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At least at my business . I miss registration . I only have heard of one deer shot in the area . People use to come in look at pictures . Some would say yep that was the buck i was hunting now nothing . I had 8 different bucks coming in 3 weeks ago now nothing and haven't heard a word about them . Its not about the money I lose without registration , Years ago I registered close to 500 hundred deer the last few years it as under 75 . Its the people bragging and the ones complaining that I miss . Seems to me a big part of the hunt is gone , just because people are getting lazy .
I can imagine it was socially fun and informative, in addition to helping the bottom line. If you are in an area with poor cellular coverage, maybe you can advertise that people can still come to your place to register online?
I shot a doe on October 2nd, first found it in the morning October 3rd. 75 degrees. I was very glad that I didn't have to make a 30 mile/ 1 hour round trip before I started the butchering process. I called it in, butchered it and put it on the floor of the truck with the air on within 1 1/2 hour of finding it. With that said, I also miss going to the bar that was 30 minutes away when I was in my teens and twenties to see what others had shot and talk a little smack. I do feel sorry for the business's that lost the revenue though.
My sales are up for the year .Even if I don't sell anything this month I am still ahead of last year , even bait sales were up , which have been on a decline the last decade . The guys still come around they just don't talk about what they shot . When they ask me about a particular deer , all I can say is I haven't heard a thing . I still see pictures of the deer people get on there cameras but none of them getting shot .
Just go by meat at the butcher you can save another couple hours if its just all about time . When I lived in Tenn. If I shot at deer I had to drive to the other side of the mountain to register it . We wouldn't get home to midnight wasn't a big deal then and still wouldn't be now . When I hunted in Mo. last year it took me almost two hours to get one my deer registered by phone kept cutting out before I got the confirmation number that was way more of a pain then if I just could of taken in . The other one only took 5 minutes . But then I am not a cell phone guy , One of the places we go to eat in mo. you will see 15 people sitting at the bar there all on there phones , nobody talks to each other unless they had a bunch of drinks and those you wish would go back to there phones .
I'm right there with ya! Any opportunity to meet and mingle with other hunters was always a big part of the fun for me. I was blown away at how few guys even go to the local beer joint these days. I've noticed a trend though with guys at work...seems back 10-15 years ago there was way more guys that took a whole 9 days to go hunting, scheduling their vacations well in advance. Now, hardly any take more than 1 day off dedicated to the deer hunt...just too many other things going on with their kids activities taking precedence, but even more than that it just seems like the modern trend it to spend as little time and expend as little effort, but simply get there, make meat, and get back home as fast as humanly possible. Just buy a gun, have Cabelas bore sight it, text your buddy (don't call him, TEXT him) and go sit your plot opening morning. Then cut out about noon Sunday and race home. If you're lucky and actually score no need to waste time getting together with family and friends to cut 'em up, just pay a couple hundred bucks and drop 'em off at one of Von Hanson's mega roadside venison dropoff operations and look forward to getting yours (and everybody else's) meat back, all cut wrapped and frozen. Done! Ahh, the memories..
South Farm, I see and hear things like that a lot. It's too bad, a big part of the hunting experience seems to be going out of the picture.
I too miss the registration stations. I loved hearing from the kids telling their stories about how they got their first deer. Talking with other hunters. The camaraderie just isn't there anymore.
We used to loaded up the trucks the 2nd Saturday of every gun season, to register all of the deer at the closet place (18 miles away) We would hang out around the gas station looking at the polaroids that the Gas Station took of anyone who registered a deer, and then we would go over to the local corner bar and wet our whistle, before returning to camp. Was always a fun time. We all were disappointed when the registration went away, and the gas station stopped registering, about 4-5 years ago.
Check stations were part of hunting. We used to go every night after hunting to see what came in...talk to other hunters....see the different deer. I don`t think they give these type things enough consideration when they make up new regs.
All the old traditions are gone. You don't even have to tag a deer anymore. Sad really. Many, (most) were considered a "rite of passage". Tough for the very young to understand. They just go out and shoot. Why bother with all the other bs ? Too inconvenient.
All in the name of hunter recruitment (which I don't believe is helping with hunter retainment)
I like how convenient everything is now but also didn't view the old ways as a burden either.
