August velvet hunt

[Andy S.]

Buy stock in Crossbow companies, every Tom, Richard and Harry in TN will have one now.

 

[huntintn]

Got bean fields on my farm, see big velvet racked bucks every year. Not for me, not competing with ticks and fleas for food. If I didn't like eating them I wouldn't hunt, not even for a boone and crockett.

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[Os2 Outdoors]

Poachers poach when they have a chance not by the seasons.

Actually, most of the deer poaching occurs DURING an open deer season.
Poaching during deer season makes it much easier for a poacher to get away with his crime,
as being seen with a dead deer doesn't draw much attention (during the season),
and he can even "legally" check-in an illegally killed deer.

IMO, this late August date is a tremendous opportunity for poachers,
most of whom normally would not risk it during the heat of summer.

I believe there will be a large number of "velvet" bucks illegally shot with a rifle,
and yes, many will be over illegal corn piles.

Yeah poaching occurred during a open season because %80 of the time a deer has antlers there is a season open on them.

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[FARMTOFIELD]

Poachers poach when they have a chance not by the seasons.

Actually, most of the deer poaching occurs DURING an open deer season.
Poaching during deer season makes it much easier for a poacher to get away with his crime,
as being seen with a dead deer doesn't draw much attention (during the season),
and he can even "legally" check-in an illegally killed deer.

IMO, this late August date is a tremendous opportunity for poachers,
most of whom normally would not risk it during the heat of summer.

I believe there will be a large number of "velvet" bucks illegally shot with a rifle,
and yes, many will be over illegal corn piles.

Yeah poaching occurred during a open season because %80 of the time a deer has antlers there is a season open on them.

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But according to several people it doesn't matter if they see a big buck in July they will kill it. That's not true from my experiences, I really see 0% evidence of it, until now season opens.

 

[mike243]

I can tell you why squirrel hunting has declined for me hunting after bow opens means bumping into arrow flingers and pushing deer out of their normal travels ,i do not want to disturb any hunters setup if I can help it.

 

[TheLBLman]

I can tell you why squirrel hunting has declined for me hunting after bow opens means bumping into arrow flingers . . . . . . . i do not want to disturb any hunters setup if I can help it.

Without question, conflicts (including perception for potential conflict) between deer and small-game hunters have contributed greatly to the decline in small-game hunting. This is particularly true with squirrel hunting, which was once TN's most popular game.

It is eye-opening how many of today's avid hunters over the age of 50 started out by hunting squirrels.

IMO, too much focus on deer hunting (by state wildlife managers/commissioners) has greatly contributed to the decline of "lifetime" (diverse species pursuing) hunters. We are dying off much faster than we are being created by young "new" lifetime hunters.

As to our statewide deer hunting, has it become too much of a good thing?

 

[TheLBLman]

By the way, again, as has been mentioned elsewhere,
this new "velvet hunt" is now scheduled for the same weekend
as Tennessee's opening weekend for squirrel hunting.

In all fairness to those who "picked" the date for a velvet hunt,
this is likely THE best single weekend for it.

Just believe had there been more discussion of the pros & cons, perhaps this loss of small-game opportunity could have been off-set by at least a small delay in the opening of the "regular" archery deer season.

Unlike what happened in Kentucky, I'm thankful the Commission (in TN) made this event timed for only a single weekend, rather than just opening the archery season a full month earlier. But, like as is done in KY, am concerned this will lead to more shooting deer over bait, than more deer "hunting".

Lastly, if this TN "trial" proves popular with TN's archery hunters (as it has in KY), it will likely parley into our archery season just opening in August, then running uninterrupted until a gun season. It may also lead (as in KY) to a 1-buck annual limit, something the vast majority of TN deer hunters do not want.

 

[fairchaser]

OMG, really? We are worried about conflicting with the first two days of squirrel season? Ask a youth if they would rather hunt squirrels or a velvet buck and see what you get! We hunted squirrels because there were no deer or very few. Now there are plenty and the population needs to be managed by hunters. Squirrels will manage themselves as they have many predators besides hunters. Kids don't need to be introduced to hunting with squirrels anymore. That's old school thinking. Nothing wrong with squirrel hunting and it teaches woodsmanship, but you can learn that deer hunting too. Slipping through the woods with a .22 on a cool morning looking for bushy tail is fun but I'll trade that any day for the chance at a velvet buck.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I assume you can fill both tags over this 3 day weekend, correct?

I'm thinking this is only private land as well.

