Record deer kill
West Virginia
Looks like there may be a record deer kill this year. Lots of mast
The real-time bow numbers are way up for bow season already.
The real-time bow numbers are way up for bow season already.
Babysaph , i would think just the opposite lower or same as last year for rifle season , most years with heavy mast deer will move less and kill is lower due to deer not having to move for food . Where is it i can read those REAL - TIME Bow kill numbers
I was just kidding. I’ve seen less deer this year than years past. And you can’t look at real time figures despite the new call in system. It should be available in real time . Would not cost a thing ti do it
I was just kidding. I’ve seen less deer this year than years past. And you can’t look at real time figures despite the new call in system. It should be available in real time . Would not cost a thing ti do it
With all the mast this year - bet we see even more bigger deer next year - nutrition is the key!
Not many shots today. Got one on the ground. It was a Scrounge but it was one
I was wrong about the record kill. Yesterday put a big damper on that. Kill will be low.
I was wrong about the record kill. Yesterday put a big damper on that. Kill will be low.
With wind and rain last Tuesday and Wednesday . Rifle buck season may be lower than predicted . I didnt hear much shooting after Monday morning in my area
I bowhunted the last 3 days in mineral county. Did not hear a shot,
I think the reason the archery kill was up is there are more hunters, ie, xbows..
More and more people that never hunted the archery season now do.
I agree with that statement. With the increase in hunters out during the archery season with xbows, I am curious if there will be any impact in total buck kill with the 2 buck limit? I feel like the increase of xbow hunters that were not previous bow hunters is going to more than offset any bucks that may have been saved with the reduction.
Well if i recall correctly and i posted it in one of the previous old threads on here - since they started a crossbow season and when you add the crossbow harvest and the archery harvest togther - its only about 1000 more bucks being killed now then what it was if i remember correctly what the dnr guy said like from back in either 2005 or 2006.
Its in one of our previous old threads.
I am sure most of you are on Facebook- look at all the big bucks being shown that are being harvested - all before the lower limit has taken effect - we have no problem whatsoever.
Believe that was even shown to be had said at the wvda deer summit a few months ago.
Jayd, Do you think just maybe the reason we are see bigger bucks is due in part to hunters are more selective in number and size deer they shoot . I know lots of younger hunters that wont shoot a buck unless it is 3.5 years or older.
Hoppies - i think there are multiple reason why we are seeing the success and size of some of these harvest.
The one thing i do know this is happening and its been happening before the lowering of the limit!
It will be interesting to watch the number of antlerless harvest, the buck harvest and the number of big buck entrees after next season’s lower limit goes into effect and then with future seasons - can’t wait to see what happens - just hope its better than what I see happening in TN. ( oh geesh i forget covid is to blame for what is going on in TN - looks like it will be the crossbow to blame here in WV if the numbers don’t look so good)
JayD You are correct there are many reasons , But the big reason is many hunters have lowered the limit on their own , i would like to see a doe must taken before a second buck . ratio is way out of balance in my area . Only time will tell . Have a good one
Just kill More does. Guys here won’t kill does. Too much work for em. I kill em all. Too many does
Hoppies - I live in one of the counties where you have to shoot a doe before the second buck. I really don’t habe a problem with that.
The reasons the antlerless season is unsuccessful is multi-facetted IMO. Horn porn is #1 , crossbows are killing a lot of deer and leasing to name a few.
I like to hunt and kill deer. I have no problem killing a doe
Jack your number 1 about horn porn is spot on!
I want to kill a big buck as much as the next guy. However, I started hunting with the mindset that any deer is a trophy. I am trying to teach my boys that, especially while just starting out, it’s ok to just be “deer hunting”. Have fun and get kills under your belt to learn how to handle yourself during the moment of truth. The horn porn idea is a real problem. I feel bad for some of these young hunters that think they have to live up the standards they see on hunting shows and/or social media. They may not even be hunting an area that holds the age or size of deer they think they have to kill to be a good hunter. They are missing out on what hunting is all about. At the same time though, I realize everyone has different goals and measure success differently. That’s one thing great about it, we have choices and options, something for everyone. But my main point is I personally like to kill stuff and I know how hard a mature doe is to take out of a group of 5-6 deer. Anytime I am able to do that and feel the Adrenalin from pulling that off with so many eyes and noses within bow range, I count that as a major success! I love bow hunting, no idea where October and November went!!
