So you have 4 other properties to hunt and losing this one is the worst news ever? Priority check. I understand you have made a considerable investment in the property but at the end of the day it is still HIS! Invest time in your other properties. I wish I had one property to hunt even with 5 other guys but I am a public land only guy but that is fine with me because hunting to me is being outside and watching nature not killing. If I harvest an a deer great if not all the same. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tony I touched on this earlier...should have said Worst Property News...Ever.....but thread was published.
Oh believe me I already posted I've had some clarity...this is the only property we have that is really over like 10 acres...and out of all of those we only have one that we actually have all season hunting ability but as you pointed out that is still truly a blessing. Just terrible that the one we've done the most for may be getting ripped out from us despite everything we've done for them.
The farmer's wife works for my father and she informed us today...we are going to see him Wednesday and will be presenting the plan I've typed up with multiple scenarios but how a well executed plan on doe harvesting in the case the state says yes or no will accomplish everything for everyone. Get less deer around to lessen crop damage...but also minimize impacting deer movements in the wooded sections to only nocturnal times moving into deer season, which would suck for my father, myself and the landowner who hunts come gun season. Time will tell what happens.
Sounds like they are somewhat good friends with you? maybe that will help him see your plan to the full intentions and maybe decide to go with yours instead?
Oh I believe if we can get in his ear and show him the breakdown I've laid out of how much a dear eats per week/month/year and estimated yields consumed (albeit inflated due to using 50% of that intake calculated as his ag crops and not browse and such)...how many does would be an attainable and solid goal for this year and then each year to come and why. All we can do is lay it out and let him make the decision, it is in the end HIS land and HIS money the deer are taking from him....but honestly I don't see the terrible crop loss that he claims....but will gladly put down some does if it means less hunters trouncing around and a happy landowner back at his house.
Yeah that's a good plan, but it's not like it's just him losing money to deer, my uncle figures he pays 10k a year to feed the deer, it's just part of farming Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well UPdate fellas: I still don't see the 50% soybean loss the farmer is stating but he knows crops I know deer so this is where we are: -The letter with plan spots to hunt without hurting deer movements for October as much as possible was well received. He also understands now that killing bucks during this (1 per hunter can occur) time period before hunting season if approved is pointless, does and does alone must be targeted! -He decided to only request nuisance tags under his name, my father's and mine. This will help negate the issue of numerous guys coming and going and just minimize headaches for him (which was in the letter). -We now await the State's response. Sucks that owner and us could be hunting all the way through till two weeks prior to October 1st opener but if this appeases the landowner and is another thing we can do to keep in good standing we will do it. Will keep you guys updated.
If they have the kind of deer numbers it would require to have that type of loss, they are WAY over populated.
The deer get way too much credit. Coons throw wild *** parties in corn fields with all you can eat buffetts.
I've seen a ton of damage from deer (all of our sweet corn this year) and coons to corn but beavers can wipe out an acre of corn in no time! I highly doubt 50% loss is happening but a lot of new growth can be eaten by deer resulting in major yield loss. I have never seen wildlife damage to soybeans comparing to what deer can do so I don't doubt they're hurting his yield one bit.
Guys he does have small areas as you all undoubtedly have seen where deer are entering and exiting the fields that are browsed down a lot...but agreed 50% is a stretch. I have no doubt it is affecting his yields it will just depend if the person inspecting from the state agrees is applicable enough for nuisance tags or not.
wow, i don't know how i missed this thread Ty!!!! hope it all works out for you and pops! gotta hate the knee jerk reactions
Ask him what his average bean yields are and compare it to the county average APH (actual proven harvest), I guarantee his damage isn't even close to approaching 50% loss. How many acres of beans are we talking about? I'd be surprised if it's 10%. Beans are extremely resilient to browse and no way are they (deer) impacting his yield that much. If they are then you must have the highest deer density in the nation or he has mostly brush with 5 acre fields scattered around throughout with a total acre count of like 15 acres. Farmers can (and often do) go freaking nutso when it comes to blaming deer for yield loss. I had a neighbor mad about turkey populations being too high because they supposedly shattered his beans out after they dried down, problem was the lazy azz should have had them cut and they were so dry they popped out, turkeys had very little if anything to do with it.
I asked about his average yield or the areas and he stated he wasn't sure off hand...he's not the greatest book keeper if I were to guess. We're going to appease him and help him by getting some does taken off the property prior to deer season and depending on deer sightings in the fall maybe harvest more in late season. My gut tells me while average deer population may be touch higher than normal I truly think it isn't that absurdly high....the person from the State very well may laugh at him if he is seriously blowing it out of proportion. Word is the person is coming today or tomorrow so may have update shortly as to whether I'm gonna be doe hunting here sooner rather than later.
Newest Update: Well the state awarded the owner 10 nuisance tags to be used by only 4 hunters; owner, his wife, myself and my pops. While better than the alternative army of hunters originally desired by him...it isn't good altogether. His wife has never hunted or let alone fired a long gun ever....and has not concept of what the purpose of this nuisance animal tags is all about. She is already spouting off how she is gonna shoot one of the two giant bucks AND NOT TURN OVER THE RACK TO THE STATE LIKE IT STATES ON THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS. (this is to protect the program from becoming a trophy system used by farmers...also stresses that population control is done through doe harvest and doe harvest only). So we are strongly trying to explain to her the concept of this and how only does should be harvested...let alone showing her that withholding the rack is a federal offense outlined on the documents. So guys the grass is greener than originally thought....however now we are pressed hard for time cuz we'd like to have all of September for the property to decompress from this out of season harvesting and we have the headache of potentially keeping the owner's wife from shooting bucks (which mind you the owner himself is not for like us and understands). So will keep you guys abreast of the situation.....at a point this properties huge upsides may very well be outweighed by the early issues it seems to hold....man I wish I could afford buying my own ground.
Hang in there Ty... It's gotta' be frustrating and gut-wrenching going through this - but there's a reason (and hopefully something BETTER will come out of it).
