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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,539
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,539 |
for us it's been the exact opposite. More does in game camera pictures than ever before and although I haven't run the final numbers from our hunting log I'm going to guess we saw as many or more does than any other season in the past. We are in NE Bama and have never really had a doe problem, but years ago the buck to doe ratio was pretty bad. We try to kill 10-12 every season and this year we've killed 10 so far but have had more opportunities than ever before to kill them on foodplots but didn't cause we like to limit doe kills on plots. A lot of our neighbors only kill bucks so I guess we also should try to make up for their lack of doe kills. That being said not sure NE Bama is a good representation of Alabama's hunting situation in general (less deer, earlier rut, etc.)
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,261
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,261 |
Last Sunday afternoon, my wife wanted to just go 'riding-around' on the backroads. It was warm and I didn't feel like going hunting. So, we loaded up around 3:00 pm and just slowly rode backroads. We went down Hwy 154 through the Chilton community, then through the Lower Road (dirt) out to Hwy 84 and then to Coffeeville. We left Coffeeville on Hwy 69 and came then turned back up the Tallahatta Rd to midway and then back thru there to the house. It was just after dark when we got home. We saw 1 (one) doe the entire trip!!!! And she crossed the road very near my house right as we were getting home.
In recent years past, at this time of the year, we would have thought it unusual to have not seen 15-20. 20 years ago, we would have seen well over 100. I know we WERE overpopulated at one time. BUT, it has not been in the past 6-8 years!!! I hunt in the Chilton community. I average seeing 5-6 does per hunt if I do my part. Now keep in mind this is a low pressure situation. The place was LOADED in the 80s. I started hunting with my late father n law around 05. The numbers have seemed to fluctuate some based on my time in the woods. Oddly enough, Im not seeing any bachelor groups this year. When I put out buck urine, does come looking for him. I actually may need to kill a few more. That being said, I have always been for moderation. I never kill more than 2-3 per year, less if I am lucky enough to take a buck.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,261
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,261 |
And FYI, the yotes are out of control.
I'm sure this is not helping.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,494
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,494 |
Since Tallapoosa County went to a permit dog hunting system the pressure on and around the property that I hunt has reduced dramatically, therefore, I am seeing and getting photos of more deer including does. However, from hunting on that property for 12 years the deer numbers have always been low and from my perspective Tallapoosa County or at the northern part should not have had more than a partial season.
Nothing against people hunting with dogs, just a problem with the specific people that were hunting everybody's properties that they did not have permission to hunt with their dogs. Also, now there is a person living on the property and it keeps the neighbors (dog hunters mentioned above) off the property.
I have not killed a doe on that property since 2007 and the one I killed that year was with a bow. However, I did miss a doe this past Monday with a handgun, killed a sapling though!
"After all, it is not the killing that brings satisfaction; it is the contest of skill and cunning. The true hunter counts his achievement in proportion to the effort involved and the fairness of the sport." Dr. Saxton Pope
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,517
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,517 |
mike35549, The DMAP program is not an effective tool in places where the majority of people hunt properties less than 500 acres.
DMAP was designed for people on small properties to coopertate with each other to kill only the numbers of does needed to keep the population from increasing at an undersireable rate. It is a very effective tool if the people on those small parcels join together and give it a chance to work. The limit is set for a designated area instead of allowing an individual limit for each hunter. It is hard enough to get the people in one club to agree on this. Getting the people on 5 or 6 adjoining properties to agree would be almost impossible. But would be nice if you could.
If you're gonna be stupid you better be tough.
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,713
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,713 |
At some point, hunters have to put their desire for a healthy deer herd above their desire to burn powder.
Are too many does being killed in some areas? I would say yes. Are not enough does being killed in other areas? I would say yes to that too.
We have cut back on our doe harvest b/c of our huge increase of yotes. Packs of them in every direction sound off at dusk!
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 581
4 point
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4 point
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 581 |
I Hunt primarily Winston, also in Marion and Fayette Counties. Most tracts of land are 80 to 300 acres of private land. I'm not in a club. Game cam pics were way down this year but they are all located on food plots. I have seen as many deer this year as ever in the woods. They did not use our food plots except during the nighttime. I have hunted 60 plus days most days all day long. I have no complaints.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377 |
I have seen more people NOT hunt this year than EVER before.
Kids don't want to go and not see anything.
Older people, like my Uncles, who are not able to get around like they used to and hunt the way it takes to even see deer nowadays are getting very dis0interested as well.
I think the liberal doe season is one of the main reason kids are not as interested in hunting as much as they used to be. When they go hunting for a few weekends and do not see a deer they soon find something more interesting to do with thier friends.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788 |
In my personal experience, I am certain that is the case bigt!
Heck; I don't even like to hunt and not see anything!
There was a happy medium that we passed about 6 or 8 years ago in our area.
The "can't shoot enough does" mentality is SO ingrained in people nowadays, though.....that grown men that have NEVER set foot on, or even near, the property that you hunt on will get on this forum and bash you for not knowing how to hunt, being a consumer of wildlife or some other QDM BS while telling you how irresponsible you are to NOT being trying to shoot more when you tell them how few there are!!!
