I just read some of the Il deer kill data for total deer kills and here is the trend: 2012-181,000 2011-181,000 2010-182,000 2009-190,000 2008-189,000 2007-200,000 2006-196,000 2005-201.000 Here is Virginia's: [TABLE] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2001[/TD] [TD]110659[/TD] [TD]21557[/TD] [TD]80317[/TD] [TD]37.8%[/TD] [TD]3339[/TD] [TD]215872[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2002[/TD] [TD]103142[/TD] [TD]22285[/TD] [TD]86548[/TD] [TD]40.8%[/TD] [TD]2872[/TD] [TD]214847[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2003[/TD] [TD]116629[/TD] [TD]22346[/TD] [TD]94897[/TD] [TD]40.6%[/TD] [TD]3163[/TD] [TD]237035[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2004[/TD] [TD]106384[/TD] [TD]20349[/TD] [TD]94759[/TD] [TD]42.8%[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]221492[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2005[/TD] [TD]101041[/TD] [TD]20403[/TD] [TD]93638[/TD] [TD]43.5%[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]215082[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2006[/TD] [TD]106830[/TD] [TD]19720[/TD] [TD]97225[/TD] [TD]43.4%[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]223775[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2007[/TD] [TD]109718[/TD] [TD]22947[/TD] [TD]110127[/TD] [TD]45.4%[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]242792[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2008[/TD] [TD]112207[/TD] [TD]22686[/TD] [TD]121489[/TD] [TD]47.4%[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]256382[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2009[/TD] [TD]108647[/TD] [TD]24020[/TD] [TD]126480[/TD] [TD]49%[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]259147[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2010[/TD] [TD]95831[/TD] [TD]19512[/TD] [TD]106731[/TD] [TD]48.1%[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]222074[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2011[/TD] [TD]98874[/TD] [TD]21008[/TD] [TD]113106[/TD] [TD]48.5%[/TD] [TD]116[/TD] [TD]233104[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #F9F9F9"]Total for Virginia[/TD] [TD]2012[/TD] [TD]96853[/TD] [TD]18314[/TD] [TD]100031[/TD] [TD]46.5%[/TD] [TD]43[/TD] [TD]215241[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Our deer numbers when compared to about 5 years ago are the same, down about 10%.
Don Higgins is a convicted hunting criminal. This is common knowledge. He also attributes some of what he's learned about whitetails to watching the ones he keeps fenced in on his property. How many of those heads on his book cover came from inside his fence???.........the only one who knows for sure has already shown he's not afraid of breaking hunting laws to get a deer so depends if you want to believe him or not. Again, all common knowledge free for anyone to find out.........having said that, I have no idea why anyone would be interested in his opinion about their deer herd or it's management. If you can't even obey the laws of your state who are you to tell anyone else what to do. Just an opinion.
Where does this stat come from? Not only would it be impossible to factually back such a stat.. But if one actually could back it.. Illinois would not be number 1 on that list. but it doesn't matter... Since its fabricated at best.
Virginia's numbers I think are based alot in the east cause here in west of the blue ridge there aint deer much anymore. It's all bears
Ahh... hearsay. Twice. Gotta love generalizations. And no.. Take it from a guy living in Illinois. It would not be close to accurate. If you really think Illinois is top dawg in the country for deer hunting you need to pick up a book (that's where they conceal information in). Or go hunt with Higgins.. Who also believes in the fantasyland of Illinois.
I never said it was top dawg in the country for deer hunting Mike. I was simply talking about 125 inch plus bucks. The amount of record book entries divided by land mass makes lllinois one of the best, if not the best state to kill a 125 inch + buck. Is that not accurate? And if it is not accurate, is it way off, like 10-20 spots off, or is Il like maybe ranked 2-3 in terms of big bucks per square mile killed? And by the way, I know where information is concealed and don't need your condescending comments. For some reason my simple comment about Illinois being a great big buck state somehow makes you feel the need to get all cranky.
Because I think you are either reading decade old material or clueless how to effectively take information from an article or stat. here.. A link to one of the best articles written on the subject.. It compares everything from herd size to hunter density. And there are more articles like this that exist. They are based on factual information. Best Deer Hunting State: Kentucky Takes Top Spot in New Whitetail Scale | Outdoor Life
So maybe numbers over the previous few years are down 10%, but keep in mind that this year, numbers are trending to be down 25-30% versus LAST years numbers... Which would put it 35-40% down in comparison to previous years... But yeah, everything is fine and dandy. And also, I'd be curious to see what the IL Harvest totals were back in the mid-late 90s which is when it seems to be the general consensus that the hunting in IL was at it's prime. The last 6-7 seasons is a fairly limited scope.
See that list on the bottom of that article brett. thats probably the most accurate list for big bucks per square mile.
I will go with clueless Mike. I will go with clueless on how to effectively read statistics. Yeah, I will go with that.
I never said anything was fine. Heck I don't even know your state. I was merely making an observation on statistics, but since I don't have my f'ing phd from Harvard, please understand that one should not read anything into what I say on statistics. I have hunted a place that has had its deer hunting numbers drop by 40-50% over the past decade, so I know understand about hunting changing deer herds.
Ok. Fair enough although I did. I wasn't trying to sound like an arse. i just hate the use of misinformation... And your statement was completely false.. But you said it as if you knew it was certain. Like someone knows that the sky is blue. Illinois is definitely in the top ten big buck states.. But it is not the number one.. And it does continue to fall. and Wasn't that the whole point of Higgins article? (Besides the lynch mob effect on the new team of Illinois biologists).
