Tennesse Buck Totals for 2015 exceed 2014

[Rockhound]

remember it is a 5 yr plan. even though the buck harvest might have been a fraction higher, I would wager that the older age class bucks were harvested. Admittedly, it will take a few year to change hunter mindsets. This was the hardest year, as we are coming off a 3 buck limit year. Give it 5 and we will see results

We were told last year up until the start of the season, we didn't have an older age class and that the 2 buck limit would cure that. But now we have an older age class?

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

Let's wait until the TWRA releases data on age classes that were killed. (and I didn't care either way on the limit FWIW)

I've seen a bunch of people limit out. However, they all seem to have limited out on good bucks. (just my observation) So it's possible that we will indeed carry over a larger number of younger bucks than before. Again, only the data will show this. If the state kills more bucks but the increase is in the older age classes then I'd think they accomplished what they wanted to and you will see a difference.

I do think however that as BSK always said, the hunters themselves are managing themselves better as far as what they kill.

 

[AXL78]

There is a good reason to complain. We had something taken away by the government for no justifiable reason. Doesn't matter if we used it or not. What if the government decided you didn't need that extra gun, you never shoot it, lets take it away.

You are forgetting something.... It's the governments deer. The don't have to have a justifiable reason.

That's really reaching bro. I''m not sure of the exact way they are legally viewed, if deer belong to the public or the government etc., I am not going to look it up either. I know they are not owned by the landowner or privately. But either way, that is really a poor attitude toward managing them. If you apply that same attitude/approach to a lot of other aspects of our country, we could really be in trouble.

 

[WRbowhunter]

First, I was against reducing the limit. That being said are we really complaining because we as a whole We had an excellent deer season? From what I saw there were a LOT of big bucks killed. And the ones that shot smaller bucks were very excited and proud of what they shot. Sounds like a GREAT year to be hunting in TN.

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

remember it is a 5 yr plan. even though the buck harvest might have been a fraction higher, I would wager that the older age class bucks were harvested. Admittedly, it will take a few year to change hunter mindsets. This was the hardest year, as we are coming off a 3 buck limit year. Give it 5 and we will see results

Maybe...

I might wager that a few additional bucks (3.5+) were killed this year than last year. But I would not wager that there was a significant increase in kills for bucks in those age classes ONLY with no similar uptick in all age classes.

I would guess that a similar percentage breakdown across all classes occurred this year like all other years.

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

First, I was against reducing the limit. That being said are we really complaining because we as a whole We had an excellent deer season? From what I saw there were a LOT of big bucks killed. And the ones that shot smaller bucks were very excited and proud of what they shot. Sounds like a GREAT year to be hunting in TN.

That's a great way to look at it!

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

But, but, but, they told us there were gonna be thousands of extra bucks running around because they didn't get killed this year???

From what I'm hearing the early data indicates a lot more hunters killed 2 bucks this year than in years past.

are you going to blame the TWRA if some hunters decided to be vindictive and kill out of spite?

Are you unhappy that more hunters killed 2 bucks (the new legal limit) than in years past? What if it was not done in a vindictive manner or to spite the rule makers but simply a great deer season for many hunters?

 

[102]

The most pathetic thing to come out of ALL of this SHOULD be the realization that we are all ROBOTS.
In each and every aspect of our lives. ROBOTS.

Influenced by media to buy this toy, rifle gift, foods, camo , bow or whatever the MEDIA says we should buy.

Or think, or do, or dance, or sing, whistle, say, etc.

Or even kill.

Why do we all fall victim to slogans like;
Wheres the beef
Psyche
Gotcha
Who's your daddy
or...SMOKED him!

MEDIA influence.

And don't think for a minute that large antlered bucks aren't driving ALL of the decision to change the limit from 3 to 2.

Sad, VERY sad.

We should ONLY manage for the health of the species. NOT for glory.

If there was no deer porn (and that is what it is...PORNOGRAPHY for deer hunters) then there would be little if any discussion.

I DO remember when killing ANY deer was a big deal.

Now people don't even give a 90 inch 6 year old 8 point a second look.

PITIFUL.

And 200 inch plus PEN RAISED genetically engineered fence deer that escaped from a high fence operation get all kinds of attention when killed on nearby farms.

