Solution for more bucks

[Jmnhunter]

if the DNR offsetted the cost for donating deer, which I think they are trying to do, the tags for anterless would sell, and there will be more shot. I dont know about you, but my problem is having too much meat. if they added a $1 to the doe tags, maybe that would help offset the costs.

-Good Luck

JN

[bigbucks]

I don't understand the too much meat thing being a problem. I always seem to be able to find plenty of people who are more than thrilled to take a deer. That may be because this is a poorer area economy wise, I'm not sure, but I've given away two deer already this year & have at least two more people that would gladly take one, plus several other possibles that likely would.

[Stratosman]

What is the total cost for deer donation?

[sheepheadslayer]

The #1 problem for MN is that we hunt during the peek rut. Very very few states do this. If they bumped it back even just a week you would see more quality bucks in a few years. To many people are shooting the buck rather than the doe it is following. It really irritates me that they can't just shoot the doe. With all the tags, there is really no reason to shoot those year and 1/2 old bucks. There is alot of people that don't even know what a 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 year old deer looks like.

[IceBound]

I know that this may not be a welcomed answer, but I feel that MN should go to a drawing for buck tags with a preference point system and allow the purchase of a general deer tag for does and fawns. They could even go as far as making it a minium 3 points on at least one side for the buck tag. I do not understand how they can offer up to 5 licenses in some areas, with 4 being for does. I would love to hear that people are talking about certain counties in Minnesota as being trophy buck areas (similar to Pike County, IL or Buffalo County, WI). If nothing else, move the opener away from the rut...give the deer a chance to reproduce in peace. Sure, there are many big bucks that get harvested and many that don't...but how often do you get to see them...we have plenty of deer in Pope County and some are huge, but I would guess that 80 % of the bucks shot are 1 1/2 years old...lil' basket racks. Just think if they could live another year or two.

[Buckslayer]

Very well said sheep. I couldnt agree more, especailly with all the public land in MN. Give the 1 1/2 olds a chance the first two weeks of November. I hunt in WI and MN, and the difference is amazing. 1 1/2 year old basket racks vs. 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 year old mature bucks. Somebody is doing something right, and it ain't MN.

[Jmnhunter]

big bucks, The too much meat part comes into play with the limited space up here in my dorm room, I dont have the money to keep all 5 deer in a meat locker. most people that I know already hunt, and some could careless for the venison. Trust me though, next year once I get my own house, there will be 5 tags filled!

-I agree with sheep, most people dont know what a 2 year old deer is. I wouldn't approve of a buck lottery, but maybe a minimum amount of points needed to shoot a buck.

-Good hunting

JN

[WB make the CUT]

I would rather tell someone I shot a mature doe than

"yep I shot my buck" "He was a big spike" 'My buddy shot a big Fork"....'yep we got our bucks....

What I didnt say is the spike and the fork are the stupidest deer in the woods!!!!

[Jmnhunter]

stratos, depends on the meat processor that is involved int the donation program. Up here in Bemidji, the cost is $75, which I think is too high.

-good luck

JN

[Jmnhunter]

i agree with you WB, I'm really starting my managing practices.

-good hunting

JN

[Dockter]

I am for point restrictions, because it makes you have to KNOW your target well, and it will also let the small ones go. I read in Outdoor life that Maine (I THINK) is doing this will good results...it does let some of the better genes get taken out of the pool (1 1/2 - 2 1/2 year old 8 pointers getting taken, while 3 1/2 year old spikers can't) but it sure beats the pants off a buck lottery. Like I said in the other post,if Minnesota digressed to a buck lottery I will not be purchasing anymore gun tags, and if they spead it to bow also (which is doubt) I would stop hunting the state all together. Do states Iowa, Illonis, Wisconsin, or Kansas have buck lotteries?? If they don't why the HECK should we?? (if they do let me know, i don't THINK they do, from their DNR web sites) Obiviously they don't need to have a buck lottery, so why would that rectify our situation? They are just doing a better job of QDM, there is LESS public land (which is a bad them for them also), and their hunters just shoot less of the big deer. I think one of the main things Minnesota needs to do is get some kind of public awareness that shooting forkers, spikers, and little six pointers is the reason that they aren't seeing the big deer. I think there are quite a few hunters out there who don't make the connection. We don't need a program, we need to chance the way of thinking. A program is not going to stop small deer from getting shot, those people that win the buck lottery will probabally just turn around and shoot more spikers and fork horns. It dosen't really matter.

[Esoxmn]

My question is . Why does everyone think they need to shoot a big buck? If there ar'nt any why do all of these people have their pics in the papers with them? Myself i can't eat the horns.

[Dockter]

I don't think people HAVE to, but I for one would treasure getting a big one, you can't eat the horns (antlers) true, but at the same time, knowing that I harvested a monarch deer is way better than having good meat!

[Esoxmn]

I do agree it would be nice to shoot a big buck, but i think people are putting to much emphesis on it these days.

[Guest]

when I N.D., Ibuy a bow tag, and go in the lottery for a buck gun tag. I then buy as many as 5 doe tags . I fill the doe tags with usually 110-130# deer, I think the most tender for eating, then the two buck tags are used for only for a trophy buck. I only get a good 140 score buck every 3-4 years. I get plenty of meat for my family and friends to eat and every once in awhile score a good rack.We need to let the smaller bucks grow so you have to let some walk by. I think some deer hunters feel they are great deer hunters only when they shoot a buck no matter what size,when taking a doe when 2-3 other deer are around, more eyes is to me more diffuclt to do. The states need to do nothing when all it would take is the hunter himself to control buck harvest

[Piker]

Lee Harvey and Dokter and others are right. If everyone would explain to their friends and other people they hunt with that they are shooting does, and passing on small bucks because it will lead to larger deer, that would help. I think a lot of people get their first tag and a bonus tag or two and think that since they shot two does with the bonus's that they have to get a buck (Any buck) with the regular tag. I told myself before the season that I may not get a buck this year, if we're going to be practicing what we've been preaching.

