Doe days

[Vermin93]

Two questions on this.

1. What reasoning goes into determining when "doe days" are for a given county? Some are in late Nov, some are in early Dec, some are in mid Dec, some are in late Dec.

2. Why are these "doe days" needed? If, for example, you are only allowed to shoot one doe in Sequatchie county during gun season, then why does it need to happen during a short 6-day window in Dec? Why can't there just be a one-doe limit during gun season for that county?

 

[scn]

1. Over the years our biologists have gotten a pretty good feel on how many are taken in the various segments. By scheduling, it allows them to have a pretty good estimate on what the antlerless kill will be.

2. Having these scheduled antlerless segment gives them the abilty to allow some antlerless take without over shooting that herd. Contrary to the beliefs of some hunters, there are counties in the state that can't withstand a lot of antlerless harvest. If you stretched the period from six days to the entire gun season the kill would greatly increase and likely would cause problems with the herd viability.

As the deer herd grows, they will allow more segments for antlerless harvest. If they are only allowing six days in December, it is likely indicative that there are questions on whether any antlerless harvest during the gun season is a good idea.

 

[EastTNHunter]

I recommended in my email to TWRA that this practice be changed in the following fashion:


"Simplify the doe harvest opportunities for those not in Unit L. I would rather sacrifice the overall number of does that I can kill in my county for the simplicity of taking them in a less constricted timeframe. In other words, allow "x" number of does to be taken during rifle season after the first weekend, and not limited to only certain dates, even if that means that I can only take 3 total instead of the 5 total that were allowed during the current format of restricted dates."

 

[scn]

I recommended in my email to TWRA that this practice be changed in the following fashion:


"Simplify the doe harvest opportunities for those not in Unit L. I would rather sacrifice the overall number of does that I can kill in my county for the simplicity of taking them in a less constricted timeframe. In other words, allow "x" number of does to be taken during rifle season after the first weekend, and not limited to only certain dates, even if that means that I can only take 3 total instead of the 5 total that were allowed during the current format of restricted dates."

In many cases that would result in the recommendation of zero antlerless take during the rifle season. Are you comfortable with going from very limited to zero take?

 

[EastTNHunter]

I guess that I should specify Unit A counties, and specifically for me, Rhea, Hamilton, and Meigs. I would rather have the opportunities that we have now than for them to be eliminated, but I just feel that there could be a better way.

I know that the times that I had to go this year during "doe days" were not as frequent as I would have liked, and were often less than ideal weather conditions for deer movement. I was able to score a couple of times, but it was difficult to fit into my work and family schedule sometimes.

 

[EastTNHunter]

And please realize as well that I am not bashing TWRA or the job that they do. The opening of my email is as follows:

"I would like to start by saying that I appreciate the job that the TWRA does, and appreciate the results that are being seen in the quality of the deer herd statewide. But I do have a few recommendations to make regarding hunting in the great state of TN."

 

[scn]

And please realize as well that I am not bashing TWRA or the job that they do. The opening of my email is as follows:

"I would like to start by saying that I appreciate the job that the TWRA does, and appreciate the results that are being seen in the quality of the deer herd statewide. But I do have a few recommendations to make regarding hunting in the great state of TN."

I did not take your comments as bashing. They are exactly what the public comments program is for.

I was merely pointing out that there has been a great deal of thought put into the seasons and bag limits over the years by our biological professionals, and there is usually several reasons why they are in place.

 

[brmaster]

I have heard many hunters go the Unit L areas to take the doe using there extra license or sportsman. So what is there to stop people from crossing over one unit to the next to deer hunt, they not only do it for the doe, but I have heard many have gone area to area to kill there limit so they can take more.
Not saying its wrong, not saying its right, but if you fight for more doe days for areas then you should also be against going to other areas to fill that tag limit. This may be part cause of the limits for those other areas, TWRA not seeing many kills in the other areas on those doe days, is it because of the lack of doe or is it because of the lack of hunters in those areas shooting doe in those areas.
Many ways to look at it, first and foremost we should all be very happy no matter the areas we hunt that we all have the freedom to own the weapon that we use to kill that animal being small game or big game.
Just a point, as I feel we should all be able to hunt where we want just make sure we do it in a respectful and tasteful way and not over kill anywhere.

 

[stik]

Just a point, as I feel we should all be able to hunt where we want just make sure we do it in a respectful and tasteful way and not over kill anywhere.

so you should be allowed to hunt private property wherever you want? is that what you are saying?

 

[scn]

I have heard many hunters go the Unit L areas to take the doe using there extra license or sportsman. So what is there to stop people from crossing over one unit to the next to deer hunt, they not only do it for the doe, but I have heard many have gone area to area to kill there limit so they can take more.
Not saying its wrong, not saying its right, but if you fight for more doe days for areas then you should also be against going to other areas to fill that tag limit. This may be part cause of the limits for those other areas, TWRA not seeing many kills in the other areas on those doe days, is it because of the lack of doe or is it because of the lack of hunters in those areas shooting doe in those areas.
Many ways to look at it, first and foremost we should all be very happy no matter the areas we hunt that we all have the freedom to own the weapon that we use to kill that animal being small game or big game.
Just a point, as I feel we should all be able to hunt where we want just make sure we do it in a respectful and tasteful way and not over kill anywhere.

