dnr deer management (or lack there of)

[tedl]

Hasn't any one else heard some people say my wife and kids won't eat the stuff so I will only shoot big bucks?

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Jeez you're defensive Brule. I get it, you have crappy deer hunting...you live somewhere where you'll only see one deer per season (if you're lucky), You're going to shoot it regardless of size and be completely satisfied. Awesome. It's your perspective. It sounds like you don't have the population or the habitat that would be conducive to qdm. I would hope the DNR would take that into account when considering management plans.

Well after getting looked down upon and insulted a few times, I guess I do get a bit defensive!

FYI, I hunt in an Intensive mgmt zone (not sure why it is..)But like I've said, they have a lot of room to roam and the forest where I hunt has been heavily managed over the years, therefore, it is really thick and nappy. Not a lot of mature timber, not a lot of clearcuts. It all happened through the 80-90's, so it's 10-20yr old growth.

I see deer, but usually it's their tails bouncing through the trees. I sit in stands, however, they don't do much moving on their own and no pressure to get them up and moving.

I have a few new strategies I'm going to try this year, we'll see how they go.

Some places QDM could work, and I'm all for it, just not mandatory. Other places it can't, or to be more honest, it just wouldn't make a difference. This is because there is so much land for the deer to hide and roam, they have a much greater chance of surviving. And a guy could pass on all the deer you want but I darn near garauntee ya you'll never see that deer again!

I'm talking miles of open land here, fellas.... Not a few 40's strew throughout marginal forest/farm country. Come hunt with me for a few years, with the limited time I have to hunt, and I'm sure you'll see things a little more in my perspective.

[ricqik]

I think the point from the Non-QDM'ers ( better put QBM'ers)has been completely missed!

Why not give it a shot?

Because the folks that are opposed to QDM don't care about antlers. They want to shoot a deer and not have to worry about another regulation or law telling them what to do!

I'm not opposed to QDM. I understand QDM quite well, and by the sound of every post from QDM peeps, their main purpose is growing a big rack buck. QDM is supposed to be about quality "DEER" managemnt. But all I here from QDM peeps is "bucks". The sole purpose of QDM is not about bucks, it's about the health and balance of the deer herd. I don't think I missed what QDM is, rather it's you guys who think it's all about buck that miss what QDM really is about. Like you said, it should be QBM, not QDM.

[Bear55]

Originally Posted By: CSTPETER

Jeez you're defensive Brule. I get it, you have crappy deer hunting...you live somewhere where you'll only see one deer per season (if you're lucky), You're going to shoot it regardless of size and be completely satisfied. Awesome. It's your perspective. It sounds like you don't have the population or the habitat that would be conducive to qdm. I would hope the DNR would take that into account when considering management plans.

Well after getting looked down upon and insulted a few times, I guess I do get a bit defensive!

FYI, I hunt in an Intensive mgmt zone (not sure why it is..)But like I've said, they have a lot of room to roam and the forest where I hunt has been heavily managed over the years, therefore, it is really thick and nappy. Not a lot of mature timber, not a lot of clearcuts. It all happened through the 80-90's, so it's 10-20yr old growth.

I see deer, but usually it's their tails bouncing through the trees. I sit in stands, however, they don't do much moving on their own and no pressure to get them up and moving.

I have a few new strategies I'm going to try this year, we'll see how they go.

Some places QDM could work, and I'm all for it, just not mandatory. Other places it can't, or to be more honest, it just wouldn't make a difference. This is because there is so much land for the deer to hide and roam, they have a much greater chance of surviving. And a guy could pass on all the deer you want but I darn near garauntee ya you'll never see that deer again!

I'm talking miles of open land here, fellas.... Not a few 40's strew throughout marginal forest/farm country. Come hunt with me for a few years, with the limited time I have to hunt, and I'm sure you'll see things a little more in my perspective.

Brule I hunt some of the same NE big woods as you do, the 10-20 year old regrowth is some of the best stuff around. Sit and be patient if there isn't much pressure they will move on their own. Hunt on the downwind side between 2 patches of that nice thick regrowth and you will see some bucks cruising for does. Pack a lunch and hunt all day and you might get a nice buck.

Also I'm not looking down on anyone, just a healthy debate.

[sparcebag]

Originally Posted By: CSTPETER

Jeez you're defensive Brule. I get it, you have crappy deer hunting...you live somewhere where you'll only see one deer per season (if you're lucky), You're going to shoot it regardless of size and be completely satisfied. Awesome. It's your perspective. It sounds like you don't have the population or the habitat that would be conducive to qdm. I would hope the DNR would take that into account when considering management plans.

Well after getting looked down upon and insulted a few times, I guess I do get a bit defensive!

FYI, I hunt in an Intensive mgmt zone (not sure why it is..)But like I've said, they have a lot of room to roam and the forest where I hunt has been heavily managed over the years, therefore, it is really thick and nappy. Not a lot of mature timber, not a lot of clearcuts. It all happened through the 80-90's, so it's 10-20yr old growth.

I see deer, but usually it's their tails bouncing through the trees. I sit in stands, however, they don't do much moving on their own and no pressure to get them up and moving.

I have a few new strategies I'm going to try this year, we'll see how they go.

Some places QDM could work, and I'm all for it, just not mandatory. Other places it can't, or to be more honest, it just wouldn't make a difference. This is because there is so much land for the deer to hide and roam, they have a much greater chance of surviving. And a guy could pass on all the deer you want but I darn near garauntee ya you'll never see that deer again!

I'm talking miles of open land here, fellas.... Not a few 40's strew throughout marginal forest/farm country. Come hunt with me for a few years, with the limited time I have to hunt, and I'm sure you'll see things a little more in my perspective.

Brule I only hunt around home and at times when visiting around Staples,Wadena,Motley.Archery only I'd like to know where your area is? I at one time or another in 48 years of deer hunting may have been there.Would you email me,I will not hunt there or mention it! But I am courious,and it sounds familar? But arent all new cut woods.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Northwest of Two Harbors aways. Been up in that area?

[sparcebag]

Ya lot a stompin North of Floodwood,built some places (helped carpenter)Island lake,Fish.When you say NW of TwoHarbors you yet east of 53? Some of those clearcuts produce lots of berries midsummer,I used to cruise lookin for them.Grouse & woodcock huntin also.Most of my deer huntin was around meadowlands,dumblane,cotton.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

yup!

[fishit]

Just to throw out my 2 pennies. My brother and I pass on what we consider smaller bucks. Our dad pretty much shoots whatever comes by,He's 70yrs old and this is fine with us(yes, sometimes frustratting), this year he shot a 4 point that my brother and I are pretty sure we both passed on. My dad was excited and we were happy for him. This is our 3rd yr of I guess "QDM" no monsters yet but but some great times with my brother and dad. And if my post seems to go completely off the subject I appologize. For ME it's about spending the time with my dad a bro.

[dooittoit]

I COMPLETELY agree with BruleDrifter, yet I do pass on all young bucks. Do I do it for the health of the herd or for bigger antlered deer for next year? To be honest, I do it for bigger antlered deer. "QBM"if you must. I don't think that's a bad thing and I don't think it's a bad thing for people to shoot young bucks. I believe there are A LOT of hunters out there that want bigger bucks, but do not believe that the basket racked bucks that they shoot could be the big bucks they are looking for if given one or more years to live. I wish the DNR could somehow do a better job at showing them that it's not genetics but a mere 1 to 2 years of age that will turn almost ANY basket rack into a very nice buck. I think educating the hunting public verses forced rules would go a VERY long way.