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I was curious how many of you guys become game managers every fall, and what it’s like where you go. Here in Wisconsin, we have so many deer they pay farmers for damage, and issue 3 tags with every license, plus allow us to buy as many other doe tags as we like, depending on what area of the state we hunt in. There are so many deer in certain areas, you can’t really drive safely over 40 mph at night.
Our season opens next weekend. Last year Wis. broke the national record for deer killed, something like 600,000. And that doesn’t include the 100,000 or so hit by cars.
I usually see between 50 and 125 deer a day opening weekend, can usually pick between 1-5 bucks, and every other year one of our guys gets a big one, if not a real trophy. But for many years they were small, if we were lucky to get a buck at all.
How about y’all?
Replies
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Seeing that many in one day, I suppose it's still called hunting?
*Scot , you know where I stand on this, and yes I did forget all about getting together with you and Gabe to hunt.Time just always gets in the way.I'm going out tomorrow morning to bow hunt.Don't think I'll see 50 to 100 deer though,if I'm lucky maybe 3 or 4 and maybe a buck.Vince
*Well Phil,I guess you don't hunt.I'll still talk to you for a bit though, until some outdoorsmen show up. Yes, I call it hunting. Not everyone sees that many. I work hard at it. I try to stay out when others go in, whether to warm up, eat or watch football. I walk a lot. I go into nasty tangles where most animals wouldn't want to go, and very few people.Also, I'm enjoying sightseeing. Chickadees landing on my hat or gunbarrel, not afraid of anything. Turkeys walking under me, swans flying overhead. Cranes, ducks, eagles, hawks. All kinds of small mammals. Last year I saw my first wolf. Many coyotes, fox, an occasional badger, skunks, coons, possums. Fall colors, my breath warming my face and fogging my glasses, steaming in the early morning. Anticipating what may come my way. Waiting, sometimes hearing steps that I never see what makes them, sometimes seeing things I never heard coming...Getting my thoughts together, thinking about family, work, going through all kinds of self improvement.And I get to eat well for a whole year. Right now I'm having some excellent deer sausage. Smoked, with garlic flavor.Yes, it's still hunting.
*Hey Vince,I haven't forgotten that discussion at all. I knew it had gotten away this year, because I got way overbooked with building. I have had no time to plan anything. But I think it may be possible next year of maybe the following, depends a lot on what happens to the place I go to. My friend's parents own what's left of their original family farm, but are getting on in years and selling the house we stay in, as well as some of the land. We used to have hundreds of acres to hunt there, now it's shrinking pretty fast.It's pretty though. And we'll have this last year in the old house. Good to see you Vince
*...Here in Cape Breton they shot at my house, me, and a lot of trees and we consider hunters as assholes. Go to the store ,for goodness sakes, we have a system. ..Hunters, Bite me......Yes, I eat meat......Duck......I thought I moved in the WOODS to get away from youse guys, oh well, I think I will go over to Sprout Off, They never screw you over......n...
*Mad Dog: so you hunt? Are you into the bow season? Around here,north of LaX, they tag the deer and give them away, altho I heard one say they look fewer this year. Some gripe about the extended season, not leaving as many deer as previously. I'm not into it, I don't have a taste for venison, altho I've had some mighty tasty sausage of venison/pork. But I'm always open to an invitation, after all, you're not that far from us.
*newf ya need to walk faster when i was living in the north west we considered you slow moving deer... :)I love the heck outta hunting, havent done it in a while i miss it
*RJT,I do bow hunt, and have a license, but I have not been able to find any time this season. I have really good spots. In fact, every day I'm working on a house that overlooks some of them, and I think about it all the time, but I can't justify being out there instead of working, especially with all the great weather we've had lately. Just cranking.My brother lives in Galesville. Is that near you?
*Scot you're always welcome here,not as many deer but still the same type of hunt. Mostly forest,small mountains,some fields.Next year for sure. let me know how you do this year.Vince
*Mad Dog: I live in Galesville, in the house recently painted deep yellow just north of the Catholic church. When you visit your brother make sure you come see us, what does he do? Work at Northern Engraving? Work for Willy Komperud?