Unfortunately, allowing persons to hunt whenever and wherever they wanted went a long way to effectively wiping out the deer herds in this country. It has only been with professional management that we have gotten them back to this point. I have very little confidence in the self-control of individuals to not decimate the herds again if given free run. Sorry, your model just doesn't work.

 

[gatodoc]

One has to wonder how many does are killed in one county and checked in another? It would seem to be very hard to police (Ex. Rhea/Roane).

At any rate, whatever TWRA and the biologists are doing seems to be working. The deer herd seems adequate and the regs fair.

 

[redblood]

I have heard many hunters go the Unit L areas to take the doe using there extra license or sportsman. So what is there to stop people from crossing over one unit to the next to deer hunt, they not only do it for the doe, but I have heard many have gone area to area to kill there limit so they can take more.
Not saying its wrong, not saying its right, but if you fight for more doe days for areas then you should also be against going to other areas to fill that tag limit. This may be part cause of the limits for those other areas, TWRA not seeing many kills in the other areas on those doe days, is it because of the lack of doe or is it because of the lack of hunters in those areas shooting doe in those areas.
Many ways to look at it, first and foremost we should all be very happy no matter the areas we hunt that we all have the freedom to own the weapon that we use to kill that animal being small game or big game.
Just a point, as I feel we should all be able to hunt where we want just make sure we do it in a respectful and tasteful way and not over kill anywhere.

Unfortunately, allowing persons to hunt whenever and wherever they wanted went a long way to effectively wiping out the deer herds in this country. It has only been with professional management that we have gotten them back to this point. I have very little confidence in the self-control of individuals to not decimate the herds again if given free run. Sorry, your model just doesn't work.

i agree scn. restraint can not be exerted by some/ just looking at some of the kill pics on this site proves that.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

Just a point, as I feel we should all be able to hunt where we want just make sure we do it in a respectful and tasteful way and not over kill anywhere.

so you should be allowed to hunt private property wherever you want? is that what you are saying?

i am hoping he means different units

 

[stik]

i agree scn. restraint can not be exerted by some/ just looking at some of the kill pics on this site proves that.

the kill pics were/are of dead deer. deer hunters kill deer.

 

[walker]

i agree with stik. if the pop. coudnt stand to lose those numbers the twra would not set the limit to what it is today. i remember when i started hunting deer 34 yrs ago we didnt have near the pop. that we do today. thanks twra you are doing a great job imo.

 

[102]

I too, started about 34 years ago. I remember all too well how few deer we really had in the entire state.

A time when we were allowed to kill something like 11 bucks per season and a couple does.

A time when you better have your temporary kill tag on your deer when you found it IN THE WOODS. You did not want to get caught with an un tagged deer.

A time when seeing a deer was very exciting. JUST TO SEE THE DEER.

Even a time when seeing a deer track was something to talk about.

But that was a long time ago.

AND NOBODY (in our group) EVER SAW A TURKEY.....E V E R!

Obviously, somebody knew what they were doing at TWRA. Because now deer and turkey are almost everywhere in huntable numbers.

So carry on TWRA.

I like killing deer and turkey TWRA has somehow protected, trapped and transported enough of each to give me loads of opportunity.

 

[Lost Lake]

I too, started about 34 years ago. I remember all too well how few deer we really had in the entire state.

A time when we were allowed to kill something like 11 bucks per season and a couple does.

A time when you better have your temporary kill tag on your deer when you found it IN THE WOODS. You did not want to get caught with an un tagged deer.

A time when seeing a deer was very exciting. JUST TO SEE THE DEER.

Even a time when seeing a deer track was something to talk about.

But that was a long time ago.

AND NOBODY (in our group) EVER SAW A TURKEY.....E V E R!

Obviously, somebody knew what they were doing at TWRA. Because now deer and turkey are almost everywhere in huntable numbers.

So carry on TWRA.

I like killing deer and turkey TWRA has somehow protected, trapped and transported enough of each to give me loads of opportunity.

Well said.

 

[Winchester]

I too, started about 34 years ago. I remember all too well how few deer we really had in the entire state.

A time when we were allowed to kill something like 11 bucks per season and a couple does.

A time when you better have your temporary kill tag on your deer when you found it IN THE WOODS. You did not want to get caught with an un tagged deer.

A time when seeing a deer was very exciting. JUST TO SEE THE DEER.

Even a time when seeing a deer track was something to talk about.

But that was a long time ago.

AND NOBODY (in our group) EVER SAW A TURKEY.....E V E R!

Obviously, somebody knew what they were doing at TWRA. Because now deer and turkey are almost everywhere in huntable numbers.

So carry on TWRA.

I like killing deer and turkey TWRA has somehow protected, trapped and transported enough of each to give me loads of opportunity.

Well said.

I agree and can relate. I too started deer hunting TN 33 yrs ago and the changes have been Phenomanal. I remember when the 2 day youth hunt, and the last 3 days of season in Jan. (which was a draw hunt with only certain Mid/West TN counties being open as a draw hunt) was the only 2 wknds a yr that you could kill a doe with anything except a bow!
These are the good ol days of deer hunting in TN right now!!!

 

[Doskil]

Except on the national forest in the mountains.

But that area has no gun doe seasons and very bad deer habitat.

The rest of the state seems to have a solid, healthy deer population.