BTW, I think you got some fuzzy math going on because I'm not coming up with those percentages, Joe.
Not necessarily. You have to remember that, in that same time period, the DOW did away with the restrictions on early muzzy season buck tags. So, everyone was allowed to shoot bucks, instead of just a select number of buck permits. I'd be willing to bet that there were a lot of anterless deer that received a "free pass" because of this. There are a lot of factors involved, man. You can't just assume that a decrease in harvest total is a direct result of a decrease in deer numbers. I'd be curious to see the trend in hunters participating in these early muzzy hunts over the years as well.
I don't have to assume it.. People are noticing it all over the state and the harvest numbers clearly support it... And the devil himself said it's his goal... No assumptions needed my friend..
BTW, I think you got some fuzzy math going on because I'm not coming up with those percentages, Joe.
The statewide harvest numbers, yes... Early muzzy harvest numbers, not necessarily. I'm just saying that I think there have been too many changes to use the early muzzy season numbers as any kind of an indicator.
Antlerless Numbers From 2008 (The first year I started screaming about deer numbers declining) to 2010 (latest available data sample)
Salt Fork State Park
2010 (106)
2008 (196)
2008-2010 DOWN 56% 196-106=90 90/196=46%
Wildcat Hollow
2010 - (75)
2008 - (100)
2008-2010 DOWN 25%
Shawnee
2010 (26)
2008 (47)
2008-2010 DOWN 55% 47-26=21 21/47=45%
The city of Toledo, Perrysburg, Sylvania, Maumee and Ottawa Hills to name a few (NW Ohio), are absolutely clogged with deer. These deer are not going to leave the safety of the cities and are not going to go away. I think it's time to open up these cities to bow hunting opportunities.
I would like to sit on bluegrass island during the rut...
I talked to a odnr rep today. Asked him about the deer count he said they are trying to keep the state heard in th 450000 range. The reason they want to do the early muzzleloader season in c is the heard is to big. He also told me the farm bureau wants the odnr to bring the heard count down to 250000 what a joke.
I talked to a odnr rep today. Asked him about the deer count he said they are trying to keep the state heard in th 450000 range. The reason they want to do the early muzzleloader season in c is the heard is to big. He also told me the farm bureau wants the odnr to bring the heard count down to 250000 what a joke.
That's a crock..............
If the herd drops to 250,000 this cowboy will take up knitting before I sit and rot in the deer woods all season.
The farmers complain about the deer but they won't let anyone hunt. Anyone try to gain access in SW Ohio recently? Pretty damn tough to get on new ground and when you do get on new ground half the county hunts it. Seems like there's no in-between.
DITTO!! Ain't that the truth! I'm in Warren Co.That's a crock..............
If the herd drops to 250,000 this cowboy will take up knitting before I sit and rot in the deer woods all season.
The farmers complain about the deer but they won't let anyone hunt. Anyone try to gain access in SW Ohio recently? Pretty damn tough to get on new ground and when you do get on new ground half the county hunts it. Seems like there's no in-between.