#1158075 - 02/01/09 08:31 AM
Re: '07 v '08 County Harvest Comparison
[Re: 8 POINTS OR BETTER]
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richmanbarbeque
16 Point
Registered: 07/17/03
Posts: 12771
Loc: Middle, Tn
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I know several hunters that did not shoot does this year that usually shoot 4-6. All the talk about EHD scared them.
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#1158086 - 02/01/09 08:52 AM
Re: '07 v '08 County Harvest Comparison
[Re: richmanbarbeque]
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Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 16975
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
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I know several hunters that did not shoot does this year that usually shoot 4-6. All the talk about EHD scared them.
Prior to last year, many hunters had the attitude in the early Nov. muzzleloader season:
"I'm going to kill a doe, then hold out for a buck."
But with the early Nov muzzleloader buck limit going from 1 to 3 in Unit A in 2008, many changed their thought to :
"I'm going to kill the first buck that comes along, then hold out for a bigger buck."
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#1158104 - 02/01/09 09:20 AM
Re: '07 v '08 County Harvest Comparison
[Re: richmanbarbeque]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59548
Loc: Nashville, TN
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I know several hunters that did not shoot does this year that usually shoot 4-6. All the talk about EHD scared them.
We definitely cut back on our doe harvests the last two years, but primarily because our data indicated we really did have less does in the local population. In addition, fawn production has been terrible the last two years in my local area.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1158106 - 02/01/09 09:21 AM
Re: '07 v '08 County Harvest Comparison
[Re: ERIC]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59548
Loc: Nashville, TN
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BSK,
What do you think the issue is in Jefferson County? Both the buck and doe harvest were down. This is after a 20% drop in the 07-08 harvest also. Most of the adjoining counties showed increases or not much change. The total harvest is down about 30% from two years ago with seasons that have been more liberalized (more doe days). I know that I have seen fewer deer and heard fewer shots over the last two years. What could be the cause?
I don't much about that area, so I can't comment.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1158108 - 02/01/09 09:21 AM
Re: '07 v '08 County Harvest Comparison
[Re: 8 POINTS OR BETTER]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59548
Loc: Nashville, TN
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BSK what kind of regulation changes do you think TWRA would have to make, to get a 50%-50% buck to doe harvest ratio?
A 2 buck limit? 
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1158117 - 02/01/09 09:34 AM
Re: '07 v '08 County Harvest Comparison
[Re: Wes Parrish]
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BigGameGuy
TWRA Biologist
12 Point
Registered: 05/14/04
Posts: 6353
Loc: Nashville
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Great compilation, BSK! Thanks for posting this! Wow , the doe harvest really dropped , while more hunters apparently chose to shoot a buck instead . Could this be in large part due to a significant increase in the early November muzzleloader buck limit, going from 1 to 3 in Unit A, and from 2 to 3 in Unit L? Could it be many hunters decided to kill a buck INSTEAD of a doe, since killing the 1st buck to come along (in Unit A) would not end their muzzleloader "buck" hunting?
OR...
Could this be in large part due to a significant increase in the buck harvest capabilities of hunters because of the extra weekend of muzzleloader hunting during the prime of the rut? Afterall 5,000+ extra bucks fell that weekend compared to the year before. Right there is your difference.
Think about it.
Just like Bryan said, we're concerned about it, especially in Unit L where we can't afford to see significant drops in doe harvest, but reacting to ONE data point is not usually a wise idea. Also, when trends change, try to think of all potential causes of the change and don't try to pigeon-hole one of the changes that you disagreed with. If I was to make an educated guess, I'd say it was easliy a combination of the two changes that resulted in a drop of doe harvest. Whether or not the drop in doe harvest will be prolonged will only be known after at least another year or two of data is collected. Keep in mind, most regulation changes involve a "novelty" effect where you see a spike in harvest because something is new, then things settle back down. Wouldn't it be great if we gave all Tennessee hunters extra harvest capability without having the least bit of impact on the herd? That's the justification for many of our changes.
_________________________
If given the choice between education and regulation, I'll choose education every time.
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#1158162 - 02/01/09 10:26 AM
Re: '07 v '08 County Harvest Comparison
[Re: BigGameGuy]
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TLRanger
8 Point
Registered: 10/10/02
Posts: 1041
Loc: Nashville
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Ok, BGG, does this mean the regs are going to stay the same for three or four more years (extra weekend of MZ and three buck any season)?
Also, if in fact these are the reasons for lower doe/higher buck kills, how many years would you think it would take to recover from this?
I personally think the three buck anytime limit is the cause of the buck increase/doe decrease numbers.
_________________________
Twentynine Pines Hunting Club: Carroll Co. TN
Whitetail Lodge Hunting Club: Nelson Co. KY
USMC - Naval Security Group
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#1158193 - 02/01/09 11:07 AM
Re: '07 v '08 County Harvest Comparison
[Re: TLRanger]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59548
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Also, if in fact these are the reasons for lower doe/higher buck kills, how many years would you think it would take to recover from this?
"Recover" from what? The 2007 and 2008 seasons produced the lowest male harvest since around 2000 or 2001.
Yes, the buck harvest increased from 2007 to 2008, but 2007 was an exceptionally low buck harvest year, and even with the increase in male harvest in 2008, it was still a lower harvest than in the several years previous to '07.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1158210 - 02/01/09 11:16 AM
Re: '07 v '08 County Harvest Comparison
[Re: BSK]
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richmanbarbeque
16 Point
Registered: 07/17/03
Posts: 12771
Loc: Middle, Tn
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I know several hunters that did not shoot does this year that usually shoot 4-6. All the talk about EHD scared them. We definitely cut back on our doe harvests the last two years, but primarily because our data indicated we really did have less does in the local population. In addition, fawn production has been terrible the last two years in my local area.
As you know the guys on cathole have cut WAY back. Going from 80 plus deer the first two years and somewhere around 20-24 the last few years is very odd.
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