I haven't seen the written wording, but from the discussion at the commission meeting, yes you could fill both tags. And I think it would also apply to WMAs that simply have the "open with statewide season" designation.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Lastly, if this TN "trial" proves popular with TN's archery hunters (as it has in KY), it will likely parley into our archery season just opening in August, then running uninterrupted until a gun season. It may also lead (as in KY) to a 1-buck annual limit, something the vast majority of TN deer hunters do not want.

I cant follow this slippery slope logic. What does an August hunt have to do with further reducing limits?

As for the hunt itself, a velvet buck just doesn't appeal to me. And I usually think it's too hot to hunt during the last month of September, much less August. I know bucks are on a much more predictable feeding pattern in late August, which I guess is part of the allure. Selfishly, I hope it doesn't result in good deer being more easily killed that would have otherwise moved onto farms I can hunt during range shift.

 

[fairchaser]

Lastly, if this TN "trial" proves popular with TN's archery hunters (as it has in KY), it will likely parley into our archery season just opening in August, then running uninterrupted until a gun season. It may also lead (as in KY) to a 1-buck annual limit, something the vast majority of TN deer hunters do not want.

I hear how wonderful KY is with their early seasons and one buck limits and limited rut hunting with a gun. Not that I'm a fan but if you have a neighbor state with an effective proven model for producing large antlered mature bucks, then why wouldn't you adopt it? Unless, you don't want those results and that's ok. But let's be honest and plain spoken, you can't have it both ways. We will never have the same results without the same sacrifices. We may never have the same results even with the same sacrifice, depending on who you believe. I'm also not convinced that a vast majority of deer hunters don't want this or did I miss that poll?

 

[Hunter 257W]

I'm not LBLMan but i think i know exactly where he's coming from in saying that changes like this early hunt could push us into lower limits. The reasoning for that statement is that anything that makes it easier to kill deer is going to increase the harvest numbers. And total harvest is what TWRA is managing to,not an individual hunters limits. Once the total kill numbers start reaching the max allowable earlier in the season, the way TWRA is going to manage that is to lower the limit for individual hunters.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I'm not LBLMan but i think i know exactly where he's coming from in saying that changes like this early hunt could push us into lower limits. The reasoning for that statement is that anything that makes it easier to kill deer is going to increase the harvest numbers. And total harvest is what TWRA is managing to,not an individual hunters limits. Once the total kill numbers start reaching the max allowable earlier in the season, the way TWRA is going to manage that is to lower the limit for individual hunters.

TWRA was openly opposed to reducing the limits to 2 in the first place. Biologically, we are in no risk of killing too many deer. Opening a 1 week buck only hunt in August certainly isn't going to tip the scale.

 

[morgancountry]

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[megalomaniac]

Buy stock in Crossbow companies, every Tom, Richard and Harry in TN will have one now.

I've never had one, enjoyed my compound bow too much in the past... but to take advantage of this season, I'll need 50-60 yd capabilities on my bean fields. I'll definitely be buying a crossbow now. Plus it will give the kids something to shoot as well, and they may enjoy another weekend in the woods.

Going to be SO much easier to hunt bucks in their summer patterns than fall patterns for sure. My only concern is misaging a buck and taking out a really nice 3.5 y/o that would normally get a pass after his body fills out and I'm certain he isn't mature.

Is this a good thing for TN deer???, IMO I don't think so, but I'm not certain at this point. Such a dramatic change should have had the benefit of public input, both pros and cons, however.

 

[lightsareout]

How do you preserve velvet antlers? Freeze the entire head or inject with formaldehyde? A velvet mount would really be cool to have.

After you CAREFULLY cape the skin off the head you have a couple options;
If the velvet is still active you can either freeze dry or inject the tips with preservative (formaldehyde for example).
If the velvet is done you can still freeze dry or "tan" the velvet on.
Lastly you can always get artificial velvet applied or strip it down and stain the antlers.

I'm hear to warn you though, those mature bucks may not have a pretty cape. Tick infested, big blocky heads, tiny necks and broad shoulders. Hopefully by late August TN Deer should start filling out in their necks.


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Is it possible to preserver the velvet and euro the skull?

 

[AT Hiker]

Is it possible to preserver the velvet and euro the skull?

Yes but the best way is pricey.
What you do is carefully cut the antlers off above the skull, after taking lots of measurements. Then you preserve your velvet (preferably freeze dry). After your skull is cleaned and whitened you reattached the antlers using a square keys tapped into the skull and antlers. Make sure your measurements align and apoxy the keys in place. Be careful not to get any bonding agent on skull or antlers. You may have to use white epoxy to blend your reattachment points under your pedicels.



