It was a hard winter in my area but the mid winter thaws undoubtedly saved allot of deer and I saw big herds this spring. Hell on one short half mile out and back to check for a dead deer I busted out nearly 50 live ones and found zero dead so an increase doesn't seem to be out of line in that area at least.Well in our area we found more dead deer than shed antlers,sucked.
Coyotes had a hay day in that deep snow.
Can't say I agree with the new law allowing 10/11 year olds to smack deer. Go ahead and roast me for saying it.......won't change my mind
Can't say I agree with the new law allowing 10/11 year olds to smack deer. Go ahead and roast me for saying it.......won't change my mind
Can't say I agree with the new law allowing 10/11 year olds to smack deer. Go ahead and roast me for saying it.......won't change my mind
Can't say I agree with the new law allowing 10/11 year olds to smack deer. Go ahead and roast me for saying it.......won't change my mind
Can't say I agree with the new law allowing 10/11 year olds to smack deer. Go ahead and roast me for saying it.......won't change my mind
Just a few comments about deer gun season that I have experienced with my boys over the years. I am all for getting the youth involved in all types of hunting when they are mentally and physically able. What Ive seen happen in my house with deer gun season hasn't been a hunter friendly experience. Both my boys received their youth permit to hunt deer when they were 14. We did all the things a guy does to make it successful. Both boys shot nice deer. They were hooked. This is where the problem started for us. It took one of them another 6 years to draw their next tag in our area and the second one got his next tag after applying for 7 years. 14 years old to 20 or 21...So one of the boys bought a deer rifle after his first season and only shot it one season after that and the second one never saw the need to buy one as he knew he wouldn't be drawing for a few years anyway. I can't imagine growing up and not owning a deer rifle and not being able to shoot a deer most every year. I introduced both boys to bow hunting and they both bow hunt deer but don't have too much interest in rifle hunting for deer and I can't blame them. In my family, deer season is no longer a big family get together like it was when I was growing up. Pretty disappointed but not much I can do about it. They are gone from the deer gun sport in ND.
This is what has always bothered me about the program. However, it's up to the parents to make greater strides to keep their kids excited and provide them additional hunting opportunities. Last year my 14 year old nephew shot his first buck and was super excited. I started going through when he would draw his next tag and thought about how shitty the wait would be for him, so for Christmas I purchased him a SD preference point and this year I'm buying him a whitetail buck tag in West River. I know MN, MT and WY have great easy to draw hunting opportunities as well. Let's not put the entire blame for lower deer numbers on G&F as mother nature and farming practices generally dictates the rise and fall of the deer herd.