deer numbers

[deerhunter10]

All this talk about about the kill numbers this year has got me thinking. I have several farms to hunt one is in Maury county and is close to Yahahli my personal farm that I live on. One is in Giles county that my grandad lives on. One in Hickman county that we "lease" but we've had for 25 years and one in Santa fe. Talking about deer numbers it is crazy the difference in the deer population. Santafe and Hickman county by a long shot has the most deer sightings with Giles county not to far behind. But by the house the deer numbers have dropped by a ton. We have been talking to other neighbors and the are seeing the same we can't help but think that the public land has something to do with it. Please keep it civil or don't comment at all. But ifbwe were to go to a draw system or keep public land public to only residents of the county or a couple of counties surrounding us. We see people all the time from east Tennessee and all over and just blast anything and everything they see. Good for them its legal for them but it is hurting the residents that hunt close to then and that have a lot of money tied up in land and taxes etc and its not all about the land owners. I'm not saying take it away but there needs to be regulations imo strict regulations because we are loosing a lot of deer and I'm sure Twra is aware of it but it has majorly declined big time. Maybe drop the bag limits maybe restrict who can and can't hunt it something but I think it is time it gets addressed.

 

[Food Plot 101]

So, if I'm reading this right, you hunt on four private farms in 3 different counties, yet you want a draw system/ want out of towners to stay away from public land unless it's near their county of residence? You'd be cutting a lot of folks out of public hunting I believe bud. BTW, what' exactly is yanalli? Is it near Yahahli WMA?

 

[knightrider]

priceless :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :stir:

 

[EastTNHunter]

So let me get this right: mid and west TN hunters want a lower buck limit (from what I understand the largest number of 2 buckers were from this group, but I could be wrong), say: "shoot more does if you want meat," yet complain when east TN hunters go to mid or west TN to shoot deer when the Unit B doe season is closed... I think I got it.

My deer sightings in east TN were down this season, but a lot of that is due to a failed mast crop. But I do not think that means that there is a lower population. I had VERY limited hunting time, but I had to adjust my public land tactics, as I do not have the first world problem of access to massive amounts of private land with lower deer sightings.

Deer sightings while hunting are a poor statistical indicator of actual deer populations

 

[huntforme7909]

So let me get this right: mid and west TN hunters want a lower buck limit (from what I understand the largest number of 2 buckers were from this group, but I could be wrong), say: "shoot more does if you want meat," yet complain when east TN hunters go to mid or west TN to shoot deer when the Unit B doe season is closed... I think I got it.

My deer sightings in east TN were down this season, but a lot of that is due to a failed mast crop. But I do not think that means that there is a lower population. I had VERY limited hunting time, but I had to adjust my public land tactics, as I do not have the first world problem of access to massive amounts of private land with lower deer sightings.

Deer sightings while hunting are a poor statistical indicator of actual deer populations

I agree. Being a East Tennessee hunter west Tennessee hunters don't know what low deer sightings are I don't think.

 

[bigtex]

Wow, you have at least three private farms to hunt, two of which you see a lot of deer, and your begrudging someone else from East Tennessee coming and hunting public land?

 

[sharpshooter]

Smh!!! Entitlement is all I can think of.

 

[deerhunter10]

Hahahaha obviously I am lucky blessed what ever you want to call it to have land to hunt I know that but what about all the others that don't? I am not saying at all to take it away I am saying deer numbers are down around the house by a lot before its too late why not do something about it? I don't hunt public land nor will I ever but I know a lot that do and they are even saying the same thing its not like it was 3-5 years ago. Maybe not even make it a draw to hunt but instead of being able to stack up three does a day maybe only be able to kill one. I don't know its an observation what's funny is so many people get on here and get mad and discouraged about not seeing deer someone brings up an idea and noone is for it. Kill them all I'm just saying the renuable resource isn't renewing as fast as we are taking it out. And it is a fact around the house I am blessed to have other places to go but many don't.

 

[deerhunter10]

And the funny this is the ones commenting probably have never even stepped foot on it or around it.

 

[Vermin93]

catman is over on Yahnali killing all your deer. Just tell him to knock it off.

 

[Food Plot 101]

catman is over on Yahnali killing all your deer. Just tell him to knock it off.

That's funny right there.

