Slowed down

[basset]

Not seeing nearly as many the past couple weeks... aside from finding food sources, how do you all deal with the post rut slowdown?

 

[Lost Lake]

I hang as close to doe groups as possible. There's a good chance one of them might turn hot, and bring a big boy around. We're approaching 28 days from first estrous in a lot of areas, so hang in there. Some of the best action I've ever seen has been in mid to late December.

I'd also try hunting as close to thick cover as possible. I've been seeing a lot of bucks close to the does, but spending a lot of time themselves browsing in thickets and new growth.

 

[Wrangler95]

Been seeing a few deer out in fields eating grass!No acorns where Im hunting!!

 

[basset]

That's what I've been doing, watching some field edges... concentrating on Hunters for the Hungry does right now

 

[JCDEERMAN]

If you want to see things really slow down, come to our area in Hickman County LOL. I haven't seen a deer on my last 7 sits there. A combination of a terrible EHD last summer and no acorns = disaster

 

[DoubleRidge]

I hang as close to doe groups as possible. There's a good chance one of them might turn hot, and bring a big boy around. We're approaching 28 days from first estrous in a lot of areas, so hang in there. Some of the best action I've ever seen as been in mid to late December.

I'd also try hunting as close to thick cover as possible. I've been seeing a lot of bucks close to the does, but spending a lot of time themselves browsing in thickets and new growth.

Great advice....sounds like a good game plan

 

[megalomaniac]

quit hunting until after Dec 15th in middle TN. You are doing more harm than good right now. My farms have been dead since late November. 2nd rut is always Dec 18-25th and the action picks way back up then. Early Jan hunting can be good as even the bucks get hungry and need to feed in daylight again.

 

[Lincoln Co Archer]

Movement has come to a halt since the end of last week on our place. Always look forward to the last couple of weeks in December.

 

[redblood]

That's what I've been doing, watching some field edges... concentrating on Hunters for the Hungry does right now

Its good to help others i know, but unless i had a known excess if does, i would hate to kill them for the sake of killing

 

[EastTNHunter]

Food and cover

 

[basset]

Redblood, it's not for the "sake of killing," it's to support a charitable program which provides meat for food banks. And we do have a "known excess of does" in unit L, that's why the limit is three a day.

 

[poorhunter]

If you want to see things really slow down, come to our area in Hickman County LOL. I haven't seen a deer on my last 7 sits there. A combination of a terrible EHD last summer and no acorns = disaster

Seems like the rut this year is trickling on since early November to me. Saw more bucks chasing before Veterans Day than ever and have sporadically seen them chasing since. Saw a chance Tuesday at my farm, a six cruising by itself and then an 8 chasing a doe this morning on the way to work. Kids saw an eight chasing a doe on Wednesday night coming home from choir practice. Still happening but seems sporadic.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Seems like the rut this year is trickling on since early November to me. Saw more bucks chasing before Veterans Day than ever and have sporadically seen them chasing since. Saw a chance Tuesday at my farm, a six cruising by itself and then an 8 chasing a doe this morning on the way to work. Kids saw an eight chasing a doe on Wednesday night coming home from choir practice. Still happening but seems sporadic.

We had somewhat decent movement up until opening of rifle, mostly in the evenings. A lot of that movement (or lack of) was due to the warm temps. The years that we do not have many acorns, the deer LEAVE. They literally migrate to areas that have greens. It is very rare for us to not have acorns - most years I am cussing them because there are so many. I have fallen in the dark on the way to a stand because I was literally walking on marbles. 2018, 2019 and 2020 have been unbelievably poor hunting for us. 2018 - ZERO acorns / 2019 - Worst EHD outbreak I've ever seen / 2020 - maybe 15% acorns. That is 3 very bad years we have had. Law of averages say we should have some good years ahead

 

[megalomaniac]

... And we do have a "known excess of does" in unit L, that's why the limit is three a day.

I hate that TN still uses archaic techniques for herd management which have proven to have failed in numerous states. 'Shoot all the does and you will have a healthier herd' was so ingrained into average hunters by the deer biologists of the 90s that does were absolutely overharvested in many places.

Sure, there are numerous properties that absolutely need additional mouths removed. However, I can show you just as many properties in unit L that are so far under carrying capacity that removing a single doe is harmful. If you arent out in the woods in February actually looking at your habitat and amount of food remaining, I would recommend only shooting 1 doe for each buck killed, no more.

 

[basset]

Way my last few hunts have gone it's not gonna be an issue... gotta see em to shoot em

 

[BSK]

The rut was about 5 days late in my area, and was hot and heavy from Nov. 15 to Dec. 2. Since, then, dead as a hammer! Very few bucks on camera since then.