*Vince,It's like most things that you try to plan for and work always seems to get in the way.We're not that far apart but Scott's a fair piece and he has the best numbers.I say we go there next year for a week or two, even if we gotta help him close up some house to get him out to play.What do you say, pick a week and let's commit.Gabe
*Cape Breton is the world capital of poaching. You must live a lonely life out there my friend. Hunting and fishing is not considered a pastime in CB it's practiced like it was a cure for cancer.Gabe
*Gabe,week of Nov.12- 20,2002 if we start now we might make it.We just have to make sure his season falls in that time period.Oh, and don't wear that turban on the plane or the'll never let us bring the guns on board.Vince
*Mad Dog,Deer are pests down here in La. also. Real scary driving at dusk and dawn when the suckers appear on the road as if by magic. Bow season started Oct. 1 but I haven't made a hunt yet cuz it is still warm. Black powder opens soon and might get a chance to shoot the .50.We have a program where you can donate all or part to feed poor people.I love taking friends kids and showing them how to be sportsmen (no shootin' at houses or Newfs).KK
*Gabe, I consider hunters as I do, Do-it-your-selfers, if you want to spend $100,000 on a job that is worth $30,000, FILL YOUR BOOTS, ......I love the outdoors too,......Just don't shoot me on my property......Thanks......Newf...
*MD, just stirring it up a bit.I respect meat hunters, not trophy hunting for the sake of the trophy. Don't respect poachers, and I think that we could kill two birds( forgive the reference) if we allowed hunters to hunt poachers....evrybody wins!
*-Deer season should be year around here in central Illinois , with no permits or license required. Those critters just wrecked three trees I planted this year . They are running in packs of three to ten or more ,and the state claims they are out of hunting permits.
*Don,I thought you had a head of cheese-or did you just recently move to the flatlands?RJT,I'm not sure what my bro is doing up there, I haven't visited in a few years. Will definitely find you if I make a trip to see him.
*Vince,This is the start of the plan. Date is fine by me.Not to worry about the guns, we'll hide them in the coffin that we're bring with us to collect the body of our deer twin uncles.Gabe
*Hi Maddog, I built myself a 50 cal. muzzel loader a few years back. I look forward every fall to chasing bambi around. I find it more sporting you have to hunt a little smarter . A hundred yard shot is a long one with a ball and patch. I prefer to see the "whites of thier eyes".Head shots only. Pat
*What do you think MD?Think we can put it together next season?It's going to be the first annual Woodshed hunt.Gabe
*I went deer hunting with a box and arrow for the first time this year. I just shot this nice 6 pointer this morning.
*Way to go Stan. But I don't understand how you did it. Did you use a heavy box to whack the deer from above and then drive the arrow into it or did you use the box to whack the arrow into the deer?:)Gabe
*Gabe: Ha Its too late for me to edit that. I was confused what you were trying to say, until I reread my post.
*Newf does that mean you are fair game off your property?
*Stan,We'll just chalk it up to post buck fever spelling syndrome.Gabe
*Mad DogSounds like were at the stage in deer numbers you were a few years ago. The deer have just started to rebound from their low cycle (deer here go in about 10 year cycles) our cougar and wolf numbers are now declining and the deer are coming back. We saw 11 does last sunday and are heading out to the same area in the morning to hopefully find some bucks following the does as they are probably not thinking with their brains now that the rut has started.I will miss the cougar on the table though, probably the best game meat we have up here. Well better get to bed want to get up early.
*Nice one Stan,I went out sat. too only saw does, seven all together.I was eating a sandwich with my back against a tree when three fawns came walking up and laid down 20 yards from me,I only saw them because I had looked over my sholder as they were walking down through some small trees. they never saw me until I finily got up and chased them away.Vince
*...Rob......I seem to be fair game on my property!......It's safer on Sundays; just jackers......ducking the bullets......Newf...