PITIFUL!!!

People (not that there is anything wrong with this) with deep pockets who spend THOUSANDS of dollars to manipulate their tightly controlled properties (multiple), run remote controlled game cameras, feed high protein, and or BAIT deer get praised for their hunting skills after killing a resident 4.5 year old 160 inch buck (of which there is not only a name for, but also multiple pictures of).
While "Joe red neck" who hunts VERY hunter educated deer and is very lucky to even see, let alone kill, a 90 inch 4.5 year old 8 point that has been eating acorns, saw briar, and brown leaves its entire life (not to mention at the same time trying to avoid spotlights and road hunters and every hunter who just has to try out his new "toy" purchased after watching the latest info mercial from Lee, Tiff, Will, or Drury) doesn't even get a nod.

Amazing isn't it? How influenced we all are after just a few seasons of this show or that.

Some will say they do not watch TV. But we simply can't escape it.

It is everywhere. Media influence.

If you don't believe me, take a peek around Tndeer, or any hunting web site. You tube WREAKS of influence.

It is not all bad. Some is good.

But man will find a way to corrupt just about anything. Deer hunting is no different.

Killing big mature bucks consistently is not about hunter skill anymore. It has become about who has the most money to maniplulate the property they own or lease to produce the class of animal they want to hunt in "killable" numbers.

It is no longer about hunting open land and locating sign and figuring out travel patterns to be able to kill the caliber of animal you want to hang on your wall, while knowing that others are also out there trying to do the same.

It is no longer about being the best hunter and matching wits against another hunter and the deer. It is about controlling as much as you can so as to gain the upper hand on an otherwise wary animal.

In Tennessee, the first step is to increase the "huntable numbers". So we went from 3 to 2 buck limit.
Not to help the herd, but to up our odds.

SAD! VERY SAD.

 

[Mike Belt]

I thinks you paint with too broad a brush...

 

[Boone 58]

Exactly Rockhound.......................and now we are over last years buck kill significantly by about 3000+ :drool:

 

[Boone 58]

I thinks you paint with too broad a brush...

Good one Mike!!! Love it!

 

[Bone Collector]

Don't we need to see what age class the harvested bucks came from compared to last season to fully evaluate the effects of a two buck limit? Isn't the idea to allow younger age class bucks to grow another year? We will see and it may take a couple years to show an effect.

I think that will be very difficult, as I believe the TWRA figures show points, but not age class. I think their bio data for age class is made up from a small sample and i have heard it is not that dependable.

 

[Deer Assassin]

it may be a 2 buck limit
but how many bucks with dropped antlers will be killed this week

 

[Bone Collector]

In Jefferson Co the number of antlered bucks was up from last year. Fewer spikes, 3, and four points were checked out compared to last year. The number of 7+ points was up compared to last year.

that was true last year too. I looked at the points data and the # of 6 pts or less was down year over year and the # of 7+ pt bucks was up. I didn't look at 2013 vs 2012 and so forth, but i would guess the same trend would be present. That is why I thought the reduction was not necessary. I think mindsets have been changing for years and therefore no reason to force it. Of course as I said, I didn't run the data, so I can't be 100% sure, but that is my hypothesis.

 

[Headhunter]

I say let's go to a one buck limit and see how much more we can increase the buck kill numbers.

 

[knightrider]

I say let's go to a one buck limit and see how much more we can increase the buck kill numbers.

I say we bump it up to four so fewer will be killed ain:

 

[tnbowhunter3]

There are soo many variables involved here...total number hunters? weather, juvy numbers,etc

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

Were is everyone getting their numbers. I come up with 5,583 less bucks killed this year to date. 2014-15 year to date 94,856 bucks killed, 2015-16 year to date 89,273 bucks killed year to date. as of 1-5-16

 

[AXL78]

Hunters toolbox I'm guessing. Antlered harvest. I get 76,233 for 2014, and 78,203 for 2015, through today's date on both.

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

Hunters toolbox I'm guessing. Antlered harvest. I get 76,233 for 2014, and 78,203 for 2015, through today's date on both.

So the antlerless and button bucks don't count as bucks?