Based on another thread that Potoo started about getting skunked and the comments there I want to ask the poll question and the question below:

I hunt in the;

A) West
B) South
B2) Southwest
C) East
D) Midwest
E) Canada

It will be interesting to see if the tally adds up to be what the DNR is telling us. I'll fill you in on that later.

I hunted in Wisconsin (Midwest) and I saw maybe 75% fewer deer this year that in past season.

I hunted in the South and saw just about as many deer as I have seen in the past. They were not going to the feeders early in the season as there was a lot of acorns and forbs during then but they were along the trails and in the fields.

I saw a lot of deer last year. This year, in the U.P. of Michigan....I saw 2.

Midwest hunting this year was very good. Lots of mature bucks and small ones. Didn't see as many older does this year but, lots of 2 yr. olds with fawns. Most of which had button bucks.

I had the best year I have ever had bowhunting this year. A total of 4 bowkills in two states. Southwest Arkansas and Northeast Texas. I had many more small bucks and at least 8 more legal deer that I passed on in bow range. I am excited about the prospects for next year. There was an above average harvest on the leases by the gun hunters so I think the outlook in my area is good.

I am in Canada, I saw less deer in the last season by far compared to any of the last 5 years.

We had a brutally late spring, serious snow fall, and heavy crusted snow in the winter. I found more winter kill deer last spring than in the previous 2 or 3 springs combined.

Lots of single does or with single fawns, was hard on the fawn crop last year. However this year is looking super easy for them. So they should bounce back.

Kirby

I hunted in the Midwest and saw more deer once the cold weather moved in.

Well Zan, I don't think we hurt them to bad.


By null, shot with CUDDEBACK at 2010-02-05

By null, shot with CUDDEBACK at 2010-02-05

By null, shot with CUDDEBACK at 2010-02-05

By null, shot with CUDDEBACK at 2010-02-05

By null, shot with CUDDEBACK at 2010-02-05

By null, shot with CUDDEBACK at 2010-02-05

By null, shot with CUDDEBACK at 2010-02-05

Yes Zan they look pretty good. I'll be looking to putting one in the deep fryer this spring. Man the weather here is nasty, 20in. of snow and cold with another 8in on the way. Come ooooon Spring.

...but at least you have snow tires on the Harley, right?!

Timm, these are some of the ones we heard in the fall. Now if they just stay around for spring. Looks like we're going to get hammered with another foot of snow today. This is going to be tough on the deer this year. I'm hoping we get an early thaw.

My babies nice and warm and, ready for some nice weather.

Zan, I'll take the snow and cold over the heat and wind any day thank you. I would like to get a winter break, maybe I get a flight out to Florida next week and do some fishing in the Golf. Got to be a little warmer there.

So anyway, how about the deer sightings by others...............

Well Rick, I'm taking your name out of the hat for next year.

At least he was in the hat at some point. Thanks a lot Tom.

Konk, I saw wwaayy less deer this season. Maybe 1/3 of the deer I normally see. In central Texas that seemed to be a common theme in the area. It was a really down year numbers wise. The quality of the bucks were pretty good there just seemed to be less deer.

I hunt the midwest and saw fewer deer this year, and has been on a steady decline the past 5 years.

I hunt in the East. I seen a lot more deer than I ever have.
I don't know if I got better spots this year or if it is the scentblocker suit I decided to try for the first time. But I saw more deer this year then in the last 3 seasons combined.

Let me ask another question.....For those of you seeing less deer what do you think is the root of the problem.

I will give 2 reasons for the huge decline in my deer sightings;

1) Over use of Earn A Buck by our state DNR and thus killing waaay too many does.
2) Predation....wolves, bears and coyotes. Until someone grows a pair in Washington and stands up to the anti's wolf packs will continue to spread through out the state and the Upper Midwest. The bear population has sky rocketed but the bear killvest permits have not kept up to the increase of bears.

Bowhunter4201 wrote:


I seen alot more deer in the 09' season than in the previous season. in one day in december me and bowhunter4201 seen over 45 deer in one day drivin to and from hunting area.

Very simple here...less time in the field

Konk,

The reaasoning behind the decline in numbers where I hunt are these:

1) Drought- although it started raining frequently right around the start of bow season and rain has been plentiful since, early 2009 was completely dry. Our ranch was pretty much bone dry and even though we aren't far removed from the San Saba river, I believe the lack of vegetation and water drove some animals away. The only hog we saw all season was opening weekend of bow season. The lack of water drove them away. Unfortunatly a lot of deer left two.

2) Lack of food- combined with the low vegetation because of the drought, or mistake of letting the protein feeders go empty for about a month in the heat of summer caused a condition where their was just not enough food to support our herd.

No food + no water = fewer deer!

We anticipated that they would slowly come back throughout the season when the rain started and the vegetation grew and we fed through feeders but it didn't happen. At least we did not see a significant difference.

Our lease is always lacking in vegetation because of the dry, rocky terrain but this past year was as bad as I had ever seen it.

East coast (VT & MA ) saw a lot more this year , last year was very warm and kind of slow , this year wasn't very cold either but early Oct - early Nov was amazing , mid Nov was very slow and then late Dec heated up again . Awesome season still fired up !

I hear the Michigan DNR has now finally confirmed (or admitted) to wolves in the S.P. of Michigan but the guys up there are not happy with the deer getting killed off from what I hear.
Outdoor Life or F&S did a genetic test on coyotes and in the North East the genetics are mixed with gray wolf.

They have known for many years that there are wolves in the U.P. When Northern-Lights and I did our BHT hunt in the Ottawa National Forest in the U.P. we were on the border of 2 wolf pack territories. We didn't see any wolves on that trip but the coyotes were everywhere. One night we could here them with in a stones throw of camp. I heard that Minnesota is petitioning the Feds to delist the wolves again, HSUS is threatening to sue if they do.

Hunt the Midwest in Central Ohio area.

5 bowkills... saw all kinds of deer. Especially along the urban areas where fewer hunters = safety for deer.

Must have seen close to 100 deer all season.

They did seem smaller this year though. Saw lots and lots of young deer with 2 fawns, with mom just barely bigger than her fawns in the fall. Lots of small button bucks.

I hunt in the west, north west really, and I've seen more deer but they seem to more does than bucks

DB

I hunt in Southern Ohio and saw more deer las year then the past 8 years. Infact, me and my hunting buddy saw 23 Mature Bucks (8 point or better) in a 2 week period!!! We thought this was incerediable!!
We even shot "Doubles" one morning!!!
I would show you the pic's of them if I could find the "Brouse" button to get it off my computer pic's

Wayne (The "BuckSlayer")
You can see these Big "Double" Deer and our Ohio/Maine deer Pic's at: www.buckslayers.com

I see the same amount in my area.