Quality deer management coming to Michigan, aiming to improve the herd

[Sabre]

Originally Posted by GF.

That may be your take on the ‘moral’ position, but if you’re both citizens of this country, then, seeing as the deer are a public resource, his share is exactly the same as yours. If you don’t want to feed the deer for him, then fence the mothers out. Hey, you’re not required to feed the wildlife.

Any idea what it might cost to put deer proof fence around 100 acres of corn ? Enough to put another hillbilly farmer out of business maybe ? But hell, what city guy's gonna give a crap about that. After all, food comes from the shelves of the local grocery and those damned hillbilly farmers just stink up the whole area around their summer vacation home.

Besides, if you’re benefiting from any public services which are funded by state or federal tax dollars

Like what GF ? State highway system ? I put 6,000 miles a year on my truck and 95% of them are back and forth to work on TOWN AND COUNTY roads for which I pay TOWN AND COUNTY TAXES. I'm thinkin' some guy with a Bugatti is likely getting alot more use out of the state highway system.

then chances are real good that he’s ‘investing’ a hell of a lot more in those things that benefit you than you ever dreamed of putting into anything that might benefit him.

I already told you that we pay outrageous taxes upstate for the priveledge of having that stinking, cesspool attached to our Southern border. All that money sure as hell ain't comin' "back home" to roost so who's subsidising who again ?

Hate to break it to you; not only do I know that, but I knew you were going to say that. I also know that more than a few of the ‘Proud’ individuals will say screw tightening the budget to buy more food and they will poach whatever they think they need, rather than take a ‘handout’ (for which they may or may not actually qualify based on financial need). Because I guess stealing is more honorable and noble than accepting any form of ‘charity’…

Hate to break it to you but the "budget" is about as tight as it can get for alot of these hillbillies up here, even though luxuries like beer and girlie magazines are a pipe dream and things like a phone and TV would be nice. And contrary to your personal beliefs and vast knowledge, most try real hard not to break the law.

No matter how many times we go around this, it keeps coming back to exactly ONE THING. You believe that what YOU want out of hunting is the only acceptable choice. Your needs and desires are somehow of greater moral stature than those of anyone who wants something different from what you, personally, have decided is best for... You. Personally.

No I believe there are plenty of nice bucks roaming around the area already {I've seen two this summer that would go 125 ish and one that would go into the 140's B&C easily} and if the AR proponents aren't getting any it's nobody's fault but their own.

[Waidmann]

I've never posted on this forum before, because, QDM is a relatively new thing to Michigan. However, since we are talking about my home state, I'd like to weigh in on this.

Last year on my 80 acres, we took:

Mature doe (unknown, lost) Archery 10 Oct, Friend
Doe fawn (50 pounds), Archery, 25 Oct, Son
Yearling buck (110 lbs), Archery, 7 Nov, Friend
Yearling buck (105 lbs) Archery, 10 Nov, Friend
Mature doe (105 lbs), Shotgun, 16 Nov, cousin
Doe fawn (50 lbs), Shotgun, 22 Nov, Friend
Yearling doe (85 lbs), Shotgun, 30 Dec, 1625 hrs, me
Doe fawn (50 lbs), Shotgun, 30 Dec, 1645 hrs, Son
Doe fawn (60 lbs), Shotgun, 30 Dec, 1700 hrs, Brother

We took a total of nine deer off that land, only two of them were bucks, and both of them were yearlings. I bribed a couple of friends to help me rebuild my Mobile Home in exchange for hunting, so I really can't complain that they each took a yearling buck. One of the friends also took three does as well. All in all, I can't complain, or feel guilty about the mix of deer taken. I'm particularly pleased that we took the four female fawns and no button bucks, although I'm pretty sure that was more good luck than good hunting.

When I hunt in November, the party is my Uncle (lives in FL and drives up for the hunt, age 72), one cousin from Iowa, one cousin from FL, and assorted family that live in Michigan. The out-of-state hunters can shoot whatever they want. They're paying enough for licenses.

What I'd like to take this year is a mix of does, bucks and fawns again. We've already taken one female fawn during the archery season, and I'd like to take a couple more. I think the herd will benefit from leaving the mature does, and taking the fawns.

The whole idea is interesting, and I'll contribute to the extent I can. Like I said, my Uncle and cousins can shoot whatever they see, but I and those that live around here, are encouraged to take large bucks, or else bucks. So far we haven't had to make any choices. I've seen a couple big 8-points, but nobody has actually had a shot at a yearling.

Waidmann

[Laturkeyhtr]

Waidmann, first let me give you a cordial welcome and hope you find things here that will help you learn more about QDM.

We do discuss a lot about PA, but you should still be able to glean something that will help you out.

IF you have any specific questions, feel free to pose them. Everyone here at least has an opinion.

Congrats on your harvest and when you take a good buck, be sure to share a pix with us.

[GF.]

Originally Posted by Waidmann

What I'd like to take this year is a mix of does, bucks and fawns again. We've already taken one female fawn during the archery season, and I'd like to take a couple more. I think the herd will benefit from leaving the mature does, and taking the fawns.

Depends on the objective...

If you are limited by the number of tags you can fill and want to thin them out, shoot does and let winter kill the fawns for you. 1 less big doe now = likely 3 less deer in the spring.

If you want to increase the herd on the property, shoot fawns. Statistically (especially in the north), shooting a fawn now only costs you half a deer come spring.

Net is that you can argue that shooting mature does is 6X as effective in trimming the herd.

A button may grow up on your place, but there's little chance he'll grow old there, as long as his dam is around to run him off at 1.5 YO. Guys in surrounding areas will have better chances if you pass the buttons, of course, but on your property there's virtually zero net reduction in the herd if you shoot them.

And who knows - if you let those 8-points walk long enough to fill out a bit, they could end up looking like this