*Gabe, Vince,Realistically-I'm not too sure. There are factors here, some not in my control: First, it's not my land. I have brought people there before, but usually it was someone who the other guys knew. I'd have to run it by my friend. Second, we don't know what the situation will be like next year at all. For the last 20 years, we always knew exactly what to expect for accomodations-we stayed in the farmhouse, set up our camp in the basement, went out Friday night and ate fish, shot the shit with the locals, hunt early Saturday and all day, eat chicken dinner, then go out and brag or hear other guys brag. Sometimes those nights got pretty late, making for a tough Sunday wakeup...But now, living on the farm is too tough on the folks. Bob's a WWII fighter pilot vet, and he's slowed down a lot in the last couple years. They are selling the house and some of the land. The farm was split up about 5 years ago when his son's back went out. From about say a thousand acres, we're looking at about 100 to hunt. We usually all hunt the same twenty and if anyone comes besides our core group of 3-5 guys, they hunt on a separate 80 acres which is pretty wild country. I love that land. But it's more trophy oriented, wilder, a few less deer there but some monsters. Only thing I don't like about it is some neighbors who think they can hunt it since Bob's too old and nice to kick them out. They usually sneak in on opening morning, hunt til lunch and then disappear.I do have other places to hunt. If my Dad still has his farm, that would be a pretty fun thing to do. He has some pretty wild country too. Bigger hills, (Mississippi R. Bluffs) less hunting pressure. And my friend's group there has more than a thousand acres to hunt, along with Dad's 160. And around home I have lots of good spots, but it's shotgun only. I like rifle hunting better, by far. I have some land way up north too. I have grouse hunted there but not deer hunted. It is wilderness. Hunting would be a lot tougher, but more like the old days. About a million acres of state, county and national forest to hunt.If I don't hunt with the usual group, I would be breaking tradition. That's not a good thing. I've been going with them for 22 years now, straight. What I've done in the past is hunt with them the first day or two, then go to Dad's or hunt around home. In Wisconsin, it doesn't matter if you use your tags up, you can still hunt with other guys who have open tags. They call it the party system...So, if we were to proceed with the idea, I'd have to first see what happens with the sale of the farmhouse this fall, and what may happen next year anyway. Then, I'd check with my friend and see if he'd be okay with you coming in. If not, I'd have a tough decision to make-but if Dad's still got the farm, maybe we'd just go hunt out there. Let's keep the idea for now, and I'll try to get a feel for how possible it would be in the next couple months.MD
*Nice Stan. I gotta get me a box of arrows!
*Fair enough MD, we'll keep it an idea and see how things work out.What's the lenght of the various seasons in your area of Wisconsin?Gabe
*Scot, that sounds fair enough with me.hunting should be fun not a pain in the ass.I'm sure Gabe and I don't want to make a whole set of problems for you.The gun season starts here Nov. 19 and runs into dec.11 this year. Bow this year is oct.15 to nov.18.This morning I'm getting dressed at 7:00 am I look out the window and there's a buck trotting across the field head down sniffing like a dog he headed into the scrub brush and kept going.I should have been out.Vince
*Mad DogWhat part of WI do you hunt? Used to live in the Nicolet until I got the yen to move to the "big city". God's Country.........
*Hey, Vince, The buck knows it's sunday.
*r... you got that right.Vince
*MD: I use to live down around the Platteville area near Potosi right by the Miss. River, beautiful area. I got my first deer there. I killed it with my rabbit. Hit it at 55 mph with my VW Rabbit. All along the river in that part of the state is a great wildnerness area. The Amish are buying up farmland there.
*Pests (deer) are all over, almost bagged one with car on way to church last week. Used to be able to shoot off my deck, to many houses now, won't even let us bow hunt in the neighborhood. Did have to drag 1 doe and 1 buck out of back yard back onto street this summer -- game dept. (WA state) wouldn't let me skin and bury. Later called King Co. animal control, the guy there said "do anything you want with it, just don't call us again for carcass pickup". Now the trick will be to get to'em before the goodies and liver get eaten by the coyotes. Left one in the yard last winter and it was all eaten within 3 days, even the bones were eaten.
