The last 10 years or so the Minnesota DNR has really been under attack from allot of the Mn hunters. People want change and rightfully so, this state Is nothing what It use to be In allot of It's areas when It comes to quality bucks. I didn't say all the area's because there Is some outstanding deer and quality buck hunting In some of the area's In Mn. Just south and west of me Mn has Implemented an early youth firearm deer season this year (2 day season) where they can be eligible to shoot a anterless deer If they are successful In the youth lottery hunt. They've also designated one area for youth archery In a lottery system as well where youth bow hunters can shoot an anterless deer In a 4 day season If successful In the lottery. No hunter (archery or gun) can shoot an anterless deer In any of these area's during the regular archery and firearm season, It's the 1st time I've ever saw that around here. There's plenty, plenty of deer In the zones just south and west of me. I can't speak for the area's that are way south and west of me though, don't know enough about them to form an opinion. MNpurple (Craig), don't take what I said personal being you work for the Mn DNR. I know you have nothing to do with the hunting regulations but what's up with this one? Don't make any sense to me what so ever. It's great that Mn Is trying to get the youth Involved but they can still do that without changing the regulations during the regular seasons. The buck population Is going to get smoked In some of these area's, I'd be hot If I lived In one of these area's.
I know what your saying Jeff, no problem with what you said at all. I'm sure everyone on here Is sick of me complaining and yet their only seeing one side of the story for the most part (mine). I could see them (Mn DNR) doing this If we had an absolute horrible winter where the winter kill was terrible but they didn't get anymore snow south of me then I did. They've done this In northern Mn where the winters can be twice as bad as mine, It was a good move In doing that. I'm curious what their motives are In this latest move. Maybe I'm missing something here.
How many youth's are really going to participate in the hunt and how many are going to be successful? With the youth firearm season being only 2 days long, my guess is not a hell of a lot. I applaud any special season that get youth involved.
One problem I see in my area (244) is that parts of it hold ALOT of deer while other parts of the same unit may now be holding less deer than past years. The area I hunt includes both farm land and big woods (much of it public) areas. The farm land areas (where I hunt) have a lot of deer (especially doe's) while some of the big woods areas have seen some drop off in recent years. I suppose it's tough for the DNR to be able to break things down (area/zone wise) any more than they already do. I guess I'm glad we at least have a good number of deer around rather than the opposite situation. But it is too bad I can't take out any doe's in my area to help balance the herd. Heard management has really taken off in the immediate area I hunt in recent years as some neighbors formed a QDMA cooperative for a 25 square mile area. Everyone is pretty disappointed we cannot continue the doe management practices we all started a few years ago. We normally hold a biggest doe contest…not this year though. Oh well.
I think they'll get ok participation In the youth hunts but the thing Is there not giving many anterless permits out to the youth. In my opinion It shouldn't be a lottery for the youth, they should be able to shoot anything. The problem I have Isn't the youth hunt Itself, It's the youth not being able to shoot what they want during the youth hunt unless their successful In the lottery. And 2nd, the rest of the bow hunters and gun hunters can't shoot an anterless deer either during the regular deer seasons.
Schultzy we are in a lottery area like you so gun hunters can apply for a doe permit and archery tags are for either sex. The problem is...how many people are going to shoot a doe when that means your season is over? Not me.
Just trying to understand here Steve.... So, the youth's should all be able to shoot what they want.....I agree with that, as long as the deer pop can handle it. OR If the adults can't shoot antlerless during the regular season, why can the youths? I still think that the whole youth seasons are really a non issue, as few deer will be killed during those seasons.
Lol, sorry If I'm confusing you Dan. I agree with this, the deer are there In the area's that I know about. My guess Is the Mn DNR Is trying to help the youths out being they took the privilege of shooting anterless deer away from the bow and gun hunters. Like I've said though, I have no problem with the youths shooting anterless deer. I don't think your understanding me here (or maybe I'm misunderstanding you). I haven't the least problem with the youth season, the problem I have Is not letting any other anterless deer be shot during the regular deer seasons. There's enough deer here to go around. All this Is going to do Is put the buck to doe ratio much more out of wack then It already Is. And yes your right, I don't think the youth hunt will have any effect on the deer population anyway, I'd rather It did though. Anterless deer need to be shot more, at least In the area's south of me.
Ahhhh, now I got you! I thought the above quote from your original post was refering to the youth season.....but its refering to the general seasons. I'm a little slow this morning!!
I hear ya there Cooter. My doe hunting won't start till the last 2 weeks of December. We sure need doe management In my area bad, I'm almost tempted to Invite a ton a of bow hunters In from out of state and open a can of whoop ass on the does here. I know for a fact my brother wouldn't go for It though, he owns some of the land along with my dad and my brother Is pretty tight with who goes on It. If I owned It there wouldn't be a question In my mind, a bunch of us would be knocking down doe's!!
Also just so I know I am not misunderstanding it, we can have our bows or guns uncased and unloaded on a wheeler while going to or from our place intended to hunt? So I can throw the bow on my atv without having it cased correct?
I think alot of the seperate youth seasons arose because there was way too much cross tagging going on during the regular seasons, adults filling the youth anterless tags and taking out more deer than was intended. The goal now is to still get youth involved but to not reduce the numbers too much, hence the lottery. Steve, I'm guessing you just happen to be in a location in your zone that has a high population but it may not be the same throughout and as you already know its impossible to break the zones down too much. Unfotunately because I'm not in wildlife I cant give you as many answers as I wish I could. Remember many of the laws, regs, rules come not from the DNR but many come from the legislature and legislators with constiuents that push to get things passed. The DNR then has to enact and enforce the rules. Examples is the lights at night for predators and the three roosters allowed in December. As with any concerns, everyone is well within their rights to voice concerns to their legislators.
Are you talking about QDMA? I guess I don't know about your area? Our COOP is just a 6x5 square mile area. One of the neighbor farmers decided to send letters to all the land owners in this geographic area to see what interest there would be in managing the deer herd for better trophy quality. Not everyone was interesting in doing this but I think some good progress has been made in the few years since it started.
That's good Cooter!! The only thing that sucks about this Is the people who don't participate In the managing part allot of times reep the rewards. 5 to 6 years ago the land owners to the east of me who have no management practices what so ever shot 140" bucks back to back years gun hunting. The only reason they got these bucks Is because I let them go 2 years In a row. Once at 2.5 and once at 3.5. I'd rather have them shoot these 4.5's that they got Instead of the 1.5's and 2.5's but It just bites watching my hard work go out the window for these particular neighbors. They think they are almighty hunters, there the farthest thing from It!! These particular neighbors I'm reffering to think they have sound management practices (don't shoot doe's, and your not a hunter If you don't at least shoot a buck regardless of age) Any of the other neighbors I have I would of been happier then heck for them, their just out there to get a deer (any deer).
I know what you are talking about Steve. When PA had the one tag only deal going on that made the buck to doe ratio so out of whack we are still recovering from it even after the "slaughter" a few years back. It is better, but there are still many areas with 10+ doe for every buck. Not allowing any (or very few) does to be shot will only lead down this path.