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377 |
I'm worried more about the dang coyotes killing untold numbers of fawns than I am a hunter shooting a couple of sausage nannies. I agree but with both going on your are asking for big trouble. It is easier to control hunters than coyotes.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377 |
mike35549, The DMAP program is not an effective tool in places where the majority of people hunt properties less than 500 acres.
DMAP was designed for people on small properties to coopertate with each other to kill only the numbers of does needed to keep the population from increasing at an undersireable rate. It is a very effective tool if the people on those small parcels join together and give it a chance to work. The limit is set for a designated area instead of allowing an individual limit for each hunter. And there is the problem getting surrounding landowners to cooperate. My experience is you can not convince the people with small tracts of land to cooperate around here.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377 |
If you guys are so worried how many does did you kill this year?
Deer management begins with YOU using trigger finger control ! I personally have not shot a doe in three years so I think I have full contol of my trigger finger.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788 |
I'm worried more about the dang coyotes killing untold numbers of fawns than I am a hunter shooting a couple of sausage nannies. I agree but with both going on your are asking for big trouble. It is easier to control hunters than coyotes. EXACTLY!!! The ones that the yotes kill are dead and gone too!!!! That HAS to be factored in!
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,797
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,797 |
Here's something to think about. I've been complaining cause we simply are not seeing deer in daylight hours on my lease in Covington county. Not getting too specific but its well over 1,000 acres and only 4 of us hunt it. Pressure is not an issue. We've killed 3 mature bucks, 3 does, 2 hogs. Tracks and sign everywhere so the deer are still there and we're all very experienced hunters and just not seeing them. There is something going on this year in the SE with the deer herds. I live in FL and work just across the AL line so I drive through 20 miles of Eglin AFB property every day, morning and night going to a from work. Eglin allows limited hunting and absolutely no does. I was thinking this morning on the way in that I have not seen a deer on the side of the road in the past 45-60 days morning or night. In a normal year, I'll see 2-3 in each morning driving north and generally 7-12 at night on the way home, bucks and does. Let me stress this point, no does are being killed at Eglin and the majority of the land I am driving through is closed to all hunting. Once again, i have not seen a deer on the way to or from work in the past 2 months. Warm weather, abundant natural browse, good acorn production, EHD, coyotes, who the heck knows but it is not just due to hunting pressure and doe harvest. My opinion is there is something else behind it and I'd sure like to know what it is. The deer just are not moving during daylight hours.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,749
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,749 |
Used to be Taboo to shoot a doe. Now all the young kids that get in a stand with their Dad's want to shoot the first doe that steps out.
Most every kid that's mature enough (supposedly) to sit by himself, will shoot a doe.
Overall, the mentality has changed. I don't like it.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12,788 |
The huge reduction in the deer herd combined with the greatly reduced fawn recruitment rates has created a situation where there are very few 'hungry' deer. With the thick cover and large expanses of managed properties, along with numerous food plots (take a look at an aerial view on Bing maps!) deer simply do NOT have to move during daylight hours OR move very far when they do move.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 31,681
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 31,681 |
I suggest clubs tell members to please continue to hunt till it gets too hot. Hunt and kill every yote they can ! Kill as many as possible before the fawns drop next time. Dogs take a toll on fawns too. Uncollared dogs running deer need to be killed also.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,749
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,749 |
I suggest clubs tell members to please continue to hunt till it gets too hot. Hunt and kill every yote they can ! Kill as many as possible before the fawns drop next time. Dogs take a toll on fawns too. Uncollared dogs running deer need to be killed also. Keep in mind that they are breeding shortly and will have pups late April into May. The males bring food to the females tending the little ones in the den. The males will hunting hard at that time............
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,377 |
Here's something to think about. I've been complaining cause we simply are not seeing deer in daylight hours on my lease in Covington county. Not getting too specific but its well over 1,000 acres and only 4 of us hunt it. Pressure is not an issue. We've killed 3 mature bucks, 3 does, 2 hogs. Tracks and sign everywhere so the deer are still there and we're all very experienced hunters and just not seeing them. There is something going on this year in the SE with the deer herds. I live in FL and work just across the AL line so I drive through 20 miles of Eglin AFB property every day, morning and night going to a from work. Eglin allows limited hunting and absolutely no does. I was thinking this morning on the way in that I have not seen a deer on the side of the road in the past 45-60 days morning or night. In a normal year, I'll see 2-3 in each morning driving north and generally 7-12 at night on the way home, bucks and does. Let me stress this point, no does are being killed at Eglin and the majority of the land I am driving through is closed to all hunting. Once again, i have not seen a deer on the way to or from work in the past 2 months. Warm weather, abundant natural browse, good acorn production, EHD, coyotes, who the heck knows but it is not just due to hunting pressure and doe harvest. My opinion is there is something else behind it and I'd sure like to know what it is. The deer just are not moving during daylight hours. When I say that too many does are being killed in the areas I hunt I am not basing my opinion on merely deer sightings but also on camera observations, harvest data and usage cages on food plots. It also should be based not on one year but over a multi year time period.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 636
4 point
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4 point
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 636 |
I used to be of the mentality of whack em and stack em on does. I hunt in Jackson Co. But now I think we need to let of on the does. I do see more buck sign than I use to and a more pronounce Rut. I think the limit should be 3 does and 3 bucks per season, 1 for 1.
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