Gone from the north woods are the traditional deer camps both cabin and tent camps alike. The majority that still return to the north woods are there for a day and half at most and then gone. Most of the ones that do return are there out of habitat and getting up in age now new blood to keep camps going. Reasons for this in my opinion are loss of habitat, wolves ( there are 3 to 4 times the amount the dnr will admit to and yes they kill a lot of deer sometimes to train there young), the amount of crop damage tags issued for the does to be shot on timber lands alone hurts the herd, ( 200 anterless tags issued in the laona area currently) not sure about the Florence area but last year was similar for numbers and they are allowed to hunt into January and then we have the tribal night hunting- folks this is taking place all over the national forest at night with spotlights Numerous large bucks taken-
Even with the mild winters most hunters experienced a poor season once again, yes numbers are on the rise in certain areas mostly private and close to town. The public lands have a lot of desolate areas of white tails.
Some tribal members claiming 80 individual kills this year and selling them by posting ads at certain establishments.
Didn't mean to hijack the thread but it is so sad, I was fortunate to grow up in the northwoods and watching the culture and overall excitement of the deer hunt vanish is terrible for the economy, land values, our children, etc.
The continued pressure put on the deer herd is not sustainable for a quality of hunt for most.
Just my thoughts and observations. Cut a lot of country up there every year with my grouse dogs and wow have things changed for the worse, great to see some of the new logging happening- except this has been the new areas for all the night hunting to take place-
Tribal and locals night hunting. I remember a girl I knew talking about how the big thing for the people in a certain Northern town was to go to the Bars till close then go out and "Pop Deer". She said this after she asked if anyone needed venison because they always had a supply of it. There are still camps around that have been there for awhile now which I enjoy seeing on my way to our camp. Ours is around that 70 year mark, not sure how many of those traditional camps are around.
Camps are still around hunters not . The year they stopped doe hunting up here the most of the larger groups quit coming . Wasn't that they wanted to shoot a doe it was that they could get something if they didn't see a buck . Was just like when they went from 5 walleyes to 2 on the flowage . We use to have over 300 boats at the landing that went down to under 75 for a few years now its back up a little with the 3 fish limit .
Crossbows, online/call in registration, leaving treestands up on public land, baiting. It's all about laziness. I bet a lot of today's "hunters" would be on board with hunting from the couch on a computer if possible. Most other "hunters" look at me like I'm nuts when I say I get as excited about off season scouting as I do hunting. Very few want to put the effort in anymore. But they want the reward, so they go online and say Look at what I did.
Rut, I agree with that completely. The passion of the hunt has disappeared. Now you have a generation of doing it the easy way. At least I can say my kids don't know any other way but to hunt, from me anyway. Looking for sign, places to sit, how to navigate the woods, why the deer are hear and not there, etc. I remember as a kid when the American Sportsman came on and the awe I had for watching the hunts on here. Even at that age, the whole experience of the adventure burned in me. The adventure should be what it is about, not the kill only.
No doubt rifle hunters, bow hunters, conditions, regulations and hunter's attitudes & actions have changed in recent years. Tremendous and drastic change from when I started and our season today bears only a resemblance to that of yesterday. Whether this is for good or for bad is uncertain, it depends who you ask. But what is certain is that change has occurred and that there will be more.
In a single way, and in a single way only, I am almost pleased that I am well onto the downhill slope of my deer hunting career. I do not know that the young bowhunter I was when I started in 1957 would be content with what may be coming. For many bowhunters, myself included, I do not know that the coming years will yield the satisfaction they seek. There just have been so many changes, and with more coming this old dog may have trouble with new tricks. We'll see. Hope not. Hope too the "good old days" have not already passed us by!
Rut and L2H, I agree. I find the call inconvenient but it took away another good thing. A lot has changed, fewer camps up north. Habitat did take a dive but shows some promise. The deer herd is recovering even on public land in spite of the wolf misconception. A quality hunt can still be had, just not what some call quality in southern areas.
Well said Ranger620. I used to gun hunt in a camp. Great guys but it seemed like life got in the way with kids, school, and sports and quit going. That same thing seemed to have happened to others in the group and the camp is no more.
I hunt mostly solo now. Now and then the boy and his son will come up to hunt with me. Which is always great but there is something to be said about deer camp and there is nothing like it.
Rut, spring scouting will be my hunting, to make up for this year, and like you I just love it,,,,,, I like all the things I find in the woods, after the seasons,,,
I still advise my friends young sons, to buy land now in the north,,,, I have seen some really cheap prices and camps..... overall the USFS is back on track, and I believe that the wolf situation will be taken care of,,,,,, I am the eternal optimist
I miss the nightly trip to the check station as well. It was always fun to admire others deer and gear the stories behind them.
