Deer population out of control

[kkyyoottee]

Here in Iowa the deer population is out of control like in many states. I have heard thru the grapevine they are considering making hunters earn a buck tag by having to shoot 1 or 2 does first then you can purchase a buck tag. Does anyone know if this is used in other states or if it would work?

[derbycitycatman]

Here in KY we have zones, Im in zone 1 and you can take as many does as you buy tags for. I think its greatly reduced the deer population around me, which I dont like. I think we only have 10 per square mile if we're lucky. It would have a chance of working if everyone followed it, seems to me some would just say they got a doe anyway. Unlimited doe tags might work too, hunters going for meat would probably like this if they are limited on the number of does they can take.

[spoonfish]

We also have unlimited doe tags in allmost every county in Missouri. Tags are 7 dollars each. You can buy as many as you want.

[David Knotts]

I may be wrong, but I think Wisconsin has the earn a buck system.

[Katmandeux]

I'm the last person you'd ever call a trophy hunter, but that's asking a lot of someone, to let a really nice, shootable buck walk. Tough hardly describes it.

[tkyhnt]

This is a common practice used in MO for the draw hunts on conservation land. Not sure of the results, I for one do not apply for most of these hunts because like was said tough would not begin to describe having to let a great buck walk just because you have not had the opportunity to shoot a doe yet.

[derbycitycatman]

After thinking about it I would rather have the unlimited doe tags than an earn a buck system. Besides having folks feel penalized and maybe even making them a a "criminal" because they might not be able to pass up a nice buck it seems next to impossible to enforce. I think meat hunters would gladly take a few does if allowed along with their buck. Curious if your allowed more than one buck statewide?

[willcat]

i think alot of people pass up the does for the bucks, but that big doe will put meat in the freezer as well

[aaronm283]

in missouri you can only get one buck a year with a firearm.

[Cathooker]

In Georgia we have a deer season that runs from the middle of Sept to the second week in in Jan. We have ten doe tags and two buck tags. In my area the entire season is either sex. You would think that with this liberal limit the deer herd would be greatly reduced but it is not. Most folks will not fill half their tags. The old sentiment of not shooting does still runs high in this area. I shoot until all my doe tags are filled or I just don't see anymore...which ever comes first. I rarely kill a buck in my area because the number of mature bucks are far and few between.
I also hunt on a large private tract of land in Alabama that is under the state quality deer management program. Two years ago we were told to kill at least 60 does. That quota was not met so the landowner implemented the rule that you had to shoot two does before you killed a buck.... if you did not abide by this rule you lost your invitation. I shot the first two does I saw....lol.
I would not like to see a statewide rule that mandated the taking of does before you could get a buck tag. I know what I would do if a huge buck walked up and I hadn't filled my doe tag...I would let him walk but the majority of hunters would not and then they would become criminals.

[RiverratSC]

We have Doe Tags here in South Carolina but not Buck tags. Most guys I know take doe and let many "bucks" walk unless they are huge. We can kill 5 each during deer season but "doe days" are on the weekends.

[xringer3]

I can see the reasoning of taking a doe or two before getting your buck tag. It's backwards from what I grew up doing, but I can see the sense in it. It would just be difficult to enforce and to pass here. I'm mostly a meat hunter, so it wouldn't bother me any. I usually take the first two meat deer I can get, so I can relax and hunt ole bigun the rest of the year. Two or three deer along with all the fish I'll get will do my family nicely for the year.

There are the people out there though who only hunt antlers, and could care less about the meat. These people will probably drop a couple does, check them in, get thier buck tags, and dump the does in a ditch somewhere! I don't have anytning against trophy hunting, that's what some people are in to. I don't believe in wasting an animal though! I like getting a trophy to hang on the wall now and then, but I've not been able to find a recipie yet for the antlers, LOL. I've got deer on my leases that I've held out for in the past, but filled my freezer first, then went after them.

[RiverratSC]

I can't remember the true ratio but its like 5 Doe for every Buck.

[Cathooker]

The area that I live in the buck doe ratio is wayyyy to high....somewhere in the range of 15 to 20 does per buck. We have very little visible rutting activity because of this. The areas I hunt in Kentucky and Alabama are more in line 3 to 5 does per buck. There is very pronounced rut activity in those two areas.

Fewer hunters + more urban sprawl resulting in fewer huntable areas = Deer population explosion!!