[Stratosman]

I have been reading this thread and it reflects the same thoughts that I have about there being some sort of implemented antler restriction. Now actually seeing it done is another thing, I don't know if the DNR would approve it and I know alot of hunters would dissaprove which is unfortunate. I try to self practice QDM on the land I bowhunt on, and tell myself it's gonna pay off, probelm is I gun hunt the land also with my dad, uncle and grandpa, all from the old school of deer hunting that you shoot whatever walks by that is over 120 pounds. And I don't know what would give me the right to persuade them to try to pass on the smaller bucks and in a few years they'll see bigger deer possibly. Don't think it would work for them. It's a touchy subject, the dedicated hunters and probably most bowhunters would be all for it but I bet the weekend warriors would be totally against it. I would like to see the DNR conduct a poll for it when you purchase your license from the ELS agent, like they do for waterfowl. It would be interesting to see the results.

[Eric_Sieve]

If your relatives crab about not ever seeing any big deer, you could then use their commnets to illustrate the fact that they should let that forkhorn walk. If they don't really care there is no way to reach them!

[muskybuck]

Wait till the CWD moves into MN from WI, and it will, be sure of that. That will change your opinions on shooting deer for meat. It is here in WI and we can not believe a thing the DNR tells us about its spread. They really know whats best for the ignorant masses you know, the truth "might" not be it. We really do not know where it is. They want us to believe it is just in a restricted area. When you are feeding that meat to your children or grandchildren it takes on a whole different meaning. I used to love venison. Now I am a horn hunter, forced to shoot does to be legally able to shoot a buck. Deer hunting takes on a whole different atmosphere when that happens. That venison doesn't taste so good any more boys. I will feel guilty about even donating that doe to the homeless. When that happens it takes a 12 point or better to even be worth shooting. Its a sad time in WI hunting.

[HUNTER2]

What I get a kick out of is these 4 or 5 antlerless deer tags you can buy. How many do you you think are young buck's?????????????????????????????????????????

[Jmnhunter]

good point hunter2

[Eric_Sieve]

Ummm....has CWD ever spead to a human?? Didn't think soo buddy! The only way to get cwd is eat the brain or the spine basically.....unless you like to do that you are ok!

[Esoxmn]

I just believe if your not going to eat it dont shoot it. If it ever comes to that i'll quit hunting deer.

[Eric_Sieve]

But see, you NEED to shoot deer in CWD areas because it thins the population, thus stemming the spread of the disease...even if you shoot them and throw them in a pile and burn them...it's still helping the heard!!

[B. Amish]

if you want to give other hunters in your party a reason to pass on those littler bucks and shoot a doe instead. try starting a biggest doe contest. have everyone who wants to enter throw in five bucks or something at the start of the season and the person who shoots the largest doe wins the pot.

the cash pot may give some hunters a little more incentive to shoot a doe over a smaller buck. not to mention the contest can add a little extra fun at deer camp.

[Eric_Sieve]

That is one hell of an idea my friend...something to definately think about!~

[muskybuck]

Eric, Yes Buddy, CWD has spread to humans.

[BLACKJACK]

Muskybuck, I don't think that there has been any documented cases of CWD spreading to humans. CWD has been prevalent in NE Colorado for 30 years, people have been shooting and eating deer, and no humans have been proven to get CWD. Right away when the CWD scare came out, my wife quit eating venison, I did some research and proved to her that its never been spread to humans. Now she eats venison and likes it.

I can feel you pain about hunting in a CWD area. But part of your problem is that you believe it can be spread to humans. It can't.

[huskminn]

There is currently no documented case of a human contracting CWD or a variation thereof from an infected deer or elk. The scientific evidence is just not there--yet.

Mad Cow or new-varient CJD is the only clinically documented spongioform encephalopathy that has jumped to the human specie from an animal host. There are reports that the consumption of encephalopathy-infected monkey brains and/or possibly squirrel brains may have killed a few people, but those cases are far and few between and have been difficult to document.

Around a hundred people in America die every year from CJD (not "new-variant"!), but the cause of this disease isn't completely known. Could these people have somehow contracted a species-jumping encephalopathy without anyone realizing it? I think it's possible. The medical community doesn't.

The bottom line is that, for now, CWD remains more of a threat to deer populations than human populations. However, mad cow disease jumped species from sheep (scrapie), so there is no telling if/when CWD might jump species and show up in another animal, including possibly humans.

I think it's critical to eliminate baiting and feeding deer, as CWD spreads from close contact or contact with feces from an infected deer. If a deer is taken in a CWD area, it should be boned out during processing and the spine and other bones should never be cut or sawed. Remember: you can't kill the infected prions. High heat, bleach, soap, etc. have absolutely no effect on CWD. The only way to stop its spread is by having no contact with it whatsoever.

After all this wonderful news, rest assured that you've got a better chance of winning the lottery than you do of coming into contact with CWD tainted venison. Enjoy those venison chops!

[muskybuck]

Lets just say your right. Would you eat it or hunt where it might be. Come on over and give it a shot.