I also understand, call in is nice, in this new world, but truth be told, I liked venturing out of camp, to go see what has been shot, all the pictures on the wall, the laughter and excitement...... I knew places where is was just a happening, heck friends who did not even hunt, use to go, for the fun and festival atmosphere......
When I was in Bayfied, it was the bar in Drummond,,,,,,In Clark Co it was the Road House on Hwy 73 between Pittsville and Neilsville,,,,, man those were fun days......
seems kind of sterile today, like someone took the air out of the balloon, called deer season,,,,,,,
Today, its just not the same,,,,,, too bad really,,,,,, I remember what a big deal it was for a youngster, who had finally been able to hunt, show up with his buck,,, regardless if it was a big 8 or a spike, everyone would make that youngster feel, for that moment he was King of the world,,,,,,,, I remember all the smiles,,,,,,
oh well
Ground hunter was the bar in Drummond the Black Bear? Hunted a number of years between Drummond and Grand View.
Yep, that was the bar,,, it was the place,,,, although the day I tagged a nice bear, we all emptied all of the beer, at Teds Grandview Inn on 63,,,,, (yep we had a driver)...... They use to have a scale, where we all took bets, on how much the deer weighed , at the Black Bear,,,,,
The warden at the time, (can not remember his name) I think his first name is George, anyways, had the Country Store there also.... the warden lived I believe or by Roger creek, across the road,,,,,,, He was one tough sob, arrest his mother,,,, but he was fair, and just doing his job,,,,, I respected him, he was a poachers nightmare, and he went after big time violators......
I also remember the searches for lost hunters off the Delta Drummond Rd,,,,, the word would go out, organized at Perch Lake campgrounds, George ran the whole thing, but now you have a chance to drive your 4 X 4, down all the roads, and past the signs,,,,
There was more than a few of them events,,,,,, I am telling you deer hunting that area from 76 to 94, was the best of times
Smokey-You stated there is a wolf misconception on public land in the north. Care to elaborate?
I think we ran into him at the Black Bear. We were registering our deer on the way back to the cabin. The one guy in our group had a great 10 Point and I had a huge doe that was about equal in size.
We were standing by the truck and he took a look and said who shot the doe. His tone startled me and I hesitantly said I did. He grabbed a hind leg and said that’s a hell of big doe. Ain’t see one bigger. Shook my hand and was in his way. Never saying a word about the 10 Point.
Pissed Jim right off as he was right there to show his buck off also. Later that night while at church Jim was scrambling in his wallet for something smaller than a 20 his brother Ed said to him throw it in I’ll hive you 10 later. Jim threw the 20 in and I put some in and handed it down and Jim threw a 10 in and smiled at his brother.
Being PO’ed already and then getting stiffed at church I don’t think he said a word the rest of the week.
You had to know him and his brother. It was hilarious at the time.
Then there was the Borkenhagens. Fine, fine family. They had a camp on the east fork of the Chippewa River. We would meet up with them and do some drives. One of the sons was a gourmet cook and the meals we had at the end of shooting the day. Wow!
I think I would pay more for my tags if we could bring back stuff like that, I mean gun hunter numbers are going down anyway why not being back the stuff that people who still hunt actual like. I never minded the inconvenience at least where we live we always met some of the neighbors and friends at the gas stationed swap stories and get cheap gas station hamburgers
Muskybuck, Sure, I will elaborate. I keep hearing about the wolves wiping out the herd but I and others are seeing the deer population climbing back up quickly. Alos, some hunters say the wolf numbers a way higher than DNR is saying is out there. How do those hunters arrive at such a number? What metrics used? I will agree that there is a need to have better wolf management but I can live with a few wolves around.
Western Canada has some excellent whitetail hunting, and wolves. There can be good deer hunting with wolves. The northern Wisconsin deer herd is more dependent on food/habitat and winter conditions, all of which are locally variable, and generally average to poor. I do not like unregulated wolves, however we can live with a few.
Coyotes are huge fawn predators yet hunters make little effort to control their numbers, and they are legal to kill in any number. Shooting at one when you happen to see it is not effective. Trapping is highly effective at putting up numbers, yet very few deer hunters make any trapping effort. I would start there, become an advocate and participate in serious predator trapping and hunting.
Missouri that is a good point,,,, I can tell you running dogs on yotes is going on all winter where I am at in Florence County, it is a happening, big social deal, but we are not getting the yotes like we use too.....
