Public Land doe permits

[langenc]

Were there any changes approved in increasing the size of the DMUs for doe permits? There was a suggestion that they be made bigger-more like turkey permits.

[Done Deal]

I dunno but....with the September private land doe slaughter approved, you have to believe that tennis shoe hunters are going to really slay them.

[remingtondude58]

September private land doe slaughter

whats that?

[Done Deal]

Lower and some northern lower private land antlerless shoot from September 18-22 with 5 license limit.

I am all for population control but....I still harbor ill feelings regarding some of the other ramifications from this sort of thing.

[DickTracy1953]

I got involved in deer hunting six seasons ago. I am almost 54 years old. The farm where I hunt is in DMU 029, placing it in rifle zone 2. The farm is just shy of 160 acres but most of the land is pasture, or tillable acreage with about 10 acres of woods that are bordered with about three acres of tall grass and thickets. When rifle season arrives this farm is only a place for deer to pass through unless they are feeding at night. Most of the deer abandon the bedding areas that border the woods and the field to move to neighboring farms that offer more cover. Three years ago the property owners sold off approximately one hundred twenty trees to a logging company. This may have improved areas for bedding as many of the tops were left where they fell and some of these areas have turned into thickets.

The first year, and bear in mind that I was a first time hunter, I counted nineteen deer. My agreement to hunt on this farm is based on the idea that I attempt to fill all allowable permits. I was afield for six day straight starting on day one. I harvested two button bucks, my friend harvested one doe, and two other hunters took two bucks in the archery season, and one buck in the black powder season. I was not able to take any deer in black powder as they were beyond the one hundred meter reach of my old iron sight 50 caliber Hawkins.

I am a very competent marksman with a rifle. To take deer on this farm you have to position yourself in tree stands then be able to make pinpoint accurate shots at distances of one hundred fifty meters out to three hundred fifty meters. I was able to take five deer with high neck or head shots in the woods in the chip shot range of fifty meters or less but those shots seem to be getting scarce the last two years. Being a more experienced hunter I now only kill the very largest does and avoid shooting button bucks to fill my doe permits.

Over six season, I have taken fifteen deer broken out as follows: one five point, one six point, three button bucks, and the rest were does. One button buck was a mercy killing last year as his front leg was broken and dangling. I could have let him pass but instead I put him down after observing him traverse one hundred fifty meters over the field.

Last season I counted thirteen deer and was afield the first four days of the regular firearm season, then took two days off before going afield for three more days. My kills last year were one button buck, taken as the option, and two large does. The does were larger than the five and six point that I took on this farm.

I would say that the deer population has been reduced where I hunt. By how much I can not say but I will say that I am serious about hunting so most days I am afield from first to last light. On this farm you have to put in the time or you may not harvest any deer. This is quite true if you are not a practiced rifleman. My bullet count vs kill is one shy of being one for one and that was the year that I shot the six point with the revolver and I missed him with the first shot.

There are farmers that have sustained enough crop damage from deer that they have been given the so called eradication permits. My guess is that this is why the count has been down the past two seasons. It could be that allowing hunters on private land in this Zone 2 to only pull two doe permits these past two years will help increase the deer population. I can say that I saw more deer last year than I did the year before and I was not afield for as many days.

I hunt to eat so it does not matter if I harvest a buck, a doe, or a button buck though I have made a concerted effort not to shoot button bucks if at all possible. I can not speak for the actions of the farmers that own land bordering my friends farm. They have a very different viewpoint than most hunters do an often shoot the deer that I let pass.

[Done Deal]

I live and hunt in 029 (I knew it rang a bell when it was mentioned) and while I don't own the ground either, I have hunted it for nearly 30 years. I have killed a bunch of bucks and a few does. Habitat has been severely reduced in the section I hunt and hunter numbers have increased all around.

While this is all private ground.....it sounded like a war zone a few years ago when hunters were shooting about everything that moved. I can remember hunting a late muzzleloader season and never seeing a deer. While I always have my chances....rifle season is a joke and if you don't get lucky opening day, you might as well forget it where I hunt.

Sure, part of the problem is the success of bow hunters whacking bucks but, another part of the problem is shooting too many antlerless deer in a given pocket of deer (with button bucks being among them) just because they can.

This year is going to be interesting. The entire section is either woods or corn with the exception of the ground I hunt which will be wheat stubble at the end of September. Guess where the kill zone is going to be?

My plan is to shoot what I have time to process (it will be hot) in the form of big does and then probably only shoot one buck when Oct/Nov rolls around. Honestly, I am about sick of just seeing 1.5 year old bucks as they don't even get the ticker pounding and are often dumber than a wise old doe. So what that I have piles and piles of racks in the back building....I know that I can kill bucks....I just prefer to see mature bucks. The way all the deer killing has gone, everybody in the area is lucky to see one mature buck all season.....because they seldom live that long around here.

