punch

Burmjohn, have you looked at eagleseed forage soybeans yet? I used them last year with incredible results. I mixed mine with corn but I think they would do just fine on their own.

Anyone know how I could get in touch with Ken Mossow? I have dozens of trail cam pics of this buck over the last 3 years that I would like to give him. What a great buck! We called him ,Zeus.

I guess we need more education.

Let's not get AR confused with QDM.

Guys want to continue shooting little bucks for the rest of lives, fine with me. But I do believe in QDM, and that includes the full spectrum of it. I enjoy the habitat work. I also think that if more and more hunters followed QDM, there wouldn't be a need for AR. I think I mentioned it earlier.

I think pro AR and pro QDM are two different subjects. It sounds like even you believe in QDM.

With over 200,000 acres of state land to hunt on, I don't see it becoming a "kings sport"

It just sounds like shooting yearling bucks is the easy way out.

Culvercreek, What about the guys that spend money, helping the economy, and put in hard work to try and grow big bucks "herd health" yet neighbors shoot them all when they are small. AR /QDM guys aren't telling you to not shoot deer, just not yearlings. Remember that tag says "either sex" even when not accompanied with a dmp.

Larry, I bet that big 10 and two 8's were fun to see. Hunters can be on the same land, same day. One can see a lot of deer, the other, nothing. Its hunting! Many factors come into play with that but one is for sure. Little bucks don't get to be big bucks if shot. Thanks for the bit.

antlerless dear numbers include fawns, 50% of which are male, and those yearlings with less than 3 inch. of ant.

Why do you put in food plots?

since everyone has different experience hence different opinions and no one is going actually start throwing fists, How about we all bring back factual information to this discussion.

Arguing can often change minds, or lead to compromise, or better yet, find solutions. Fighting gets you nowhere. But so does doing nothing at all. ;D

Are you implying that its natural for more bucks to get shot each year than does? and that mother nature magically fixes itself every year. You are basically saying mother nature takes care of everything so long as your rights aren't infringed upon. And QDM goes way beyond passing yearlings and doe management. I suspect you haven't looked into to deeply to know otherwise. It always easier to do nothing, why try to improve habitat? Mother nature provides everything, right? I'm willing to bet that the guys that aren't seeing as many deer aren't doing anything to improve the habitat to carry deer capacity or make the deer want to be there. Food (quality food) sources all year long, cover, sanctuaries, water.

I just told you! Hey you do realize that the earth is round, right?

Your asking for answers based on one person's opinion vs. what biology and science tells us. You apparently put more faith in your opinion than factual information. Knock...Knock! Hellooo?

AR alone is not the answer, but its a hell of a start. Doe management is another key element. Having older age class bucks along with good buck/doe ratios and providing good habitat all benefits the herd. It actually brings it back to a more natural state. Natural predators don't single out bucks the way many hunters do. I think the logic behind AR is not only to protect more yearlings but getting hunters to fill that tag on a doe instead. AR isn't perfect, but it would get things moving in the right direction. Healthy herds and ratios produce better bucks as a byproduct. Ruts would be shorter and more intense allowing fawns to hit the ground early in the spring when they are supposed to, increasing survival rate from predators. When too many does can get bred during the rut, you have a second and third rut. This feeds coyotes all summer long. I could go on and on but you should really pick up some literature and read it yourself.

If you really want to know all the numerous reasons how it would benefit, you should pick up a QDMA magazine and read it. The one written by biologists who actually study this stuff and oh yeah, did I forget to mention that they are hunters too! or are you going to throw that agenda word back at me. and lets not forget that the QDMA is non-for-profit. So I don't want to see the $$ sign thrown at me either.

You just asked how AR would benefit a herd where hunting was not allowed. If hunting was not allowed, how could there be AR? I would like to answer your question but I need to know exactly what it is that your asking.

Culvercreek, You guys all claim and agree that the DEC doesn't do enough but at the same time seem to want less regulation. Regulation is what makes things work and offers protection. These are the same guys putting all their emphasis on enjoying the hunt with friends and family and thats what its about..not the antlers. If thats the most important part, then who's the one needing to "beat their chest" over a little buck when a doe would eat just as well.

Mr. Hunt safe, smart, and ethical...One mans views on ethics doesn't always line up with another's. Hunt smart? I'm willing to bet QDM hunters do more research on deer, habitat, and management than non-qdm hunters, and last but not least hunt safe. If we piled up stats on accidents where one hunter harmed another? I'm not the one flinging 5 slugs in 3 seconds at a running 4 pointer in woods.

Okay, by looking at the entire picture would mean looking at biology. The entire picture doesn't always get painted into a cheesy little bar graph. Biology tells us that bucks go through what is called "dispersal" at roughly 1.5 yrs. of age. Mother natures way of spreading genetics and avoiding inbreeding. If yearlings disperse outside the wmu's of AR, bang! there shot and gone. Fewer yearlings outside these wmu's could disperse into it cause again..bang! there shot. Could this be part of the reason for not so impressive graph charts? We do know that the chart says 2.5 and older buck harvest went up. Something to think about, maybe a broader stroke is needed to gain even better results. Just sayin...what do you think?

Maybe the overall buck harvest is down, what does it say about the age class of bucks harvested. This doesn't mean it's bad. Let's look at the whole picture.

I agree with the drop in "reported" deer. There needs to be some improvement there on actually reporting harvests.