Filling tags this fall

[Robhuntandfish]

Due to the terrible economy, rising gas prices etc will you be less likely to pass on deer this season?

 

I passed a few does but def should have taken another as I only shot one and then tried for a buck.

 

My freezer is still good shape as I have barely touched it due to getting 3 the previous year. So just finished that up.

 

I am always a meat hunter first but I am probably gonna look to drop the first couple I get a chance at.

 

Also do you think we will see another uptick in hunter numbers? And unfortunately there will prob be more poaching as well. If we are still flirting with $5 gas and boiling over inflation I can see a lot of this happening.

 

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[corydd7]

Poaching will wise not so sure about hunters. I'm picking up half a cow (400 pounds) this week. After that runs out it should be hunting season. That said I always set the bar at two and hope for three or four. 

[Splitear]

 

[DirtTime]

I feel the economy and gas prices will be a double-edged sword. Last deer season, there were a lot more hunters in the deer woods, especially during the regular season in my area. My gut tells me there's going to be more people sticking closer to home and not driving, so there's going to be more hunters out there again.

As for the price of food making more people hunt, I'm not sure. There's a lot of people who feel the grocery store will still be a better option. Take into account that there's people who don't like venison, and this one's really a big guessing game.

 

I won't be picky this coming season. As I said, my gut tells me there's going to a lot more people out there with the gas prices, so if I have a tag for it, I'm done worrying about taking small does or bucks.

 

If rumors I hear come true, gas will be far over $5 a gallon next deer season, so it will impact my season if that happens. Especially my week up north at the cabin. I'm already putting money aside for gas to be able to drive to my areas up there from the cabin. Gas was a bit high up there last year as it was.

 

We've already had to cancel two camping trips, and I'm doing careful consideration/planing for the Spring turkey season. I plan to try and hunt only during the week, so I don't drive to a few places that are 16-20 miles away only to find out the parking areas are full and have to drive around to another spot or come back home.

[First-light]

With the prices going up I'm sure we will pay at the processor. I would be more inclined to cut myself. 

[Lawdwaz]

Hunting season is a long way off, who knows WTF the situation will be in the next 7 months.....I may not be able to afford fuel for the Tacoma so could be forced to potting squirrels in the local park on foot. 

If I can find the money to fuel up the truck, I'll plug my share of Odocoileus virginianus.

[GreeneHunter]

I always drop our Deer off at the Butcher , maybe this coming season I'll just grind one or two myself !

[Bolt action]

Last year I only had a very few opportunities to take deer. I missed one, and got the other. And that was with me being in the woods for nearly 200 hours between October and December. Been that, and that I'm a meat hunter before I'm a horn Hunter (within reason), and I'm not likely to pass on much. Little bucks get a pass.

It's hard to say what the economy and fuel prices will do to others in the area. A lot could change between now and then. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Nomad]

Gas price isn’t a major  factor for my hunting but after a number of hunts week after week it does come into play  . With what guys here spend on leases ,a dozen trail cameras, 20 stands, atvs , Sitka , gas shouldn’t affect those guys at all .

Ill try to whack a doe early as a start then hunt less, till the rut . I want more meat,this year , I may have to supply the kids , what with the path we’re on , I’ll can more too. This year my canning fell short of what I hoped . 
 

 

Edited March 8, 2022 by Nomad

[wolc123]

It seems to me that the deer population in my home wmu (9F) is way too high.   I am hoping they have the early antlerless gun season ages this  December and that I will be able to hunt a little more of it than I did last year.   
 

If they do, I am going to try to kill (4) mature doe with my dmp tags.  I will keep just (1) one for myself, and give the other (3) away.   I don’t need more than that, since I probably have two years worth of vacuum sealed venison in the freezer now, at the rate we are using it.  Butchering (1) fat doe a year is about all I can take.  That take me almost twice as long as bucks for me to process, because it takes that long to trim out all the fat.  

It seems that the deer population is just about right or slightly above optimum in my northern zone spots (wmu 6c,6f).  I will try my best to fill my antlerless ML/bow tag up there, but hold out for a buck with 3 or more points on a side.  I use a butcher up there, because my in-laws are clean freaks, and would never want me to cut one up at their place.
 

 At home, a buck will need 4 or more points on a side, for the first half of the seasons.  After the midpoints, I will use my buck tags on a 3” horned unicorn, if I get the chance.  I rarely see any deer after the midpoint of gun season.
 