 

[Food Plot 101]

And the funny this is the ones commenting probably have never even stepped foot on it or around it.

I've hunted the 3 counties you've mentioned, so you can scratch me off. Your counties are infested with deer, you should be happy you have the deer density. Riding the roads does not constitute a "census", with or without the Q Beam, lol!

 

[deerhunter10]

Lol their not my deer and again I'm not saying at all take it away don't get me wrong on that but I do think they should have a little more regulations on it maybe for everyone. It was just an observation and an idea don't everyone get their panties in a wad yak carry on. I'm entitled anyway ha.

 

[bigtex]

And the funny this is the ones commenting probably have never even stepped foot on it or around it.

You got me there, I quit hunting public land and WMA's many, many years ago for various reasons.
I'm lucky [I guess] as I now own my own land, it's just 60 acres and because it's in "East Tennessee" there are very few deer on it. Some areas in the East probably have as many or more deer than anywhere in the state. But that's not the case where I or many others hunt though.
I don't blame anyone from the East who has no private land to hunt and after sitting on stand for days on end without seeing anything to head to greener pastures.

 

[deerhunter10]

Ha-ha I'm not a biologist and I don't ride the roads I out as much if not more seat time in the most so excuse me for my personal observation my bad I'll keep my opinions to myself yal have a good un.

 

[dirtyhands]

Are you suggesting that TWRA lower limits and put restrictions on just the public land that surrounds your own personal land or do you need them to restrict you as well? I read the post twice but was a little confused. I feel like it doesn't come across the way you meant for it to.

 

[Food Plot 101]

Ha-ha I'm not a biologist and I don't ride the roads I out as much if not more seat time in the most so excuse me for my personal observation my bad I'll keep my opinions to myself yal have a good un.

Hey, we all have opinions so don't worry. But this year has been a crazy year in terms of sightings due to lack of mast crop and weather. If you have a bunch of oaks or lots of "greens" this season was probably more "normal" than most. I can only sympathize with those folks who could hunt day(s) without seeing a deer, so I could probably understand them traveling across the state and going nuts with the deer densities some counties have.

 

[catman529]

What part of yanahli are you near? I think there will always be a few deer around there, although numbers are definitely down over the past few years. I wouldn't complain if they closed the season early on yanahli or made it bow only after a couple weeks of rifle. It could use a break.


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[catman529]

I would like to see more land purchased for public use.

x2


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[deerhunter10]

I am close to the sowel mill like and Fred white road and many more roads it weaves in and out all over the place around there. like I said I want them to keep it open for sure but I wouldn't at all.mind restrictions for private grounds around there either. I would rather see a bag limit change rather then restrict it to hunters. But in my humble opinion I think something need to change even on my other farms deer numbers seen to be slowly dropping year to year.

 

[deerhunter10]

I would like to see more land purchased for public use.

x2


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I would be perfectly happy with that I'm not sayin take it away just regulate the bag limits more.

 

[pb10point]

I live and hunt in East Tenn.I buy sportsman license every year and I pay the same price for them as you in West Tenn do and do not have a third of the deer you have to hunt in West Tenn.You should have to hunt East Tenn one season and you would change your tune about out of county hunters or yet you would probably quiet hunting all together.I hunt my own property and did not take a single deer because of the low deer density here.

 

[TboneD]

Hahahaha obviously I am lucky blessed what ever you want to call it to have land to hunt I know that but what about all the others that don't? I am not saying at all to take it away I am saying deer numbers are down around the house by a lot before its too late why not do something about it? I don't hunt public land nor will I ever but I know a lot that do and they are even saying the same thing its not like it was 3-5 years ago. Maybe not even make it a draw to hunt but instead of being able to stack up three does a day maybe only be able to kill one. I don't know its an observation what's funny is so many people get on here and get mad and discouraged about not seeing deer someone brings up an idea and noone is for it. Kill them all I'm just saying the renuable resource isn't renewing as fast as we are taking it out. And it is a fact around the house I am blessed to have other places to go but many don't.

I know exactly what you're saying and am not surprised one bit. You have an interesting perspective, coming from one that has good private land in different areas vs just seeing the decline around Yanali, so I'd suggest voicing your concerns to your commissioner and the TWRA. Maybe it won't fall on deaf ears...