Sponsored predator hunts are lots of fun,,,, PETA has now shown up in Argonne at the winter hunt, but not much impact,,,,, I noticed that hunters ignored them, or were civil in their manner, and the anti hunters were taken aback by that,,,, they came out of Green Bay I think,,,, so their protest fizzeled
Wolves need to be under state management, we all know that
Thanks Smokey. Yes, population seems to be rebounding in many areas of the north (gradually in my area, too), but things could definitely be better. This winter is starting off well for the deer herd in most of the northwoods. With 10 deer per square mile in my area and increased doe harvest in my area this year and plenty of logging, I'm confident that the deer can come out of most winters in good shape. Not so sure about adding too many wolves to the equation, though.
GH-Definitely need the wolf managed here by the state and harvest goals set that are reflective of the true wolf population (not 800) if the feds ever get off our back.
Back on topic...I also really miss the tradition of going into Herbster, Port Wing and Corny to see what was being brought in. I would bring my camera and my cloth tape and sometimes ask if I could measure them up. I know...horn porn, but healthy horn porn. Then the gang would have a few drinks and order some food and help out the local economy. The bars/restaurants are now absolutely dead, up for sale constantly, or out of business.
A deer up here now has a hard time , If it doesn't get eaten by a ,bear, coyote, wolf, bobcat , and makes it through deer season , or get shot by the tribe , or poached , and also makes it through a hard winter , then it gets hit by a car .
As far as yote numbers, If Wisconsin set reasonable prices for non-residents hunting and trapping furbearing animals maybe a significant number of yote would be taken off the landscape. $85 for small game, $160 to hunt furbearers. $160 to trap furbearers. I bet the few NR trapping and furbearer hunting licenses sold are to people from Michigan. Maybe some fur hunting licenses to Minnesota Illinois residents too.
Yote are probably the only furbearer (that does not require a tag draw) that are worth anything right now and probably for the forseable future. Coon are essentially not worth the time it takes to skin them, which isn't much.
So why the high prices and why continue to restrict selected state's trappers? Let trappers from any state trap or hunt Yote. Cut the NR fee to $10 over resident fees for hunting and trapping yote. You might see a lot more deer survive around the entire state if this was allowed. Might also put some money in the pockets of guides and dog owners and the economy in the process.
My hope is, (and this may have happened now), that the deer will adapt to having the wolves around now. I have noticed that they now much more than years ago prefer to stay in the thickest of swamps up there when there are wolves around. I think they can get away from the wolves in these area's and the wolves have a hard time running them down. You have to figure that there was a generation of deer that did not have to worry about wolves. Now unregulated human hunting? that will be a tough one, not enough wardens for too large an area.
Very few coyotes left in a lot of areas of forest, Florence and western marinette counties. During the predator hunts guys r up parking on tracks hours before daylight so they have one to run. Fox are on the up swing a bit, there is a reason for this. They co- exist better with the wolf. There is also a reason if you drive hwy 32, 8, 139, during the winter on weekends a lot of the predator hunting is taking place close to towns- dangerous for dogs with vehicles but it's the areas the yotes are in.
As far as metrics go to support an exploding wolf population, when the season was opened on them it closed before most guys set traps or started hunting- why ?
Run a bear bait up there, wolves on every one. One bait 2 years ago had 7 on it at one time- this is 1 mile from town. Same night 1.5 hrs different 5 wolves on different bait 2 miles north of town.
Review map of known wolve packs by wdnr, they list about 1 out of 3 that are established.
We had terrible winters there in 95 and 96, herd rebounded fine.- why a few wolves around but not a pack living in every wilderness area.
Now the kill has been down up there for years, no doe tags with archery or any issued at all in old unit 39 for many years- guess what no growth of hers or diminishing herd, also in a lot of these areas the habitat is much improved.
I can go on and on, I know nothing and just my opinion.Only spend 100 days a year in woods with bird dogs, hounds, scouting and fishing. Also have a degree in natural resources so I do understand we cannot all have what we want but it's just sad to see.
Both my grandpas were trappers up there in the area for years, they still talk about bounties on coyote and fox and remember the last wolf being taken from the county. I guess we can all call this progress but for the most part the hunt is gone from the north woods like it once was. Miss the buck poles and everyone driving around visiting camps and looking to see what's hanging. Very few deer on buck poles these days between laona and long lake. Couple cabins on Halsey lake by ours had 2, years ago it would be 4 to 8 on everyone's.
Sad!!!
Good post Ranger. You touched on some of the sentiments that a lot of us have.
Why did the wolf season get shut down so quickly when WI was finally able to have a season? That's a good rhetorical question.
Good post Ranger. You touched on some of the sentiments that a lot of us have.
Why did the wolf season get shut down so quickly when WI was finally able to have a season? That's a good rhetorical question.