I just hope that this tennis shoe hunt does not bring more "killers" out of the wood work that don't have a clue what they are doing when they pull the trigger. I still remember photos of trailer loads of dead deer and it is **** like that that has reduced the majestic white tail buck to just another varmint. Sad really....

[BA]

Hey, Done Deal. Where did you get this info? The DNR website doesn't have anything about it. I know, I know their website is alittle behind, OK alot behind. Looking to see what units are included? To see if there be any deer left for bow season.

Thanks

BA

[BA]

Found this over at MI Sportmens;

September firearms deer season is OK'd

By Bob Gwizdz
Contributing Writer

Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:49 AM CDT

Lansing - The Natural Resources Commission voted at its May meeting to hold a special five-day antlerless-only firearms deer season in southern Michigan, the five northeastern Lower Peninsula counties that have become known as the TB zone, and Iosco County, which borders the TB area and had two deer infected with tuberculosis killed last year.

The season was one of two options submitted to the NRC for a special early antlerless season. The other option would have opened the TB zone, Iosco County, and Shiawassee County to an October antlerless-only hunt.

The hunt is scheduled for Sept 18-22.

The DNR originally had planned to ask the NRC for an October hunt in southern Michigan and the TB area, but withdrew the request when a number of sportsmen's groups objected to holding the hunt during the archery deer season. But both the Michigan Bow Hunters Association and the state chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association suggested the original early antlerless-only deer season would be acceptable if the season were to be held in September.

Doug Reeves, acting chief of the DNR Wildlife Division, who presented the options to the NRC, said the September season was the division's preferred option.

“We are chronically over our population goal for deer in southern Michigan,” Reeves said. “We want hunters to take some of those deer.”

Many hunters become “too selective” during the regular season, Reeves said, holding out for bucks instead of killing does.

This isn't the first time the DNR has gone to early antlerless-only deer seasons in an attempt to whittle away at the herd in problem areas. In past years, the DNR held week-long antlerless-only hunts in Menominee County in September, and in the TB area in October. Those seasons were effective for their first few years, but gradually were abandoned as it appeared they did not result in additional deer being taken. However, the deer population in the TB area began rising again in recent years, and other attempts to shoot down the herd in southern Michigan - an extra week of muzzleloader season and a special two-week antlerless-only late December season - have not accomplished the goal.

“We have a very large number of deer in southern Michigan, we do need to reduce that population, and our preference is still to use recreational hunting to do that,” said Rod Clute, DNR deer specialist. “By providing this early season, we hope to take advantage of recreational hunting to help reduce that deer population.”

The early antlerless season enjoyed overwhelming support from sportsmen's groups attending the May NRC meeting. Bruce Levey, president of the Michigan Bow Hunters Association, read a letter of support for the season signed by his group, as well Commemorative Bucks of Michigan, Safari Club International, and the Quality Deer Management Association.

The Michigan Farm Bureau and Michigan United Conservation Clubs also testified in favor of the season and said the two groups hoped to work together to provide additional deer-hunting opportunities on private land in southern Michigan.

Said NRC commissioner Frank Wheatlake: “This is a win-win situation.”

DMUs with antlerless tags

In addition to adopting the early antlerless-only deer season, the NRC decided which deer management units would be open to antlerless hunting this fall.

In 2008, there will be 67 DMUs that are open for antlerless deer hunting on both private and public land, 18 that are open on private land only, and 12 that will be closed. Four DMUs that were open on private land only last year - in Roscommon, Clare, Gladwin, and Arenac counties - will have antlerless tags available for private land this fall. Two counties that were closed last year - Lake and Wexford - will have antlerless licenses available for private land this year. Two Upper Peninsula DMUs that had private-land antlerless permits available last year - 021 in the east-central U.P. and 152 in the central U.P. - will be closed this year.

Clute said the closure of the Upper Peninsula DMUs was a precautionary measure after the long, lingering and, in places, severe winter the state experienced.

Quotas for antlerless permits will be discussed at the June Natural Resources Commission meeting.

Albinos lose protection

Meanwhile, the NRC has lifted the prohibition on shooting all-white or albino deer. Wildlife officials said the prohibition often prevented hunters from shooting piebald deer as well some exotic deer species that had escaped from private facilities that the DNR wanted killed.


Bob forgot to mention this hunt will take place on private land only..............

[Done Deal]

Bob forgot to mention this hunt will take place on private land only..............


Sssssssh......let the orange army go to state land....hehehe....it might terrorize every tree rat in the woods.

[DickTracy1953]

I know what you mean about finding yourself in a war zone for the first few days of regular rifle season. We hear plenty of gunfire coming from the hunters on the neighboring farms. Last year we observed some of those hunters sending a young boy back to bring out more boxes of ammunition. When these "hunters" see a deer they just blast away using up every available cartridge in their firearm. One of these guys has a Remington 742 with an extra magazine. I heard him fire off nine shots. His first string was five then a quick magazine change for the four remaining shots.