*Up here in Michigans Upper Peninsula the deer season starts Nov. 15 and runs untill Nov. 14 th. the following year. This is the land of the perpetual poachers.Two Michigan Deer hunters Dan & Bob head out for the woods. Dan starts to wheeze, grabs his chest and falls down. Bob stares in disbelief and says "Dam! the old shit had a heart attack." He reaches into his pocket, retreaves a cell phone and dials 911. The operator answers, he says"My hunting buddy had a heart attack what do I do?" The operator says, "Please remain calm, first we must be sure he is really dead." There is silence, then a shot is heard. Bob says "OK he's dead, now what."
*My Dad told me he saw a deer when he was a young boy, but didn't think anyone would believe it since they were so rare. So he went home and got a shovel to dig up one of the deer's tracks just to prove it. Now they're thick as rabbits. About 2 deer a day get hit by cars in the county I live in. If you have a field up against trees, you might as well write off the first 8 rows, as the deer will pick it clean. (So will coons, but that's another thread) Seeing a deer used to be a big deal when I was a kid, but now I see them all the time. I wish they'd extend the season and knock off a few thousand more. But - I don't care much for hunters either. We've had things stolen, lights shot out, Livestock chased around, electric fences driven through, and all kinds of problems with trespassing.Dad let one guy set up a tree stand in a grove of pine trees we planted. The guy didn't like the view he had, so he just cut a couple of them down that were in his sight line. When Dad went out to confront him, he was sitting in his tree stand drinking beer with his 10 year old Son sitting on the ground below him. Guess I can't have it both ways, but I don't want the deer i orthe hunters.
*Upstate NY they're starting to give tags out like candy. I have 2 doe tags, and a buck tag. Also farmers in area are given nuisance tags that they can give hunters at their discretion (doe only). Gun season starts in 1 week! I plan on having venison tenderloin for Thanksgiving.Newf, sorry to hear your troubles...I'd be willing to hunt the poachers if they'd let me!Never had any trouble w/ yahoos. Everyone I meet in woods is courtious and sober. Thereare all kinds out there I suppose, as in anything.I wouldn't miss the season if you paid me.
*Our family has 700 acres in St. Charles county Mo. In the 40's and 50's deer were rare. Now we and friends get 12-15 deer a year just on our farm during the season, and that's just the ones we know about. There's a deer trail near a grown over ditch at the edge of our property which leads to the creek, and in the last few years it's about the size of the Great Buffalo Trace.
*Stray,I couldn't agree more. I have seen very few hunters drinking or drunk while hunting in the 30 years I've been going. In fact, I can remember only 2 instances of this. I've seen bad hunters, who aren't thoughtful of others, and there are idiots who disrespect landowners but in general it's a well-behaved crowd here.MD
*I hunt near Reedsburg/Dells mostly. Also down near Potosi and east of Madison. My land is in Vilas County but I mainly grouse hunt there.What happened? You get lonely up there? Only thing worse than moving to Milwaukee would be moving to Chicago, but that's a LOT worse!
*RJT-My dad's farm is on 133 between Potosi and Cassville. He's got it for sale. 160 beautiful acres. Secretly hope he doesn't sell it, but I guess he thinks he needs to.MD
*I was driving through Utah late one night and a small heard of the biggest deer Ive ever seen ran accross the road. I almost hit them but misses. Im telling you one of these days Im gonna get me some Utah tags and kill me a utah bambi. they were huge.
*Mad Dog,"160 beautiful acres. Secretly hope he doesn't sell it"Maybe secrecy isn't the best option...Does he KNOW you'd like him to hold onto it? Maybe maintaining the property has just become a bother to him. Maybe an offer to help with the taxes will soften his mind on the subject?Me, I'm waiting patiently for the day to have my 100 acres of dream land...will be a while I'm afraid.