Totally agree wvbowhunter. I am still that way. I grew up hunting squirrels and rabbits with my dad. I still love to do that. Not many kids now do that. They all start off with deer and want to kill big deer. I know guys that will take their kids to deer hunt in a blind and have to have food and games so the kids don't lose interest. A lot of kids hunt because mom and dad want them to. I know guys that could not go hunting unless they took junior or mom would throw a fit. I guess I have not matured much as a bowhunter. Don't get me wrong but I like big bucks just like anyone else but I still like to kill and eat deer. I use a recurve and am hunting more and more on the ground for the challenge. I own my own land and try to manage it but do not own enough to grow big bucks. I have had two nice deer on my property recently and both were killed by the neighbors in the rifle season. I am just too old to sit and wait on a big buck. And the bucks I am talking about are not like the midwestern deer anyway. I get enough challenge trying to shoot deer on the ground. We need to start the kids out on something that will provide action and keep their interest. Just my two cents.
I agree. Started my boys on squirrel. They still love it. They are chomping at the bit to get out in the late season
That’s the way to do it WVbowhunter
^^^yep^^^. The one thing that’s so important to the survival of hunting, was decided by men who were already life long hunters.
Farming bigger horns has never had one positive effect on deer hunting. Not one. Unless you count the old and aging deer hunters that insisted it be done so they can hunt their corn feeders outback, and kill a mature buck. Not that it’s ever really happened to any of them. It’s just the thought that counts.
Hunting to every single one of us, had a lot of things involved that no longer does. Camping trips, walking miles and miles, cold sits, etc…. It was certainly miserable at times. But, it’s funny how we can remember them. Often more so than the “good times”.
The uncertainties and hardships is what drew us to hunt again. To hunt harder. To learn to appreciate and cherish the moments of success’s we did have. The youth and younger hunter’s amongst us have about a 5% chance to be connected to hunting the way we were. And, it’s showing in their lack of desire to participate.
Instead, they get to hear these back forty hunters mimic the BS clown shows hunting tv has become. “Lease this, lease that, one more year, not mature enough, I’d let that one go, etc….,”. Everything except “Heck yeah!!! That’s a great deer!!”. Regardless of the size of the buck that is shot.
All these catch phrases regurgitated for “better buck management” is all they hear. No one tells them The problem with “better buck management” is the results it causes.
My nephew in NC has killed 6 deer at 13 years old. He stopped shooting deer last year. None of them were big enough. He lost interest and will be a long time picking it back up. If he ever picks it back up.
My brother ruined him. He found these deer, grew them up on properties he had permission to do so, then took his son into to “ hunt” them. After three to four times of this, he lost interest. Who’d thunk it?
Hunting will die if we hunters don’t put a value on it besides mature bucks. It’s little wander the good ole boys won’t shoot does. There’s no value in any deer unless it’s got big horns. That’s what better buck management has done for this state. And, every where else it’s become the gospel.
This movement wasn’t done for the kids. It wasn’t done to make deer hunting better. It wasn’t done to promote better biology. It was done to appease old deer hunters that chose to hunt in a way that rarely results in the killing of big mature bucks.
These are the same old deer hunters that never takes a kid squirrel hunting. Or rabbit hunting. Or camping to the NF where a hunt will more then likely be counted in calories burnt versus meat in the cooler. And, it all gets labeled as “better buck management”. What a joke.
Hunting is dying. And, it’s us that killed it. For hopefully more inches of horn.
There’s been a large number of big bucks killed in this state for a long time. In every single county. A lot of them. I’m sure it is due to self regulating by individuals on their personal choice in the deer they shoot. That was pointed out long ago. But, no one, including hoppie listened. Why? I said so earlier. There’s no debating it. It’s the only explanation.
As Hoppie pointed out, it’s not a hidden gem. Everyone knew as hunters aged and recruitment fell, that the average hunter was being more particular. Which means the average buck killed now an age class or two older versus 20 years ago.
It’s human nature that things progressed this way. Just like it’s human nature to dismiss a better alternative for the whole crowd, if it doesn’t address the preferred choice by those in charge.
Well said. I still remember has a young hunter going to the checking station just to see the deer that were brought in. Back then there was no doe season unless you applied for the limited tags and got drawn. I liked looking at the bucks. Any buck. It was an accomplishment to kill a buck. I remember people asking if you "got your buck". Not how big of a buck did you kill. I guess I haven't grown up as a hunter. I enjoy hunting and shooting any deer with my recurve. Others can do as they want.
The DNR needs the regulations revamped on the class "N" deer stamps. You need to be able to buy them before archery season comes in and USE then throughout all seasons if they want more does harvested. This will do 2 things, bring in more revenue and harvest more antlerless deer. But I'm just a dumb ole bowhunter that likes killing does what do I know!
