Where have the deer gone in 4J?!

[Dlove]

So here's my story. This is my second season hunting. I hunt on about 75-100 acres of private land with 3 other hunters. The owner of the land is retired and keeps daily notes on hunting times, amount of deer, turkey, etc seen (and has been for like 20 years). 2 years ago, by the end of early bow season had counted some 400 deer. Last year was thought to be the worst season he has ever seen with only seeing about 200 deer and about 300 turkey before gun season. But this year it is even worse. Zero turkey and only 48 deer have been seen. Last year there was mostly nocturnal movement. This year we arent even seeing any signs inculding tracks and nothing on our trailcams. They arent using trails they have been using for 20+ years. We thought maybe a lot of coyotes have moved in but we havent even seen/heard them either.

As far as landscape and terrain. Nothing has changed. To make them alter their patterns from previous years.

SO, my questions are:

1. Where are all the deer?!

2. Any ideas whats going on?

3. Are other hunters having the same problem?

[stoneam2006]

What wmu?

[DirtTime]

What wmu?

 

LOL. He said in the title 4J.

 

They all moved to 4F.

[stoneam2006]

Yep missed that rob....

[stoneam2006]

I don't know much about there....but did any local farms start/stop planting crops? Any locals putting harder pressure on the deer than in the past? Is the woods still "healthy" good food source undergrowth bedding areas ect....

[grampy]

Where in 4j are you? Have you talked to neighboring land owners to see if they are experiencing something similar?

[Dlove]

Nothing has changed. In fact theres less people that have been hunting there for years becauee they havent been seeing anything. We do see a group of about 4 does and a couple bucks here and there about 1/2 mile from where we hunt, but they dont go on the land where we are. Thought they were doing the nocturnal thing, but we have no tracks either. We took a walk after the morning hunt through the neighboring properties to see what kind of action they have, but there were no tracks there either.

Its just really weird that theres no turkeys, no deer, and we dont even here the martin thats been therefor years too.

[Dlove]

We see those few deer when its dark in the morning, bout 5am

[Dlove]

4j off of krumkill. Owner of the property has talked to the neighbors and they arent seeing them either

[DirtTime]

So here's my story. This is my second season hunting. I hunt on about 75-100 acres of private land with 3 other hunters. The owner of the land is retired and keeps daily notes on hunting times, amount of deer, turkey, etc seen (and has been for like 20 years). 2 years ago, by the end of early bow season had counted some 400 deer. Last year was thought to be the worst season he has ever seen with only seeing about 200 deer and about 300 turkey before gun season. But this year it is even worse. Zero turkey and only 48 deer have been seen. Last year there was mostly nocturnal movement. This year we arent even seeing any signs inculding tracks and nothing on our trailcams. They arent using trails they have been using for 20+ years. We thought maybe a lot of coyotes have moved in but we havent even seen/heard them either.

As far as landscape and terrain. Nothing has changed. To make them alter their patterns from previous years.

SO, my questions are:

1. Where are all the deer?!

2. Any ideas whats going on?

3. Are other hunters having the same problem?

 

After re-reading this.............400 deer in 4J? In one season? In one area? This is the first time I am gonna call BS! 

[Dlove]

Not 400 individual deer numbnuts, be realistic. We're talking about an avg of seeing about 10 deer hunting twice a day

[Dlove]

Get off the feed if ur not gunna be helpful like the other guys on it

[stoneam2006]

Might be time to plant a plot to see what you can draw back in...it's hard to say could be many small things that just slowly make the deer move on...

Edited November 10, 2014 by stoneam2006

[DirtTime]

First off, watch your mouth! I did not insult you, I made a contradiction to what you posted. 

Even after 20 years, the odds are good some of those seer may be the same deer. The bucks may have just matured and not have been killed.

[jjb4900]

First off, watch your mouth! I did not insult you, I made a contradiction to what you posted. 

Even after 20 years, the odds are good some of those seer may be the same deer. The bucks may have just matured and not have been killed.

20 year old deer?

[Dlove]

Stone- yeah, my father and I were talking today about that today aboit doing it next year. Just sucks cause we thought last year was just a bad/slow year. The deer were on the property in august/sept and iI know during the hunting season they can move out. But its just weird that therea no animals. No turkey, deer, even the martin is gone.

Heres another question, would a bobcat force the deer out. A few years ago we had a bobcat on the property. But we havent seen him in years.

[stoneam2006]

Again I'm not to familiar with there but I doubt 1 cat would...would take a bunch I'd imagine... sounds like your woods are dwindling....do they need logged off a bit to put some tops on ground? Is the woods floor looking good? Ferns berries and underbrush? The trees look healthy how do the deer you are seeing look? Healthy?? I'd say something is definitely off something has had to change even if seems small something is making them wander....

[Izayah12]

I hunt 4j (latham) and have 7 bucks on my cameras also a ton of coyotes so that could be a problem

[the blur]

The coyote population has been expanding.  I'm seeing more & more scat just taking a day hike. 

[LuckyPickle123]

First off, watch your mouth! I did not insult you, I made a contradiction to what you posted.

Even after 20 years, the odds are good some of those seer may be the same deer. The bucks may have just matured and not have been killed.

Coming from the guy that was crying about the website a few weeks ago

[biggamefish]

I have seen s huge pattern change with the oaks and acorns. You have to find the deer and get close. Which is hard with the pressure issue. The deer Dont have to move far to eat then lay down if there are oaks buy the bedding area. Just a thought.

[biggamefish]

Double post

Edited November 10, 2014 by biggamefish

[steve863]

"Where have the deer gone in 4J?!"

 

Four Season Whitetail did a round-up this summer and now they are all on his high fence property.  If you want a deer, you will need to pay up! LOL

[Dlove]

They did a round up here? Cause thats north of Syracuse

[Dlove]

Good point with the acorns. They might be deeper in the woods. We have a good amount of acorns on our land. If it is the same deeper in the woods, then thats a good explanation