*Stray,Nope, it's worse than that. He put too much money into an addition on the old farmhouse. Then, he bought a really expensive motor home, a new 25' fishing boat, and retired. He's in Florida.Luckily, the house has now priced the farm out of the local market, nobody there can afford it! It's useless for farming unless you wanted horses for a hobby or sheep or something. MD
*Mad Dog, I'm not a hunter myself but I don't object to those who do. I understand the need to hunt. Like most I object to the Asshole hunters who ruin it for everyone, (but then I secretly believe that they tend to be in the number that they announce every year about those who were shot hunting) I think that it would be more of a sport if the deer stood a chance of getting off A RETURN SHOT, but then I digress) Beside hunters must really help the economy, judging by my neighbors who hunt. I mean they have $50,000 worth of equipment to do it with. between the 4 wheel drive suburban, the tandem axle enclosed trailer, the 4 wheelers and camping gear, guns, licences etc. $50,000 might not cover it all! Go ahead go hunting, around here the women call it liberation weekend! That's the weekend they get to kick up their heals without the ol' man around... Hunting widows I think they're called......
*MD: Quite a coincidence! That is beautiful land. Cassville is the place where they have a stone village I think. I use to have a wooden crate from the old Potosi brewery. How much is he asking for the farm?
*MD No cheese been a flatlander all my life. How close is your land to Eagle River ? My wife's aunt lives there . Armin where in the U. P .do you live? any were close to Big powderhorn ?
*About 25 miles or so.
*I think it's around $325k
*MD: the place I owned was just outside of Potosi on Dutch Hollow road.
*I just shot this 4 pointer with my musket.
*There'll be more steaks in the Foster freezer tonite.Way to go.Gabe
*nice one stan
*Stan, What was he doing hiding in the back of your truck? He's a real nice 4 pointer.Vince
*Vince: Actually, I found him in the back of my truck and quickly through a headlock on him. I just made up the story about shooting him cause nobody would believe the real story.
*Any way you can get them is fine with me.I'm on my way out the door right now to try to get one with a bow, see ya later.Vince
*Don, I live near Munising about 3 hours or so from large powderhorn, I take it you ski. Ever get up this way stop in and say Hi!
*When I lived in Detroit I used every excuse I could find to go hunting, now that I live in the sticks I almost never want to go. I guess for me the big deal was being out in the woods. I like to shoot and do so as often as I can. My dad is 85 and has been an avid hunter all his life, sometimes I think it is his life. Since 1952 he has never come home without a buck, I forget when it was but he had a lucky run on 8 pointers, 12 in a row.The picture below is way back when, dang I'm older now than my dad was back then. Time just smokes on by, good times, dad and I always got along great.
*Armin,it's those kind of old photos and stories I like the best. Is that you and your Dad?We had a great hunt this year. Didn't see nearly as many deer as normal because the weather was too warm (upper 60's on Saturday and Sunday) but it got cold this morning, and we saw 4 bucks, 3 does, my friend got a real nice 8 pointer. I shot a 6 and a doe on saturday. Passed on 3 bucks before I decided to take him.Will have pictures in a few days...MD
*Wow. I know that road. Very pretty area. Why'd you leave?
*Yes, Mad Dog thats my dad and I, must have been in my early twenties at the time, seems like only yesterday.
*I'll share the story of today - returned home from exhaust system repair about 9:45 this morning - walking toward the house when a shot rings out - because of buildings it's hard to tell which direction it comes from, but then I hear a vehicle accelerating on the county line, about 400 ft west of home - walk out in the yard and watch it drive away to the north - don't think too much about it - rural area, illegal, but sometimes people shoot out of vehicles - figured if they had hit anything they wouldn't have driven off - go in the house, coffee break time - then I hear this engine idling - look out window to the west, and there is this pick-up, gate down, man walking around, - man jumps back into the truck, they take off, turn the corner and drive by my house - I jump in my truck and drive past where the interest is, and there is this antlered deer, laying in the grass about 30 feet off the road - I drive back to the house and call the DNR - dispacher says get a licence # - Conservation Officer is 15 miles away - a few minutes later the truck is back - man gets out, and then jumps back in - truck drives off - twice more this happens, they drive around the mile, stop, and then traffic scares them off - 4th time, the CO is a mile away, headed north, the pick-up drives in from the north, and again stops, and then drives off - CO meets them just over the hill - escorts them back to the scene, elicits a confession of sorts (they deny shooting out of the truck, which probably saves their vehicle), confisticates their shotgun, and sends them on their way with a date for court - made the CO's day and mine - miscreants like that sully all hunters - I don't hunt except for varmit extermination, but have a good man and his sons hunt the property - got 2 deer in the freezer (does, not gamey old bucks) - just get tired of the shining and poaching that goes on - these young men were total idiots; if they had just got out and loaded it up when they shot it, they would have gotten away with it - CO showed me the rack - 10 point, but small points w/ a couple broken - just not worth it - well, just had to share, not talking about it around here, going to make the hoodlums speculate on how they got caught; wouldn't take a genius to figure it out, but they have demonstrated no capacity of thought - hope you responsible hunters are having a good season -
*David: I am glad to hear you helped catch those idiots. I love deer hunting but cant stand people that have to take shortcuts to achieve their goal. It takes a real idiot to roadhunt. Those people give gun owners a bad name.