The problem as I see it is that when you have trigger happy parents you find trigger happy sons and daughters. I have hunted on this farm with three boys that are sort of borrowed. Last year I had them take some practice that involved firing three to seven rounds through their rifles at fifty meters. I provided them with the shells. I also demonstrated proper shooting form from a sitting position on the ground with the rifle sling being used. I swear that this was all new for them.

Once when I caught up with hunters on the neighboring farm that were at the fence line I asked them if they had a serious pile of deer on their side of the fence. They admitted that the count was zero.

I only take high percentage shots. When you hear the crack of my rifle there is some field dressing to be done. In the past when I had more time on my hands I would go to the range four or five days out of the seven. Often I would take thirty to forty snaps with my rifles over a two or three hour shooting session.

Reloading is my hobby which is a good thing because my hunting rifles are chambered in: 30-30 Win, 300 Savage, 308 Win, 35 Rem, 257 Roberts, 25-06 Rem, 7mm-08, 270 Win, and 30-06. My favorite Remington is a 722 in the 257 Roberts chambering. The Remington 700 in 25-06 was added to my circle of friends just six weeks ago. I plan to take her afield this Fall.

[bf3pwner]

the september deer slaugter you are aloowed to take up to 5 does in 2days so have fun .....this could be a chance for you to getthe doe-buck ratio down(soundds like its 4-1) and you should want it around 2-1

[Done Deal]

the september deer slaugter you are aloowed to take up to 5 does in 2days so have fun .....this could be a chance for you to getthe doe-buck ratio down(soundds like its 4-1) and you should want it around 2-1


18, 19, 20, 21, 22......looks like five days to me.

And then the next weekend is the youth hunt.

Opening day of bow season will have bucks already in hiding in lots of places after all that traffic in the woods and fields. Oh well...

[langenc]

Bird/squirrel hunter will be out, also.

[dukers65]

do you have to apply for a permit or can you get one over the counter?

[sse]

You have to apply for either a private land or public land permit. However, if you wait until Sept 8th (not sure on the exact date), all the units with left over tags will go on sale OTC.

[jay]

So let me get this right. I wait all year to sit in the woods in peace an quiet with a bow with the ability to actually see deer and now the brainless dnr is going to ruin that season too? It was bad enough after opening day with every gun toting city slicker in the world walking all over my land ( and shooting at anything that moves!) and now they get to do it before bow season? Why not have this after the late doe season when you actually see deer again and it is cold enough to hang one without it spoiling in the 90 degree michigan september? Throw a bone to the "hunters" and have it late and cold like it should be.

[Done Deal]

Well Jay, since the powers that be relegated the status of the majestic whitetail to less than a varmint (back in the four buck doe permit days) things just haven't been the same.

Now, to cull the herd....private land hunters can hammer them in September and be out of the woods before even the youth hunt.

But, the flip side of all this might be that the meat hunters can get their venison over the bean fields while the weather is warm and stay the hell out of the woods when I am trying to find a decent buck to arrow. You have to admit, the nubbers won't be so fat early on and should be easier to identify as they will still be with mom.

I guess I would rather have the slaughter be for 5 days in September than two weeks in November.

I dunno...we will see how it works. I am upgrading my building this month to be ready for warm weather processing as you are right...it will be shoot them, skin them, quarter them, and get them in something to cool them down.

You have to know that the deer processors are gonna love it....hunters won't be able to let them hang until they have time on their own to cut them up. But, how many deer will be spoiled? Who knows but...I don't think the insurance companies will care one bit.

[GLOCKME]

So let me get this right. I wait all year to sit in the woods in peace an quiet with a bow with the ability to actually see deer and now the brainless dnr is going to ruin that season too? It was bad enough after opening day with every gun toting city slicker in the world walking all over my land ( and shooting at anything that moves!) and now they get to do it before bow season? Why not have this after the late doe season when you actually see deer again and it is cold enough to hang one without it spoiling in the 90 degree michigan september? Throw a bone to the "hunters" and have it late and cold like it should be.

So I guess you are saying that "Gun" people are not hunters?? If there is a legal season,then it is what it is..
3 months isn't enough??
I am not saying that I can even be involved in the Sept. hunt (not in my area) but,They had this a few years ago and I do not believe it caused a whole lot of problems..?
If we are going to keep the ability to hunt in our great state,we need to keep a common ground,and stick together..

We have enough other groups,people that want to do away with our sport..

[Done Deal]

So I guess you are saying that "Gun" people are not hunters?? If there is a legal season,then it is what it is..


What I think he is saying is that by October 1st, the deer may already be jumpy from the invasion of the orange army.

I guess it is all going to depend on the size and quality of the private ground that you have to hunt.

I am going to get my government freezer beef in September instead of shooting bucks like I have done for years. Maybe then I will be part of the solution because I am sick and tired of spending hours in the woods to never see a decent mature buck to whack because they got killed when they were 1.5 year olds.