bought into the 1,7MM deer and started killing, with no regard for the herd. Now that there are fewer deer we are blaming the DNR???? Just because the sell and give tags away does not mean that we have to fill them. Not coming down on you personally, but we can't have it both ways. As the stewards of our environment, including our herd sometimes we need to think for ourselves. The DNR have their agenda and from all reports they are not done "reducing" the deer herd. As for shooting does or not, I would not and still may not on the land I hunt because of the deer numbers being down from previous years. And I do not hunt a "buck only" unit.
You got that right brother! I'll be out opening day of small game with bow in hand, a week before deer season opens. Then, after it closes next year Jan, I'll still be hunting for a few more months with bow in hand chasin rabbits!, can't wait!! Cant wait!
ooooppppppsss, sorry fellas; i read the question too fast; of coarse I wouldn't in that situation; my mistake. You can take the cuffs off of me now.
I guess I don't see that as being a rational thought if you have a good deer heard that was what I was referring too, but a law is a law!
I hunt Northern Wisconsin as well. There still seem to be pockets with great deer populations, as well as pockets were the numbers are down. Many things contributed to the fall in population, hard winters back to back, Bear populations is at a all time high as is the wolf population, some over harvesting. That said the herd was out of control in many areas. The herd will bounce back quickly and there seems to be a better age structure in my areas.
