Remember the days?

[Poleaxe]

Remember when you got so excited just to see a track? Well that seems like what we've gone back to at my big farm in McMinn thanks to a dang midge. I've seen one deer on stand all year last weekend on juvi but to far of a shot for him. I knew something wasn't right when all the major trails had grown up. I know there's 4-5 great bucks left while seeing them scouting a month ago but there's no way from now til season end will I pull the trigger on a doe. I've found 4 carcus' along the creek.

 

[morgancountry]

Yep. We are the same way here in Morgan county. Found multiple deer dead this fall. Very little sign and only a few tracks and droppings. I'm pretty much just hunting to find what deer are left and don't plan on shooting anything but pigs and coyotes


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[Hunter 257W]

I hate hearing these stories. So far I'm not seeing any indication of a die-off at my land based on trail camera photos. Just as many pictures as normal and most have multiple does in the shots in numbers consistent with the past. I agree that when you start seeing trails grow up and hardly see deer at all, does need to be off limits for 2 or 3 years at least.

 

[jb357]

I agree that when you start seeing trails grow up and hardly see deer at all, does need to be off limits for 2 or 3 years at least.

Everything needs to be off limits except coyotes

 

[bigtex]

Your not the only one Poleaxe, it's just downright dead on my farm as well. I've seen a total of two deer since opening day of Archery and they were together.
I've yet to find the first rub or scrape, tracks are non existent, and my food plots haven't been touched. I've searched my creek and springs and not found any dead critters so i'm hoping EHD is not the reason but i'm really starting to suspect that it is. Something is going on and that's a fact. I walked my entire farm this morning, not a track!
This is the first time in over 20 years that i've not killed at least one deer on the Archery, and i've usually got number two by this time during the M/L season.
Going to be a long Winter without meat in the freezer...........

 

[larry ipock]

Remember when you got so excited just to see a track? Well that seems like what we've gone back to at my big farm in McMinn thanks to a dang midge. I've seen one deer on stand all year last weekend on juvi but to far of a shot for him. I knew something wasn't right when all the major trails had grown up. I know there's 4-5 great bucks left while seeing them scouting a month ago but there's no way from now til season end will I pull the trigger on a doe. I've found 4 carcus' along the creek.

Yeah, It feels like hunting in the 70s, when you found a track, that's where you hunted. And about the midge, in 07, TWRA said it was because of deer drinking stagnant water.

 

[foodplot]

somebody please educate me on the "midge".... maybe a link to an article or something....thanks in advance

 

[bigtex]

somebody please educate me on the "midge".... maybe a link to an article or something....thanks in advance

Just google EHD. It is transmitted by midges [biting flies] also called culicoids.

 

[DRSJ35]

we need to know just what is going on.If the TWRA know's something they need to tell us.I know ehd is going around in a bad way.But if its something even more sinister we need to know that.They need to make some kind of educated move here.maybe something will change.but i'm not even seeing poop or tracks and that has never been a problem at least.Killing a deer is one thing but the no sign thing has me frustrated.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I hear ya. There hasn't been this few deer since I've even been alive. TWRA should have been proactive and stopped antlerless harvest before the season started. More damage will just be done now. I'm afraid recovery w be a long road with all of the predators some of these areas have now, especially if TWRA doesn't get on the ball to restrict doe harvest.


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[foodplot]

somebody please educate me on the "midge".... maybe a link to an article or something....thanks in advance

Just google EHD. It is transmitted by midges [biting flies] also called culicoids.

okay thanks....

 

[TraumaSlave]

I'm sorry your numbers are down. As you know, I'm right up 411 from you and have to say, my numbers and sightings are up. Lack of a poacher for the last 4 yrs and selective hunting have helped but, I haven't seen any signs of EHD in my neck of the woods.

 

[Poleaxe]

I'm happy for any that have been seeing deer steady. Wish you the best of luck. We all could agree tho that the technology is there to rid of this disease. If a Nazi scientist could engineer malaria within mosquitoes for biological warfare in 1942 we sure heck have the resources 75yrs later to make the deer immune to EHD. We'll see just how much TWRA prioritizes this after the season. Their so big on hunter participation. Sightings decrease which leads to success percentage then will lead to participation, then a big cut in revenue.

 

[DRSJ35]

Twra will probably say that the EHD is little worse than normal.They will say that after the season closes.I'm hearing little to no deer in many counties.so it can't be just little above normal.i hope they really get down to making educated changes that is needed.