Tennessee Deer Talk: Statewide Kill Down.........

You are not logged in. [Log In] TnDeer.Com » Forums » Hunting & Fishing » Serious Deer Hunting Talk » Statewide Kill Down.........

Page 2 of 8

Last »

Topic Options

#1713451 - 01/07/10 06:42 PM

Re: Statewide Kill Down......... [Re: RonS]

BigGameGuy
TWRA Biologist
12 Point

Registered: 05/14/04
Posts: 6359
Loc: Nashville

Offline

Originally Posted By: RonS

With the total harvest being down this year across most of the state...

To compound things even more, we're not even sure if this is an accurate statement.

What I wouldn't give to walk into a Commission meeting one year and say, "TWRA recommends...no changes."

_________________________
If given the choice between education and regulation, I'll choose education every time.

Top

#1713570 - 01/07/10 07:50 PM

Re: Statewide Kill Down......... [Re: BSK]

redblood
16 Point

Registered: 01/22/06
Posts: 10377
Loc: Lewisburg

Offline

I think the deer numbers have been down for several yrs. My deer sightings have dropped each year since 06. I wish they would reduce doe harvest opportunities somewhat.

_________________________
"I will predator hunt for food "

Top

#1713577 - 01/07/10 07:53 PM

Re: Statewide Kill Down......... [Re: BSK]

redblood
16 Point

Registered: 01/22/06
Posts: 10377
Loc: Lewisburg

Offline

I think the deer numbers have been down for several yrs. My deer sightings have dropped each year since 06. I wish they would reduce doe harvest opportunities somewhat.

_________________________
"I will predator hunt for food "

Top

#1713606 - 01/07/10 08:08 PM

Re: Statewide Kill Down......... [Re: redblood]

walker07
4 Point

Registered: 01/03/09
Posts: 175
Loc: tn, blount

Offline

Does anybody think the economy was a factor in harvest figures as of now? I know it sure seems harder for me to make as many trips to west Tn than in the past!! What do you guys think?

Top

#1713777 - 01/07/10 09:34 PM

Re: Statewide Kill Down......... [Re: walker07]

landman
8 Point

Registered: 11/15/09
Posts: 1463
Loc: TN & Western KY

Offline

EDH Hammered us in Stewart County, the hard frost wasn't that bad,
the does have really come back harder than before, seeing 20 to 35 in the evenings feeding before dark in plots.
But the buck numbers haven't matched them.

_________________________
"BUY LAND. THEY AIN'T MAKING ANY MORE OF THE STUFF"
- Will Rogers

http://www.JimmySettleLand.com

Top

#1713904 - 01/07/10 10:47 PM

Re: Statewide Kill Down......... [Re: landman]

Setterman
8 Point

Registered: 12/31/09
Posts: 1783
Loc: Knoxville, TN

Offline

Deer sightings, and herd counts for me are up. Go figure, good fawn recruitment and overall good herd health for all the properties I have looked at over the last 8 months.

Top

#1713991 - 01/08/10 05:20 AM

Re: Statewide Kill Down......... [Re: Setterman]

Mike Belt
TnDeer Old Timer
16 Point

Registered: 03/26/99
Posts: 16944
Loc: Lakeland, Tn.

Offline

Just speaking for SW TN where I hunt....We have plenty of deer but I wouldn't be surprised if the deer kill count is down this year. For whatever reason/s this has been a very strange year with less than normal sightings. No see um, no shoot um.

_________________________
BONE HEAD HUNTER

Top

#1714010 - 01/08/10 05:59 AM

Re: Statewide Kill Down......... [Re: landman]

Wes Parrish
16 Point

Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 17068
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN

Offline

Originally Posted By: landman

EDH Hammered us in Stewart County.

I saw very little evidence of EHD in the areas I hunt in Stewart County. In fact, I believe the deer density may currently be at an all time high (in Stewart Co.).

But there are several factors coming together this year that have greatly reduced deer sightings:

1) It's not just a super acorn crop, but it's a super overall food supply. Combine the above normal summer & fall rainfall, late frost, and we've got more for a deer to eat than maybe ever before ----- in large part due to widespread timbering practices across much of Stewart County. All across the county there are few square miles that don't have some 1 to 4-yr-old clear-cuts, where deer have everything they need, with or without acorns.

2) Going to Unit L has wised up a few female deer, making them more nocturnal. And because of that super food supply, you may be seeing fewer along the roads at night, as they're not needing to move around much to find something to eat.

3) Most hunters are not as adaptive as most deer. I'm amazed at how so many hunters have a habit of hunting open hardwoods "where they can see" essentially nothing, or open fields where the deer are mainly only visiting after dark. Most of the Stewart County deer are spending the day in dense pine and/or very dense recently clear-cut areas --- places most hunters refuse to hunt because they "can't see", or "can't find a tree big enough to climb", etc. Over the past few years, the daily behavior of the timberland deer in Stewart County has changed greatly, from when it was mostly mature hardwoods compared to today's patchwork of pine, clear-cut, select-cut, and all cuts of different ages --- a smorgasboard of different habitats in each square mile, replacing what was recently mainly oak-hickory forests.

The bottom line is the deer now have an abundance of natural "sanctuaries" (widespread across Stewart Co.) that did not exist a few years ago.

4) Unseasonably warm weather during much of the November rut period, i.e. much less daytime deer movement.

The above regarding deer "sightings", but the "kill" may be down this year for even more reasons, such as the average hunter spending less time hunting. When hunters don't see much their first trip or two hunting (again, mainly due to food supply and weather), they then tend to hunt less during the rest of the season. Guarantee you fewer deer are going to be killed when there's less hunting and less enthusiasm by those doing the hunting, i.e. they don't hunt as hard, don't stay on stand as long each day.

Top