Predictions for deer season 26

[lunkerslayer]

Deer absolutely everywhere but for some reason you can't even get a tag in the biggest unit in the state unless it's a gratis tag, "things that make you go hmmmmmm..." #f'dup

Yep its crazy and there is quite a bit that is electronically posted to

 

[1lessdog]

Out where I hunt I seen more deer last year than in recent years. Combine that with a mild winter, tags should go up at least in this unit. Judging by the comments we SHOULD see some units increase and some decrease. Time will tell.

For years I have taken young hunters out in N.D. . We hunted in the upstairs of a old house out in the middle of a section. There is maybe 200 acres farmed. The rest CRP. There is a half section of CRP bordering the land we hunt. We hunted the old house a total of 9 evening and never seen a Deer. The Deer numbers in 2G2 are way down. Ten years ago you would see 70 or 80 Deer in a evening. And last year nothing. Even with the habitat in the area numbers are way down.

 

[Shockwave]

I also saw more deer last year than in the prior few years. I am building two box blinds this year and we will be putting in about an acre of food plots this spring. I have everything I need to build the blinds except for two old camper or trailer house doors. I will probably put some miles on soon to see if I can track them down. It's time to hunt in comfort and warmth.

 

[fly2cast]

This is the reason I don't visit this site much anymore. You'd think this was a site for ND outdoor conversation. The reality is its a site for old men bitching about everything else. Almost none of you actually contributes something useful to a conversation.

 

[Callem'In]

I had seen about the same number of deer in 3F2 as previous years and some great bucks this year. I buy a left over 3F2 tag on years I do not draw in the lottery. I have had every deer shot in 3F2 tested for CWD and all came back negative so far. In 2B where I bow hunt, deer numbers were about the same, but no "Shooter bucks" that I saw all season. I did not fill my archery tag for the last 4 years. Deer numbers in 4B where I antelope hunted in '25 was the lowest number I have ever seen and I have been in 4B every year for the last 7 for the first 2 weeks of archery season and helping scout for elk for friends. I predict I will buy a left over 3F2 tag if I do not draw and probably pass on everything during archery season. We will see if Montana takes my money this year and I can chase high country mulies and elk........

 

[duckman1302]

For years I have taken young hunters out in N.D. . We hunted in the upstairs of a old house out in the middle of a section. There is maybe 200 acres farmed. The rest CRP. There is a half section of CRP bordering the land we hunt. We hunted the old house a total of 9 evening and never seen a Deer. The Deer numbers in 2G2 are way down. Ten years ago you would see 70 or 80 Deer in a evening. And last year nothing. Even with the habitat in the area numbers are way down.

Exactly what I mean. What's right in one unit may not be right in another.

 

[Rut2much]

This is the reason I don't visit this site much anymore. You'd think this was a site for ND outdoor conversation. The reality is its a site for old men bitching about everything else. Almost none of you actually contributes something useful to a conversation.

When old men meet for coffee at the gas stations, bakery, cafes, etc each and every morning do they just chat about how they could make the world a better place every day as well? Give me the unfiltered truths over rainbows and unicorns I guess.

 

[Eatsleeptrap]

This is the reason I don't visit this site much anymore. You'd think this was a site for ND outdoor conversation. The reality is its a site for old men bitching about everything else. Almost none of you actually contributes something useful to a conversation.

Bitching about bitching? B-E-A-UTIFUL!!

 

[KDM]

In the military, Bitching means everything is OK. When the bitching stops, you know you have real problems. The same with hunters and fishermen. Bucks are never big enough or plentiful enough and the fish are never big enough or bite fast enough. When the bitching stops.............

 

[Bacon]

its pretty clear that most farmers cannot survive without govt assistance... why not make qualifying for govt handouts conditional on proper land stewardship, which would include dedicating a % of your land as wildlife habitat? Of course this would be 100% optional, but Im guessing most farmers would be happy to do this.

You are probably right but I’m not one. If they eliminated all subsidies I would be fine with that. But we make money mostly with cattle and farm a little. All subsidies do is drive up land rent and prices for land and inputs. You have to farm enough to make crop insurance work.

 

[Ruttin]

I predict my deer season will be happening in MT with a big game combo and in Wyoming with a bull elk tag and hopefully an antelope as well. Big game hunting in ND is dying a slow death with less access, e posting, disappearing habitat and the over killing of does imo.