[223reload]

I would love to see New Mexico try a change like that. We cant even beg to shoot a doe ,and the population here is like 1 to40 does to bucks ,and all they care about is decimating the whitetails in the N/E part . Thats where the high doe population is ,we need a doe hunt here bad.

[xringer3]

I would love to see New Mexico try a change like that. We cant even beg to shoot a doe ,and the population here is like 1 to40 does to bucks ,and all they care about is decimating the whitetails in the N/E part . Thats where the high doe population is ,we need a doe hunt here bad.
I'm more interested in coming to New Mexico to antelope hunt. You got any places you know of that one can do that? When ever I come through there, locals always make the comment that they want people to come and thin em out. I'd sure like to get in on that!

[David Knotts]

I know a few leases around here that they don't shoot does at all, that was fine for a few years, now these guys don't see very many bucks, and they can't figure it out. It's my opinio that you have to kill some does, to make those big bucks get up and move to find a hot doe. With to many does that ole buck just sits there for a hot babe to come walkin by.

[Cathooker]

With to many does that ole buck just sits there for a hot babe to come walkin by.

No truer words have ever been spoken.

[xringer3]

No truer words have ever been spoken.
I'll second that!

[223reload]

I'm more interested in coming to New Mexico to antelope hunt. You got any places you know of that one can do that? When ever I come through there, locals always make the comment that they want people to come and thin em out. I'd sure like to get in on that!


The best way is to apply for the public drawing ,all landowners recieve free permits from the game dept. but they are sold to outfitters ,so thats out ,unless you book a hunt with them .Theres a bunch of turbo goats in our state and most ranchers look at them like overgrown jackrabbits or vermin,they are hell on fences .

[xringer3]

The best way is to apply for the public drawing ,all landowners recieve free permits from the game dept. but they are sold to outfitters ,so thats out ,unless you book a hunt with them .Theres a bunch of turbo goats in our state and most ranchers look at them like overgrown jackrabbits or vermin,they are hell on fences .
Thanks. I'm on a "city government" salary, so paying for an outfitter is out of the question. I am looking for the economy route. Antelope is my dream hunt, and we were given some a few years ago. My wife and daughter have been wanting me to hunt them so they can have some more meat. As much as they love deer, they liked it a little better.

[Dadoftwo]

I think the harvest of a few more does would be a great idea. I purchased a new Silverado 13 months ago. Before I could get the paper tag out of the window I hit a deer causing $7k worth of damage. 10 months later I hit another causing an extra $6.5k in damage. In less than a year the insurance company paid out over $10k and myself $1k in deductibles. I realize most people want that trophy buck, but please, lets calm the population a little. I don't think my truck could handle anymore, besides I am now married to this thing because I am a favorite with carfax.

[smhmc6]

I'm from Kansas, but I do most of my hunting in the Ozarks of MO since that is where I'm going to school. Like others have said, you can get as many doe tags as you want. I bow hunt, so I can take two bucks (if I'm lucky enough)... but only one before rifle season. For me, one or two deer is pretty much plenty of meat for a full year. I have been considering trying out one of those donation places where you can give meat to the hungry or whatever. Has anyone ever done this before? Do you have to pay anything or can you just drop it off field dressed? Deer hunting for me is an absolute passion, I will probably be out in the woods every weekend from September 15th until the end of the season. This is why I'm wondering about the donations... I don't have a lot of extra money around (being a student) to pay for processing for these organizations, but if I could just spend $7 for extra doe tags and drop them off I could continue to enjoy hunting and wouldn't waste the meat. If it costs extra money I'll just have to fill my two bow tags and be done. If you have experience with this... let me know, I'm very interested.

[poisonpits]

on our lease me are allowed 2 bucks and 2 does on our license but as a hunt club we are allwed 26 extra doe permits.these are bonus tags and one man can fill them all if he was so inclned.our younger members voted in a new rule this year.we can kill as many does as we want and as soon as we use the 2 on our license the club will give us one of the club permits.on the buck side our first buck has got to be an eight point or biggewith at least a 13 inch spread.if we kill a second buck it has got to be an 8 point or bigger with at least a 16 inch spread.the last 10 years or so ive taken 4 deer a year all leagle.this year im going to take as many does as i see cause ive never been a trophy hunter and never will be.i hunt for meat.if i kill it i eat it.so i believe im supposed to take the best tasteing meat avalible and to me this is the females of the species.making me let small bucks walk for someone else to take has made me angry so im going to eat a lot of does.lol.