The Ugly Effects of Over-Hunting

I know of too many people who buy every family member plus their neighbors tags, then just keep killing until they get tired. Using everyone's tag to keep at it. Here in IL they used to make us check in out deer at a station, but now it's all on the "Honor system" yeah right. I have ran into people that hunt down by me who somehow killed 12 deer in one year. they bragged about using their kids and wife's tags so they could keep going. I know they don't eat 12 deer in a year. They just fill their freezers and start giving away deer like it halloween candy. I have no problem with someone giving a deer away, but 12 deer in one year off 10 acres is freaking nuts. I can't believe they stayed on their ground, but I have never caught them on camera.

If we really want to clean up the issue, then we need to tell DNR to forget about the Honor system. it won't stopped the non-sense, but it should reduce a bunch of it. I think it odd the Game Wardens hang out and target waterfowlers more then any other hunters. I'm not saying they need to walk in and check everyone, but I would like to see more checking hunters at their trucks.

 

We have the same system here. My thoughts is that the same people that were not checking in deer before are the same ones that don't call them in now. 95% of hunters are honest and hunting within the laws. Those other 5% haven't changed. They have been doing the same type stuff forever.

 

MN has gone away with registering deer on site too and you know dang well there are a lot not getting registered.

 

I can't speak for no registry at all, but here in Ohio, I personally like the online registry. Someone who has no intention of registering a deer online would have no more intention of registering a deer at a check station. They can get away with either, and intended on breaking the law regardless of what registration method is required. Poachers will poach either way. That's just my two cents. Here in Ohio, the harvest report shows more deer were killed this year from last year by this time so if the online registry meant less people would report a kill, it doesn't appear to be showing.

 

I'm from the government and I'm here to help...

Good luck with government solutions, guys.

 

I have one area I hunt that a guy controls about 4-500 acres near me. On the other side of me he has a small lot too. Guess where he kills all the does... This used to be a great spot and my biggest buck came from there.... I saw deer almost every sit. Now I see deer on a rare occasion. So much so I rarely hunt it anymore. Fortunately it isn't my only spot

 

Since I killed a buck and have plenty of meat, I decided NOT to use my two antlerless tags this year, which I know many would kill to have since they sold out 2 weeks before the season even opened. There's a lot of deer season left in my WMU, but with the very few deer I saw after putting in over 130 hours on stand this year, I don't think my area can afford to give up too many more deer. You can only help situations like this one hunter at a time. jmo

 

Sorry but I don't believe over hunting is the reason for the population decline. No real data in the article to back up that hypothesis. There is clear evidence of a huge die off from EHD followed by two of our worst winters on record though. Then if you factor in that regulation of antlerless deer tags is slow to catch on plus some hunters are just slow in understanding period(they just keep killing with no regard for their role in management) then you have a population decline that could take years to rebound from. In fact this will take years to rebound from. If you have the time and data this can be done. You need to look at population estimates now and do the math with fecundity rates and mortality rates to see how many years it will take to reach pre EHD population levels. I own and manage my own farm/property...not huge but big enough...my plan is for inventory of local population every year with trail cams, coyote eradication, management of year round food sources to support fawn production, and to limit my harvest of antlerless deer based on my local population. My buck to doe ratio is currently skewed in favor of bucks...so as much as I would like to shoot more mature bucks, a few young ones might get stuck to fill the freezers.

 

Definitely in trouble in NY. The past two to three years have been on a steady decline. This year especially is a joke. They pretty much hand out antlerless tags here like it's candy at a parade. And if that's not enough for average joe hunter, he can get tags from every family member that didn't whack a doe signed over to him. Basically unlimited tags. I also think the adoption of being able to hunt with a rifle during gun season (few years ago) has knocked out a heck of a lot more. I'll keep doing my part to help the "herd", but I'm a needle in a haystack.

 

If you never reported them, what justifies the complaining about them? I don't mean this to upset but really...it gets tiring when I hear people complain about illegal hunting or hunting practices and yet never contact their CO's. Sure nothing may get found out or discovered or done...but you did as best you could to clean up the sport. no?

 

I also think hunters have an obligation to act responsibly and take an active role in management of their local populations. The state sets the limits, it isn't a mandate to kill that many deer.
I also agree that many tags here in Ohio are misused. I was blown away by the number of people who asked me if I was going to buy a tag for my daughter etc after I filled my buck tag in October. The state has an apprentice license system where anyone can buy a hunting license without taking a hunter training course. Its a great idea if used properly but it makes it easy for dishonest people to buy extra tags.

 

Ty, I have believed for a long time that complaining without action is whining, I have zero time for whiners.

 

I would also take an educated guess and say half (maybe) of deer harvested here in NY are called in. Also, legal hunting time here is sunrise to sunset (not dawn to dusk). I'd again say about half (or more) of the deer harvested are taken outside legal times.

 

If only 50% of the harvest is reported, the state is not the problem, it's the people. Hard to believe that 50% of the hunting population in NY is that dishonest. If so, I'm damn glad I live in Missouri.

 

Actually, the PGC figures that less than 40% of deer killed are reported! Antlerless tag allotments are based on deer kill estimates. This leaves a lot of room for error.

 

Out amazes me that there could be that many unethical hunters in NY. I don't feel the numbers in Missouri would be remotely close to that bad.

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Yea the same thing happens in eastern canada where im from. There is very little pressure from the DNR here as well as they are very understaffed here. People are very bold when they know they'll get away with it.

 

I everybody was smart and honest there would be no need for the DNR and regulation in the first place.


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and when a said person turns 18 years old he/she can buy the hunting license with out even taking the hunter safety class. seen it happen with my own eye befor.

 

Every license sold comes with a regs book whether you took the class or not. It is not the PGC's fault people refuse to read it. Every year I see guys that have been hunting for years tag incorrectly, don't know when they need to wear orange, or that reporting harvest is required not optional. It's all in there.