Season Changes?

[Tigerhaze]

I have noticed a change in deer density at my place as well. I saw a lot fewer deer this year than in previous years, and I put a lot more time in this year. One thing I have noticed on my place is that the ratio of does to bucks has changed for the better. I used to see almost exclusively does (with the exception of a few button bucks). Of course there was a bruiser or two cruising around, but they were rarely seen.

This year I have seen fewer deer overall, but a lot more bucks. It may just be coincidence or good timing, but I wonder if the ratio has been put in balance at least on my place.

[PoisonSnake]

Snowflake: I can appreciate the fact that you are an insurance agent, but why is it that Farm Bureau brought a film crew with them, asked the first questions at the MO deer meeting in Columbia, and then left? I think the concensus is that the MDC is bowing, to some degree, to these special interest groups. I'm not saying it is insurance agencies in general, but, doesn't the Farm Bureau cater to, let's say, farmers? State Farm might be a whole nother can of worms. I assume all they would deal with are deer/auto collisions and the deductibles thereof. I'm just looking for a balance here. Farmers/hunters, farmers/hunters? I think the farmers will win out on this one. PS

[Tigerhaze]

hobiecat said:
All things considered, I think we are there. I still think the MDC needs to push the "meat hunting for does" issue to keep hunters from slippin back into the "shoot anything with horns" mentality.

I wonder if MDC has predicted this coming for the past year, hence the "antler restrictions" that were tested this year.

[Great White Hunter]

I can't speak for Farm Bureau but they can't singlehandedly change the MDC's deer season. What are they going to pull their funding from the MDC? Come on Smitty you're smarter than that (at least I think you are).

[Rafe Hollister]

Some of you may be familiar with Larry Dablemont. He has an article in some newspapers around the state, and has written several books. For a little over a year now, he's been publishing a magazine. In one of the 2 most recent editions he discusses a meeting he had with John Hoskins regarding this topic. It made for interesting reading. It's Dablemont's opinion that unlimited doe harvest is pushed almost entirely by the insurance companies, but has been jumped on by MDC for some financial gain of their own. Follow the money.

[Rafe Hollister]

BTW, here's the numbers for the last 15 seasons or so according to the MDC website. Some of the data is missing, such as the years 1991, '92, '94, and some of the antlerless seasons, muzzleloader seasons, etc. This is the best data I could come up with. Keep in mind, this does not include the archery harvest.
1990- 161,141
1993- 155,822
1995- 186,697
1996- 180,395
1997- 194,260
1998- 202,764
1999- 175,925*
2000- 215,821
2001- 235,474
2002- 237,449
2003- 254,367
2004- 234,875*

*-no data on antlerless season harvest

[PoisonSnake]

Well, my sources come from within the MDC, not from that dumbass Snowflake. MoCraig, you have to be joking. You know SF doesn't know his donkey from poopoo. Heck, he tried to pawn a 130" sammich as a 150" monarch onto us.

[Triton X2]

Yeah, that was what I was hinting at....Are the changes due to betterment of the herd or some other motive? Maybe both? Oh by the way, when I went to eat breakfast this morning, I saw 8 deer---all does...Of course, I live in SW Missouri and it is different down here than in Northern Missouri.
Rafe, I did see that article and others have been published in the Springfield newspaper as well in about the same way..
PS, I hate to say this cause it pains me so, you may be right in that it may be time to have limits again..

[Great White Hunter]

PS - You wouldn't know a 130" from a 160" which you showed us this year.

I'm active in the state independent agents association and you know how many times deer/auto collisions come up? Zero...the insurance industry is more concerned with making sure they have all their i's dotted and t's crossed with regard to the Mo. Dept of Insurance.

[counts]

Snowflake sounds right.

[counts]

On both points.

[PoisonSnake]

That is beside the point.

I don't know anything other than what I am told. That is why I was saying that companies such as State Farm may be a whole different can of worms. But, I was in wonderment when that lady from FB took the mic and gave her spill at the meeting. EK knew exactly who she was (of course, with a camera present it wasn't difficult to figure who would get the first question) and went directly to her. SF, you know dang good and well they are bowing to someone. Who it is is the million dollar question. I don't really care who it is as long as they don't allow the idiot gun hunters to slaughter the darn deer herd in this state. And, yes, when that deer took off running after I had shot him, I became one of the biggest idiot gun hunters you have ever seen. So much so that I have pledged to lay the gun down in this great state. But, I am applying for a ML tag in Iowa this year.

[Great White Hunter]

Why do you keep bringing up State Farm? I'm an independent agent you goof.

[Rafe Hollister]

Because State Farm was the co. at the meeting that brought the camera you goof.

[hobiecat]

That was Farm Bureau you goof.