phade

OBR is the way to go in my mind. The 5% rule about two buck tags being filled has little to do with the overall #s, but as noted, the ability to be less picky when taking buck 1 slants harvest age down. There's no science on it, obviously since it is a what if, but I feel comfortable saying I believe hunters would have passed on a large % of the bucks they took if they had one buck tag to burn.

I've donated in the past and provided for a couple elderly people who are on the "no red meat" order from docs. They've all went up to greener pastures since and donating has become a pain now. By the time I add my gas to and from the nearest donation place, the cost of an arrow/BH, and my time - I've slanted toward it not being worth it. It's a $50-60 proposition for me to just shoot the doe and drop it off now - not including any tax-write off charges. I'm sure I could move on to Montecs and cheaper arrows, but I've just not had the desire to go on a doe-fest. I took two does this year. I believe I did my part as compared to the grand scheme of things. No need for me to take 7 (DMP, Bonus DMP, consignment, and the statewide) like I used to each bow season. I actually believe me and a buddy had an impact on a micro scale on his property. It was plentiful in does and good bucks. This year had the worst hunting ever - and coincedentally, the fewest and smartest does on that parcel. The doe numbers were much lower and the ones alive were looking up much more often - something that they had not done in the past. I slammed does there. Between my and my buddy, we took out around 25 does in 4 seasons on that 25 acre parcel. Rut hunting there was horrible when in years past it was solid because of the location between two doe bedding areas. Won't be shooting any does there this year unless it looks much better. The only does I seem to target now are the ones that tick me off and teach the others in their group.

EAB is the worst idea ever. Wisconsin went to it with CWD...talk about a crapstorm. Button buck take typically goes up in EAB. That first non-antlered deer gets whacked, regardless. And, I don't blame hunters for doing so with such a stupid rule. Also, people report false harvests in big numbers to get the buck tag.

Vortex crossfires here. 8x42. Worth it. Very worth it.

Other than the outlier years, it's not "start"...the number has been in decline from a trend perspective for a while now. They are years past starting. This is starting to become impactful on a grand scale.

Pretty impressed with the % of 2.5 and older take. Considering much of the state is san-AR, that's actually pretty solid. Not really sure what to do or say about the doe situation. I know I've REALLY slowed down on my desire to kill does. 5-10 years ago I'd fill every tag available in bow season and be left looking at my reg tag only come opening day. Now, if I take two does, I've taken alot. I'll be honest, I can kill them, I just don't feel like it. I'm the only member in my house that'll eat venison, so one deer a year will actually last me a long time. Plus, work and life come into play...not enough time to repeatedly process them. The other thing, it takes away my seat time from chasing a buck. Education seems to be working on the buck ages. But, not for the does. Probably because its not all that tangible of a topic when looking at the local aspect.

Eh, not much to worry about then. Let it go and just have fun shooting.

That's sort of half correct. The transmitter is for cams in the same model line (ie they are really built to be MMS cams but without the transmitter). They did this to increase profit margins by requiring you to buy two components to make an MMS cam. You cannot however, say buy the cam, and put it on any of Moultrie's cams not in that line (they've downplayed that line alot now). I'm quite amazed that they haven't developed an MMS cam similar to the Code Black or Panda.

I haven't heard of one being done easily. I can think of a billions reasons why it makes more sense to just buy an MMS camera and be done with it.

DSD decoys are unreal. Deer, turkey, you name it. DSD is just about as real as it gets. The price tag reflects it. Hard to justify that kind of cost for it to get beat up. I'd cringe if I owned the buck decoy and a spry 2.5 yr old let into it.

Soap and a wife.

Andrae sold that company years ago. It's also not been the same since. Andrae is consulting with XOP now.

Its a rather heavy site but interesting concept.

X a billion.

Bump. This cam is $35-40 cheaper than anywhere else you'll find it right now. One of the, if not the, best cam for black flash and vids.

sometimes responding to it opens the floodgates. I highly doubt it was poached and filmed and released. It does happen, but not very often.

Bummer, but at least you know the story. He would have been MIA on your radar and not knowing would have sucked. Was this on ground you can hunt? I know you have shed hunting rights on a few pieces and hunt next to a non-hunting parcel. Wondering if he was found on your hunting ground.

Dakotas have an oil boom and and it's a great place to move for work right now because the pay is insane compared to the cost of living. The infrastructure to support brings in job demands for all kinds of things downstream.

Elite doesn't replace strings and cables for free. No company does that unless there is an issue. Elite is great at CS, however. And, yes, QADs go up in the last inch or so of the cycle.

Makes for better TV, probably.

No bashing, but one of the things I ponder, is why guys "set up" a 60 yard gun but shoot half that, max? Why not just buy some basic Win Supreme and a basic $20-25 choke or whatever similar to achieve a kill pattern at 30 yds? Why bother with hevit loads that cost 2-3x as much and a $50+ choke?

Yep, Wayne Co. outside of village ordinance, is 500' and safe backdrop. THey are pretty lax about it when done safely/smartly. We were visited one day last fall sighting in slug guns. They more or less talked to us about what we were shooting and where we were hunting than anything. They hunted as well, never even asked us anymore about it, and told us to carry on as they left. Said the complaintants would just have to deal with living in the country since we were above board.

I'd try to find the slowest load and the most open reasonable choke in that situation. Thinking the high speed and the tighter chokes cause the shot to hit one another and spread the pattern out causing that donut you mentioned.

The strings that Moog mentioned are good. I've got a set on my Z28. Cheap and good.

Just be sure you are going to a reputable shop. Some places don't like you bringing in strings/cables from others - and they upcharge the service for it. Not right, but it is what it is. It may be $40 with the purchase from him or $60, etc. if you bring in the product. Some shops are just like that.