*Geez, I always heard the crook returns to the scene of the crime, but I never heard he returns and returns and returns and returns!"If we act real conspicuous, maybe no one will suspect."Rich Beckman
*David,good for you! If more people took an interest in clamping down on idiots like this, we'd all be better off. I bring my cell phone (turned off) when I hunt for just such purpose. I've never seen anything suspicious (per my earlier post) but you never know when something like this will pop up. Keep up the good work.Got one doe so far. Still have a tag for a buck and a doe...might scoot out of work and hunt the afternoon. Annoyed the wife when she woke up and realized the food dehydrator was humming all night. Made the whole house smell like jerky. The dog must have been salivating all night long!my 1yr old son got his first taste of venison steak last night. Gobbled every last piece up like it was mothers milk! That's my boy!!!
*To quote Dr. Lee Foote, a Biologist at the University of Alberta and hunter, after preparing a meal of venison from a doe he killed;"This animal, like its ancestors and progeny, was produced locally. The meat herein was produced as a result of free genetic exchange (no artificial insemination). The animal was not castrated, or forced onto a synchronized breeding schedule. She lived to maturity (4 1/2 years) and reproduced at least once, but most likely had 3 sets of twins. The meat contains no antibiotics, synthetic steroids, artificial growth hormones or insecticide residues. Its production required no landclearing, fencing, fertilizing or feedlots. Her life did not contribute to the destruction of associated flora and fauna. No manure was collected or spread on erosion-prone pastures to produce (or as a result of) its growth. This animal was not confined, transported or kept in crowded conditions at any point in its life. The lean, unmarbled meat was not wrapped in plastic and Styrofoam packaging. No nitrates or sulfites were applied to prevent discoloration. No fossil fuels were used for specialized refrigerator transport of cold-storage ageing. Associated inedible parts were not reconstituted into cattle meal or dog food. Inedible parts were fed to indigenous fauna (most likely coyotes, magpies and ravens). Her bones provided calcium to the aspen grove where she was feeding. Substantial calories were matabolized by the hunter over several days to secure this meat. She died quickly, and honourably. Before, as well as after, her death she was treated with reverence and respect. Allowing my participation in a natural cycle was this animal's gift to me. The energy that flowed from sun to plant to deer now also flows through me. This meal does offer reflection, natural continuity, appreciation, health, hope, and tangible renewal of life. Let us prey."I got a small muley buck and nice, 11 pt Saskatchewan whitetail buck. And I'm thankful.
*Excellent information Jefe,I've used some of that in discussion with some anti-hunters, but there were a lot of points that I hadn't thought of.It really is great meat.MD
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I was curious how many of you guys become game managers every fall, and what it's like where you go. Here in Wisconsin, we have so many deer they pay farmers for damage, and issue 3 tags with every license, plus allow us to buy as many other doe tags as we like, depending on what area of the state we hunt in. There are so many deer in certain areas, you can't really drive safely over 40 mph at night.
Our season opens next weekend. Last year Wis. broke the national record for deer killed, something like 600,000. And that doesn't include the 100,000 or so hit by cars.
I usually see between 50 and 125 deer a day opening weekend, can usually pick between 1-5 bucks, and every other year one of our guys gets a big one, if not a real trophy. But for many years they were small, if we were lucky to get a buck at all.
How about y'all?