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[deerhunter10]

For one I'm talking about middle Tennessee not west. And it's not just public land its private land around here to our turkey population is wayyyyy down extremely low especially in Giles county. Like I said I do not at all want it taken away from people just maybe regulated more on the public and private side of things. I'm glad someone like catman tuned in as he hunts it alot and has success and a lot of it. It's not just me who is seeing it. And no I don't wanna hunt east Tennessee maybe for turkeys. It's not an east middle or west situation I think it's time to really look into some of the regulations and maybe change them instead of three does a day which we have here maybe lower it to two and see what that does. I don't think it would take drastic measures but I do think it need to be addressed. As I said I am not a biologist nor have I or will I ever claim to be just saying what I see.

 

[huntforme7909]

JIMO I don't think the limit of three does a day needs to be in effect anywhere. Can you imagine how drastic that could be if everyone did want to go out and kill 3 does a day? That's crazy I think. In one season if everyone that hunts just in unit l, not including us east tn hunters, would go kill 3 does a day every time we went hunting they could greatly greatly impact deer herds negatively. And nothing no one can say about it.

 

[Hardwoodmaterials]

I hunted Lewis, Maury and Wayne Co. this year. I did almost all of my hunting on public land. I probably hunted 30 days from the opening of M/L to last week and I saw deer on 3 sets 3!!! The deer herd has been thinned way too much on public land! Every year we are seeing fewer and fewer deer and we never see groups like we used to. Now if we see a group its usually an older doe with 2 yearlings. I know there are some places where 3 does a day is probably fine but around here especially on the public land it's way overkill. I wish we would go back to the way the doe tags worked years ago when you got a couple tags for Archery, M/L and a couple for the last week or so of rifle season.

 

[Bodine270]

In my neck of west tn it seemed numbers were down this season. Is it the 3 doe a day limit or other factors? I'm not sure but 3 a day seems a bit high to me. If TWRA wanted to thin the herd I think it has been achieved.


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[chebuck]

All this talk about about the kill numbers this year has got me thinking. I have several farms to hunt one is in Maury county and is close to Yahahli my personal farm that I live on. One is in Giles county that my grandad lives on. One in Hickman county that we "lease" but we've had for 25 years and one in Santa fe. Talking about deer numbers it is crazy the difference in the deer population. Santafe and Hickman county by a long shot has the most deer sightings with Giles county not to far behind. But by the house the deer numbers have dropped by a ton. We have been talking to other neighbors and the are seeing the same we can't help but think that the public land has something to do with it. Please keep it civil or don't comment at all. But ifbwe were to go to a draw system or keep public land public to only residents of the county or a couple of counties surrounding us. We see people all the time from east Tennessee and all over and just blast anything and everything they see. Good for them its legal for them but it is hurting the residents that hunt close to then and that have a lot of money tied up in land and taxes etc and its not all about the land owners. I'm not saying take it away but there needs to be regulations imo strict regulations because we are loosing a lot of deer and I'm sure Twra is aware of it but it has majorly declined big time. Maybe drop the bag limits maybe restrict who can and can't hunt it something but I think it is time it gets addressed.

Here is what would be my suggestion instead of 3 does per day make it 3 deer per wma per year that would not cut the east tn people out yet maybe cut some of # of kills down

 

[dirtyhands]

Do yall think there are a lot of people actually taking 3 a day? If they are taking 3 a day do you think they are consistently doing this throughout the season? I couldn't imagine many people go out and try to shoot 3 a day for as many days as they can. I shoot does for meat and don't need more than 3 a season. I know bigger families need more meat and some people hunt for others but surely nobody is just out there decimating the does. These are not facts just honest curiosity.

 

[catman529]

Do yall think there are a lot of people actually taking 3 a day? If they are taking 3 a day do you think they are consistently doing this throughout the season? I couldn't imagine many people go out and try to shoot 3 a day for as many days as they can. I shoot does for meat and don't need more than 3 a season. I know bigger families need more meat and some people hunt for others but surely nobody is just out there decimating the does. These are not facts just honest curiosity.

no, most don't even kill 2 in a day. That's why the 3/day limit works most places, because most people still won't kill enough to hurt the population. The problem is when you got more hunters than usual killing multiple deer in the same areas (such as the WMAs) then you start seeing a bad effect on the herd.


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