 

[BSK]

If you want to see things really slow down, come to our area in Hickman County LOL. I haven't seen a deer on my last 7 sits there. A combination of a terrible EHD last summer and no acorns = disaster

Hickman, Perry, and Humphreys counties really took it in the shorts last year from EHD. Many of those areas saw a 30% decline in harvest due to loss of deer population. Even camera censuses suggested somewhere around a 20-30% population loss. Then to add insult to injury, the remnants of tropical storm Olga produced 100 MPH winds along KY Lake, leveling forests on both shores almost the entire length of the lake across TN, south to north. Those areas experienced one of the worst deer seasons ever. Deer movement was all screwed up from all the downed trees. The only up side to the forest damage was the lack of bucks killed. Can see the results in the age of bucks photographed in those areas this year.

 

[Ski]

I can show you just as many properties in unit L that are so far under carrying capacity that removing a single doe is harmful.

I'd say that's accurate. You can easily ruin an area for generations by taking too many does. I never did understand the sentiment of focusing on does. Too easy to take it far, and before you know it you've created damage that can't be undone.

 

[Mescalero]

Hickman, Perry, and Humphreys counties really took it in the shorts last year from EHD. Many of those areas saw a 30% decline in harvest due to loss of deer population. Even camera censuses suggested somewhere around a 20-30% population loss. Then to add insult to injury, the remnants of tropical storm Olga produced 100 MPH winds along KY Lake, leveling forests on both shores almost the entire length of the lake across TN, south to north. Those areas experienced one of the worst deer seasons ever. Deer movement was all screwed up from all the downed trees. The only up side to the forest damage was the lack of bucks killed. Can see the results in the age of bucks photographed in those areas this year.

Back in February, I did my own statistical analysis of Hickman annual deer harvests from 2005 through 2019. I wanted to see how EHD has impacted the harvest over a long period of time and see if there was any way to predict when harvest numbers should recover. I focused on total deer killed by hunters, as well as does and bucks. I wanted to control for hunter numbers, but could only find statewide license sales, but I still think that's a good control since a lot of those who hunt Hickman (and Humphreys, Perry, Lewis, etc.) don't live there. I also wanted to control for other natural and man-made events (such as the May 2010 flood, the start of on-line check in, and change to the two buck limit). For instance, I was wondering if deer harvest numbers might decline simply because hunters didn't check in their kills on line or because fewer bucks got killed. What I found was astonishing. EHD has had a huge impact on total deer and doe and buck harvest numbers in Hickman (and I'm sure in other counties). From 2005 through 2019, the five worst years (from worst to fifth worst) were 2019, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2009, and 2007. Those were all either EHD years (2019 and 2007) or a year(s) following an EHD year (2008 and 2009) or the flood year and year following. The largest decline in percentage and absolute numbers of total deer killed, does, and bucks occurred between 2018 and 2019. The 2019 EHD year for Hickman was even worse than the 2007 EHD year. Does appear to be especially hard hit in EHD years, which then has a follow on impact on herd population in succeeding years until the herd numbers can recover. It seemed to take about two years to recover from 2007 (and then the flood hit) and so will probably take until next year. 2017 was also an EHD year, but apparently not as severe. Big drop off year over year, 2016 to 2017, but 2018 was a good harvest, but mainly because buck harvest was generally consistently high comparatively 2012 to 2018 until 2019. Does got hammered by disease in the 2017 and 2019 EHD years.

What's sad for Hickman is total harvest numbers have only exceeded 2006 once, which was in 2015 (and 2016 was basically equal to 2006). Ten freaking years!

Hunter numbers peaked in 2006 and really dropped in 2007 and 2008, but have basically stabilized since then. Hickman's best year for bucks was 2016 (the second year of the two buck limit) and fourth best was 2015 (the start of the two buck limit). Not an opinion, just as observation.

I didn't know how to control for coyote depredation, but in my anecdotal view I think the single most severe impact on deer population, at least in Hickman, has been EHD followed by natural disasters. More than hunter numbers, on-line check in, two buck limit, or coyotes.

 

[poorhunter]

I know what you mean about EHD in Hickman last year. I live way out in the sticks and from August thru October the stench of dead rotting deer was bad. Without really even looking we found several dead deer in the holler.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Back in February, I did my own statistical analysis of Hickman annual deer harvests from 2005 through 2019. I wanted to see how EHD has impacted the harvest over a long period of time and see if there was any way to predict when harvest numbers should recover. I focused on total deer killed by hunters, as well as does and bucks. I wanted to control for hunter numbers, but could only find statewide license sales, but I still think that's a good control since a lot of those who hunt Hickman (and Humphreys, Perry, Lewis, etc.) don't live there. I also wanted to control for other natural and man-made events (such as the May 2010 flood, the start of on-line check in, and change to the two buck limit). For instance, I was wondering if deer harvest numbers might decline simply because hunters didn't check in their kills on line or because fewer bucks got killed. What I found was astonishing. EHD has had a huge impact on total deer and doe and buck harvest numbers in Hickman (and I'm sure in other counties). From 2005 through 2019, the five worst years (from worst to fifth worst) were 2019, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2009, and 2007. Those were all either EHD years (2019 and 2007) or a year(s) following an EHD year (2008 and 2009) or the flood year and year following. The largest decline in percentage and absolute numbers of total deer killed, does, and bucks occurred between 2018 and 2019. The 2019 EHD year for Hickman was even worse than the 2007 EHD year. Does appear to be especially hard hit in EHD years, which then has a follow on impact on herd population in succeeding years until the herd numbers can recover. It seemed to take about two years to recover from 2007 (and then the flood hit) and so will probably take until next year. 2017 was also an EHD year, but apparently not as severe. Big drop off year over year, 2016 to 2017, but 2018 was a good harvest, but mainly because buck harvest was generally consistently high comparatively 2012 to 2018 until 2019. Does got hammered by disease in the 2017 and 2019 EHD years.