 

[SDMF]

Hunters are conservationist till it comes time to kill something. you want to save it to kill it. Maybe if you really want to see wildlife recover, stop hunting.

I’m thinking this was probably tongue-in-cheek, but, it’s been proven time and again all over the world that hunting and hunters provide the funds, sometimes labor, sometimes logistics needed to sustain animal populations.

Photographers, bird watchers, and especially “animal rights” groups mostly provide traffic, lip service, and onerous regulations that put NGO’s or poorly aligned Gov’t Agencies in charge of things. Mostly it’s to bilk taxpayers, and not have to work at a real job that requires effort and measurable results. Mostly the goal is to not actually do anything productive for what lever species/species’ they’re mandated to aid, just try to remain in that “professional student” atmosphere but get paid for it.

 

[Eatsleeptrap]

I predict my deer season will be happening in MT with a big game combo and in Wyoming with a bull elk tag and hopefully an antelope as well. Big game hunting in ND is dying a slow death with less access, e posting, disappearing habitat and the over killing of does imo.

I've trapped out of state, but never hunted. This is what a guy should do. One whitetail hunt, out of state, with a guide and a legitimate shot at a 165+ buck. Then hang it up.

 

[Iwhackwheat]

I’m going to continue my tradition of not bitching about it. Numbers are ok. I realize I probably hunt less than 1/4 of my unit and would never want to make assumptions about the rest of the state.

 

[Ruttin]

I've trapped out of state, but never hunted. This is what a guy should do. One whitetail hunt, out of state, with a guide and a legitimate shot at a 165+ buck. Then hang it up.

You dont even need a guide. There are plenty of elk and deer to go around on public land. Especially in Wyoming and even more if you don't care about the head gear size. Licenses are a little spendy but putting away some extra cash throughout the year makes it doable for me.

 

[Jiffy]

MT and WY both have great opportunities and plenty of land/animals!!!

 

[Browneye]

I'm in 3f2. How does it compute that last year they said the numbers were so low that they offered to refund your money for your tag if you were drawn and at the same time sell over the counter extra doe tags?

 

[johnr]

Will not apply, however I did for the big 3, and will for the 40th year not draw one of them, but I think the goats might get chased if I draw.

 

[Bacon]

I’m thinking this was probably tongue-in-cheek, but, it’s been proven time and again all over the world that hunting and hunters provide the funds, sometimes labor, sometimes logistics needed to sustain animal populations.

Photographers, bird watchers, and especially “animal rights” groups mostly provide traffic, lip service, and onerous regulations that put NGO’s or poorly aligned Gov’t Agencies in charge of things. Mostly it’s to bilk taxpayers, and not have to work at a real job that requires effort and measurable results. Mostly the goal is to not actually do anything productive for what lever species/species’ they’re mandated to aid, just try to remain in that “professional student” atmosphere but get paid for it.

Your right. I have no ambition to eliminate hunting. Here’s the deal though. Everyone is blaming the habitat thing as the main reason for low deer numbers. While that is a factor, hard winters probably kill way more deer than hunters. Doesn’t matter how much crp there is. When we get a nasty winter deer will be dead. I’m talking lots of snow and below zero for weeks at a time. We have had a couple pretty mild winters in a row. I’m guessing there will be more deer around this year in most of the state.

Crp in a bad winter does nothing cause whatever cover there is will be level with snow. The other thing is a water source. Deer will congregate in areas they can access water. We had probably 20+ deer in the yard till the middle of January. Then they all left. They had plenty of cover and food but no access to water.

The other big reason for low deer in my opinion was the massive number of doe permits that were given out several years ago. Whoever came up with that plan was a moron. If I sold most of my cows and only had bulls around it wouldn’t make much sense would it to complain I wasn’t getting as many calves. You don’t get rid of the factory.

 

[lunkerslayer]

Crp when it comes to deer populations has more to do with habitat for protection of fawns so yes the lack of crp is a HUGE issue for developing deer populations. Same goes with farmers burning every cattails slough in the township. But farm subsidies have caused this mess as well as no till making it a no brainer to till up every viable inch of land that produces a harvest. When it comes to wildlife conservation most farmers wouldn't qualify since the above reasons.