I filled 4 of my 7 tags last season (technically the last one was this year), and I would be very happy if I can match or exceed that number this year, but one deer is all I will really need.  The venison donation will take all they can get and I am not doing anyone any favors, by not trying to fill tags in the overpopulated areas where I hunt.  
 

 

Edited March 8, 2022 by wolc123

[sbuff]

If gas prices stay this high or higher come fall driving 2hrs to camp every weekend is going to hurt . 

[crappyice]

Ok, ok….you convinced me! I’ll kill does!!!!
I put three deer in the freezer through this season and will “survive” with that number. I think 4 is my sweet spot with 5 allowing me to play with bunches of different preparations.
4 deer breakdown:
2 into ground…we love taco Tuesday and chili on Sunday, empanadas, meatloaf…
1 deer of snack sticks
4 corned venison’s from football roasts
Numerous cheesesteaks (8 hind roasts)
2 massive piles Osso Bucca
All them backstraps
Deer 5 would be to try a whole front shoulder roast, may give a hind quarter to Smokehaus to make a prosciutto, and more “random sausages”

Bring on 10/1!!!!!


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[BowmanMike]

I also am a meat hunter first and things won't change much for my approach. Two deer are plenty to get me through the year and that is all the meat I eat.

If I get one more that really is for sharing with friends.

[Daveboone]

Last year was the first in over thirty years I didnt get a deer. I was bumming only because we love venison, but otherwise no big deal. I had a few opportunities to fill, but didnt. This year I will be a bit more hard core. I will have a doe permit to use along with my ML tag and regular season tag, That said, one deer is usually enough with some venision usually left in the freezer, but this year I would like two so we can have some sausage, etc. made.

 

[Swamp_bucks]

Shouldn't change much luckily Most of my spots are within 10-15 mins from home.   Unfortunately I won’t get out much with hoping to start nursing school in the fall.  So I won’t be overly picky this year to make sure I have venison in the freezer.  Also pa will most likely be out of the question this year as well.

I’ll worry about it when it gets closer to the season.  Things can change from now until then. 

[dbHunterNY]

For the farm we have qdm goals that tend to limit doe harvest so multiple people can take one. I've got other properties though that I gained permission. This past season my big chest freezer was full with vension and a pig so I pumped the brakes on shooting deer back here in NY. Wrong move. Wishing I had more venison. Hoping to empty the whole freezer by bow season and then it'll be apocalyptic come October. Most of my spots are close and allow me to take a bunch without dropping too many on a particular property. Gas won't be too bad. More work but gotta shoot deer with next season in mind.

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[loworange88]

Well, if the current prices or highter are here in the fall, I will definately be less picky as I was last season.  I passed up alot of deer waiting for a mature buck.

[mowin]

With food prices going up and up, I foresee a increase in poaching. Poaching is a big issue in my area, and it's not going to get better.  Hopefully it won't impact my family's harvest. 

[GreeneHunter]

An extra Deer in the freezer never hurt anyone !

[fasteddie]

I will be out there . Father Time is catching up with me . I will be spending my kid's inheritance on gas . 

[boo711]

3 minutes ago, fasteddie said:

I will be out there . Father Time is catching up with me . I will be spending my kid's inheritance on gas . 

Spend it all yourself. Don’t worry about leaving money for the kids!!!  Lol

[boo711]

5 minutes ago, boo711 said:

Spend it all yourself. Don’t worry about leaving money for the kids!!!  Lol

Won’t affect me much. I’m about 5 minutes from one of my hunting areas. 10 minutes from another. Usually hunt those during the week. Will still head to camp on the weekends. Can’t just let it sit there I’m paying taxes on it so will use it just as I always have which is just about every weekend during the year.  Keep trying to get the wife to move down there full time. No go so far.  With kids in college I’m the only one in the house who eats venison so 2 is my goal just like every year but 1 will get me through the year. 

Edited March 8, 2022 by boo711

[airedale]

Not much of a Deer hunter these days, I allow myself one Deer, the first crack I get at something legal it's over.

Al

[suburbanfarmer]

7 minutes ago, boo711 said:

Spend it all yourself. Don’t worry about leaving money for the kids!!!  Lol

I agree with that sentiment, let them work and be a productive member of the society. No need to leave an inheritance.

[Kmartinson]

I have been lucky to have my lease. 5 deer a year in my freezer and 5+ for others in need. It's a 30 minute drive but worth the ride. I have killed more deer in 2 or 3 years than my father ever killed. Openings to good people, available near Ithaca.