What's sad for Hickman is total harvest numbers have only exceeded 2006 once, which was in 2015 (and 2016 was basically equal to 2006). Ten freaking years!

Hunter numbers peaked in 2006 and really dropped in 2007 and 2008, but have basically stabilized since then. Hickman's best year for bucks was 2016 (the second year of the two buck limit) and fourth best was 2015 (the start of the two buck limit). Not an opinion, just as observation.

I didn't know how to control for coyote depredation, but in my anecdotal view I think the single most severe impact on deer population, at least in Hickman, has been EHD followed by natural disasters. More than hunter numbers, on-line check in, two buck limit, or coyotes.

I think my jaw just hit the floor. - due to the fact that my observations identically mirror your post. The biggest things that jump out at me are 1) 2007 EHD die off, 2) I thought 2007 was bad - 2019 TAKES THE CAKE, and 3) 2016 being the peak. In 2016, I was tagged out on 11/10 having taken my biggest buck with a bow (at the time) and then 3 weeks later killing the oldest buck I've ever taken. I also remember the abundance of big deer on cameras that year. A lot of what you posted, I believe, is spot on. Thanks for sharing

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I know what you mean about EHD in Hickman last year. I live way out in the sticks and from August thru October the stench of dead rotting deer was bad. Without really even looking we found several dead deer in the holler.

No joke. I thought the folks I know that live there were inflating this idea of "dead carcas smell".........until I experienced it myself. Sad!

 

[Mescalero]

I'm no biologist, but I think in EHD years and at least two years following, we need to take it easy on the ladies.

 

[DRSJ35]

I'm in Greene county and 5 to 7 years ago there were doe's everywhere. Could actually take the youngens and get them interested in hunting just in excitement. Different tone in the woods close to a deer as it is driving and seeing one on the hwy. I can't do it anymore kids can't stand it. And I hate boring them till they will never even hunt. That was before all the killing of doe's. Some pockets are still pretty covered up. But you can't judge an entire county over a couple pockets. Or your doomed for failure. Most of us are willing to have good seasons by sacrificing a year here or there of under harvests to bring them back.

 

[jason2779]

Since blue tongue, hit East Tn few years ago you are lucky to see does, the herd was hit hard, I haven't shot a doe in 4 five years! A lot of it it people killing to kill, I think bucks should be one per year with antler restrictions on that! But they will not talk about that to much money on the table. They have to take care of the lakes!! If you saw as many game warden stopping spot lighting and road hunting as you do on the lake that would be great!

 

[MUP]

Didn't see a single deer this evening.

 

[recurve60#]

The rut was about 5 days late in my area, and was hot and heavy from Nov. 15 to Dec. 2. Since, then, dead as a hammer! Very few bucks on camera since then.

Im still seeing dead deer on the highways here, so hoping this weekend will be a good time. I tagged out in ML and can finally get a chance at a local wma bonus buck in a place im very familiar with. Btw, welcome back.

 

[Crappieaddict]

I was getting ready to head out, and started reading this post. I believe I'll have another cup of coffee and watch it get daylight from the couch.

 

[Andy S.]

I hang as close to doe groups as possible. There's a good chance one of them might turn hot, and bring a big boy around. We're approaching 28 days from first estrous in a lot of areas, so hang in there. Some of the best action I've ever seen has been in mid to late December.

I'd also try hunting as close to thick cover as possible. I've been seeing a lot of bucks close to the does, but spending a lot of time themselves browsing in thickets and new growth.

Ditto!

 

[Andy S.]

If you want to see things really slow down, come to our area in Hickman County LOL. I haven't seen a deer on my last 7 sits there. A combination of a terrible EHD last summer and no acorns = disaster

Unfortunately, this sounds all too unfamiliar as my close friend and his lease members hunt Hickman county, and have hunted there since the late 80s. He said they have had more zero sighting deer hunts this fall than ever, in a mainly hardwood habitat with a complete mast failure. The terrible EHD outbreak in 2007 is the only other time he has seen it this bad as far as lack of deer sightings.