Alan, what do you all think caused the spike in 1.5 year olds in 2005? That is a pretty big jump and seemingly temporary. Graphs look good IMO, especially with the 2.5 getting close to being even with 1.5 year old bucks.

Why such a big jump in 97?WOW people went cray killing deer that year

as things have went pretty steady across the board otherwise for many years before 2007. This is where we started downhill again, and it will be interesting to see if the declines continue??

Basically we are just cruising right along. If it wasnt for the major rule changes made statewide in 1998, these graphs would be very little to talk about, as things have went pretty steady across the board otherwise for many years before 2007. This is where we started downhill again, and it will be interesting to see if the declines continue??

There are fewer deer out there, therefore decreased harvest of all age-classes number wise.

EHD took out a bunch, then 2 yrs of consecutive drought has hurt recruitment.

Personally, I'm sticking to my long-term game plan...

So far, 12 does and 2 bucks off my farms.

There is room for a lot of arguments in these graphs.

If 1.5's decline to meet 2.5 harvest, then inevitably 3.5 harvests should rise as well.

It is surprising to me that this year with the increase in buck tags that the 1.5 year old harvest has not increased...

It appears that the # of 1.5 yr old bucks being harvested is dropping, and contradictory to this happening, the # of 3.5's being killed is dropping as well.

Keep in mind that this years data is not in these graphs. It is only up to the 08/09 season. This years data won't be complete until the end of the month. The graphs can be updated and reposted again at that point.

To me, it is obvious from the first few graphs I posted, hunters in Tennessee are voluntarily passing up spikes, 3 and 4s, and (to a lesser extent) 5 and 6s. They do not pass up anything with 7 or more points, and those harvest numbers continue rising. The trend of passing little antlers is continuing, and shows no sign of changing.

I think most tn hunters are are perfectly happy with 2.5 yr-old 7 and 8pt bucks.

You aren't the only one who's surprised!

And the fact it looks like we've killed the oldest class of bucks ever in TN--after raising the limit--is a head-scratcher to say the least.

I wonder if the folks who are focusing on 7's or better are thinking they are targeting mature deer, while in reality they are harvesting sub-mature deer with quality racks? If they knew better they might let these walk, or maybe not.

...are thinking they are targeting mature deer...

...If they knew better they might let these walk...

...and that is all it could take for folks to begin to focus on larger more mature bucks.

It could have a lot to do with the way the data was collected. How many days a year is TWRA aging bucks at check-in stations? What period of the season is this aging being done? I understand the whole idea of "sampling", but there's no way this data is accurate.

I've looked at the data collected at the check station by the TWRA, looked at data from check stations not monitored by the TWRA, and then looked at data from all other times of the hunting season besides the times the TWRA was manning the check stations. If any bias in the TWRA-collected buck age data exists, it appears to be towards the young side. The data suggests the weekends the TWRA collects data produces the youngest age-class of bucks harvested.

How many deer were actually aged out of the total harvest ?
I doubt very many!!!!

It could have a lot to do with the way the data was collected. How many days a year is TWRA aging bucks at check-in stations? What period of the season is this aging being done? I understand the whole idea of "sampling", but there's no way this data is accurate.

I'm curious... Why do you believe "there's no way this data is accurate"?

Data is only as conclusive as the method used to collect the data and the amount of data. Data collection on a massive scale will give you a clearer picture of what is going on than just a little data collected.....

I'm not saying how far off your numbers are, all I'm saying is they are not accurate unless you age every buck harvested, which we both know is not possible.

I can't believe you run a responsible wildlife agency without data and charts. It's called science. I will put twra up their with the best of them. I applaude all efforts made to keep a healthy herd.

The only QDM "failures" I've seen came from hunters setting their sights to high. They simply weren't prepared for the effort required to kill only mature bucks.