Question about Unit-L doe limits

[durtynacho]

I am new to the state, just moved here from Texas. Beautiful state yall have here, great people as well.

Anyway, I saw the doe limit is 3 per day (GMA). I had to do a double take and thought there's just no way. I mean I know there are a ton of doe here, but can you really take 3 per day, every day during the season? One could take up to 129 doe if they harvested 3 per day, assuming they hunted from November 21st through January 3rd.

Thanks all, happy hunting!

 

[Hunter 257W]

Yep, that's a real number. Of course they don't really expect or want you to do that. It was put into place so that a hunter could shoot multiple does in the same day so they would shoot more than just one. Maybe 20 years ago deer numbers got too high in parts of the state and they really needed to hammer does but now not so much. But, Yes, it would be legal to shoot 3 a day 7 days a week all season.

 

[durtynacho]

Thanks @Hunter 257W, I appreciate the quick reply.

The 'Farmland Owner License Exemption' is another very nice, and welcome change to the laws that I am used to. Most states that I have hunted in let you take one doe on your own land. Here, sounds like you can hunt all season and shoot all the doe you want without ever having to pay a dime. I still intend to purchase a license each season for hunting elsewhere in the county, I just found the exemption to be very generous of the state and wanted to mention it.

 

[Deer Assassin]

can and do is about 3 different things

there are very few hunters in the state that kill over 20 even fewer in 30 or 40's

I know in 07/08 there was a guy that killed 30 my self 32 and like 11 in the 20's

i avg in the 20's and it is a lot of work.

There are plenty of does the problem they have become hard to hunt and every one thinks they have been killed out... but they are there depending on county

 

[Omega]

can and do is about 3 different things

there are very few hunters in the state that kill over 20 even fewer in 30 or 40's

I know in 07/08 there was a guy that killed 30 my self 32 and like 11 in the 20's

i avg in the 20's and it is a lot of work.

There are plenty of does the problem they have become hard to hunt and every one thinks they have been killed out... but they are there depending on county

I have been meaning to ask, and you don't have to answer if you don't want, but what do you do with all those deer? I am not typical, but I only keep one deer a year now, and get one or two for guys that don't hunt, but can't emagine having to deal with that many deer in one year. Back in my early to late 20's while stationed in NC, I did 5 a year, and consumed maybe three myself, the others would be for a cookout for my squad, and sometimes the whole platoon would participate and more deer would be consumed.

 

[Headhunter]

My best year I killed 36 does, all mature deer, and 1 nice buck.

 

[Bone Collector]

I have never even tried to kill 3 in a day. I have had the opportunity but the HE// with all that work.

I think you said you could kill 129.... in unit L you can do 3 per day from start till close. Deer season is around 107 days, it is like 321 per year. No one will do it and I doubt anyone will ever try.

 

[durtynacho]

My 129 days was based on rifle hunting and didn't include archery or muzzleloader.

 

[Hunter 257W]

One time I could have killed 3. I had already killed a buck a few days before that weighed almost 190 lbs so had enough meat really. But I was set up watching a food plot along some woods when I spotted some does right up against the fence by the woods back in the shadows at about 200 yards. I took the shot and they took off running. I knew that I'd hit th one I shot at so was just sitting there waiting a bit before getting up when one of them ran out of the woods into the open about 300 yards out. I'd never shot a deer that far away before and wanted to do it so I took the shot and from the reaction knew I'd hit it. This was the same pasture I'd used to do my 300 and 350 yard sighting in a few days before so I knew the ranges and rifle's point of impact perfectly. Well, the 3rd deer came out just about a minute after the 2nd one ran into the woods and stood right on the 300 yard mark. I was tempted but then the amount of work involved with 3 deer registered on my pea brain and I told my trigger finger to cool off.

 

[Deer Assassin]

I donate some to hfth
I have about 16-18 processed in Nashville @ flowers for friends and family
I donate a few to local church in Nashville to feed poor and homeless

I could kill a 100 and find places for the meat

oh I keep a few small ones ..... private stock
They eat so good

 

[Headhunter]

I have killed 3 mature does (I say mature does because I always try to wait for a family group to walk by and shoot the momma doe and leave the rest alone, especially if there is a button buck) in one hunt many times, with bow, rifle, shotgun and muzzleloader. It is not difficult or hard to process them, unless you have a long drag to get them out. Other than that, it is actually easier to me. Instead processing one deer at a time, I would much rather take care of 2 or 3 at a time (or as many as 6, I have killed 6 in one hunt helping to cull does and believe it or not, not that bad), but one deer at a time is more work to me than multiple deer.