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[Hunter 257W]

I'm not LBLMan but i think i know exactly where he's coming from in saying that changes like this early hunt could push us into lower limits. The reasoning for that statement is that anything that makes it easier to kill deer is going to increase the harvest numbers. And total harvest is what TWRA is managing to,not an individual hunters limits. Once the total kill numbers start reaching the max allowable earlier in the season, the way TWRA is going to manage that is to lower the limit for individual hunters.

TWRA was openly opposed to reducing the limits to 2 in the first place. Biologically, we are in no risk of killing too many deer. Opening a 1 week buck only hunt in August certainly isn't going to tip the scale.

I doubt the August hunt will make a significant difference either but I was mainly speaking in generalities that anything that increases kill numbers or makes it easier to kill deer is running the risk that some kind of Limit reduction will take place to counter the increase. Individual changes might not be significant but cumulatively they could force a Limit reduction.

 

[Bone Collector]

Since we now have this early "velvet" hunt, in the future,
why not open the regular statewide archery season the 3rd Saturday of October?

Honestly they should just be listening to me and doing what I have requested in the comments session for the last 5-7 years. Open bow the first weekend in September and viola, you have a chance at a velvet buck and you get to make all the other hunters mad, because now archery season is 3 weeks longer.... :lol:

I'm joking about the last part.

I think this is a compromise if you will. I know I am not the only one asking for archery to open the first weekend in Sept. but this way you do this one 3 day hunt and everything has a chance to return to normal, long before the rut and it is 3 days of pressure vs. an additional 3 weeks.

I think because it is new and the way it came up, many are over worried about it. It may amount to nothing, or it could be bad, BUT if it is, they may say "well that was fun once, but we're not doing that again..."

 

[MUP]

It's free hunting day, on Saturday.... no license oR aRcHeRy TaGs needed lol.

:party:

:super: :super: :super:

 

[MickThompson]

It's free hunting day, on Saturday.... no license oR aRcHeRy TaGs needed lol.

:party:

:super: :super: :super:

I was wondering how long it would take for this to come up...


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[DRSJ35]

if you cant preserve the velvet.And most likely it'll have to be scrapped off.Then why is shooting a velvet buck such a big deal.By the time you get it to the taxidermy is it not gonna be Ruined.???

 

[Planking]

Pretty excited about it myself. Hunting whitetails with a bow is as good as it gets.

 

[Bone Collector]

I assume you can fill both tags over this 3 day weekend, correct?

I'm thinking this is only private land as well.

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Yes and yes.

 

[user 972]

[
I've never had one, enjoyed my compound bow too much in the past... but to take advantage of this season, I'll need 50-60 yd capabilities on my bean fields. I'll definitely be buying a crossbow now. Plus it will give the kids something to shoot as well, and they may enjoy another weekend in the woods.

.

from what I have seen, today's compounds are more than capable of making that 50-60 yard shot, some are even better than the x-bows.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

[
I've never had one, enjoyed my compound bow too much in the past... but to take advantage of this season, I'll need 50-60 yd capabilities on my bean fields. I'll definitely be buying a crossbow now. Plus it will give the kids something to shoot as well, and they may enjoy another weekend in the woods.

from what I have seen, today's compounds are more than capable of making that 50-60 yard shot, some are even better than the x-bows.

Agreed. An x-bow may be necessary to a kid, but from what I have seen a competent shooter with a good compound is better than an x-bow at that range if only because the x-bows are so loud. Admittedly I have never shot an x-bow at a deer, but every time I have seen someone shoot at a deer on TV, the deer has a noticeable reaction to the loud "doink" before the arrow (I can't make myself call them "bolts") gets there.

 

[infoman jr.]

if you cant preserve the velvet.And most likely it'll have to be scrapped off.Then why is shooting a velvet buck such a big deal.By the time you get it to the taxidermy is it not gonna be Ruined.???

But you can preserve the velvet.

A tick even made it to the taxidermist.

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[MUP]

:lol:

 

[XXL]

Three weeks ago I was debating back and forth if I should try the summer food plot deal. We went ahead pulled the trigger and beans + bio mass are in the ground. Now I find out there is a Velvet buck hunt added to the season. GREAT! A big Velvet Buck is on my bucket list. Can't wait! I feel like I won the Lottery (or is that a bad thing based on previous post) After reading all the post on how easy it is going to be to arrow a mature buck in 90 degree heat I should go ahead and clear off a place on the wall :rotf:

 

[fairchaser]

No need, just go for the pedestal mount.