 

[catman529]

If people shot more does, the limit wouldn't be so high. We can have a ridiculous bag limit like that because most people let the does walk. It's more of an opportunity for herd management than anything. Some areas have very high populations, some don't. Most deer I've killed in one season was 15, and that was hunting hard from September to January on multiple private and public properties across multiple counties. I don't shoot every deer I see, but I do have an itchy finger when it comes to fat nanny does.

 

[catman529]

I have never even tried to kill 3 in a day. I have had the opportunity but the HE// with all that work.

I think you said you could kill 129.... in unit L you can do 3 per day from start till close. Deer season is around 107 days, it is like 321 per year. No one will do it and I doubt anyone will ever try.

I've stopped at 2 more than once because of the work ahead, lol. But one time I shot 3 in their bed 50 yards from the boat, that was one of the easiest drags and I donated two to HFTH and butchered the oldest one at home. Doesn't work out like that very often

 

[backyardtndeer]

My 129 days was based on rifle hunting and didn't include archery or muzzleloader.

In CWD or high risk zones, rifle is allowed during the muzzleloader season. That starts the 7th of Nov.

 

[Eddie A]

I've stopped at 2 more than once because of the work ahead, lol. But one time I shot 3 in their bed 50 yards from the boat, that was one of the easiest drags and I donated two to HFTH and butchered the oldest one at home. Doesn't work out like that very often

Ive watched that video numerous times. That ole nanny was funny looking.

 

[redblood]

I can easily see 60 to 100 a day out the window of my house......i killed one. The vast majority of hunters will only kill a few if any each yr. i will only shoot one with a bow now, if there isnt a fawn in sight and its really cold out (so i can hang it up)

 

[rem270]

I donate some to hfth
I have about 16-18 processed in Nashville @ flowers for friends and family
I donate a few to local church in Nashville to feed poor and homeless

I could kill a 100 and find places for the meat

oh I keep a few small ones ..... private stock
They eat so good

You could kill more deer than anyone in TN or on this site hands down! your 20+ a year is taking it easy on them. Plus you're trying to kill one in every county of TN. If you just stopped that (which you better not) would put you in the 40 or 50 range easily per year.

 

[Deer Assassin]

I'm getting old and have a life
I can't be in the woods or on the lake every day

 

[Deer Assassin]

@rem270

I will get you an autograph picture when I come to KY this year

 

[rem270]

@rem270

I will get you an autograph picture when I come to KY this year

Dang skippy!

 

[hunter drew]

@rem270

I will get you an autograph picture when I come to KY this year

Hey I want one too. Probably kill more deer then anyone on this site

 

[gasman]

@rem270

I will get you an autograph picture when I come to KY this year

He gonna put you in a KY garhole.

 

[Deer Assassin]

He gonna put you in a KY garhole.

Won't be the first time lol

 

[Deer Assassin]

Hey I want one too. Probably kill more deer then anyone on this site

No problem drew

 

[rem270]

Heck DA had to shoot through brush to make a shooting hole then shoot the deer to check off Weakley with this one lol

 

[Deer Assassin]

Heck DA had to shoot through brush to make a shooting hole then shoot the deer to check off Weakley with this one lol

Sweet button
Rated tender
Tasted go goo gooo gooood

 

[easy45]

There are some areas where that needs to be lifted. I hunt in Fayette and on one side of the county I struggled to see does but in the other side I could see 8-15 per trip.

 

[BSK]

There are some areas where that needs to be lifted. I hunt in Fayette and on one side of the county I struggled to see does but in the other side I could see 8-15 per trip.

I agree that many parts of Unit L no longer need "kill as many does as you can" limits. The problem for the state is, defining those areas. I know places 5 miles apart that have vastly different doe densities. I don't think we can expect the TWRA to be able to set limits that are perfect for every area.

 

[Ski]

I don't think we can expect the TWRA to be able to set limits that are perfect for every area.

I've always been of the mind that it's part of the hunter's responsibility to understand the area he/she is hunting and harvest it accordingly, responsibly, with conservation in mind. Just because it's legal to kill 3 does/day doesn't mean the immediate area you're hunting can support it. A few "good" hunts and the area could be irreparably damaged for many seasons to come. A hunter shouldn't need TWRA changing the bag limit to understand that.

 

[BSK]

Honestly, we are very, VERY lucky white-tailed deer are such a resilient species. They can be mismanaged severely and they still bounce back fairly quickly.