Changes ahead

[GoetsTalon]

I hunted for 15 years before i got my first deer and i didn't get bored. If a kid goes and gets skunked and dosn't like it they shouldn't be out there in the first place. Also whats his crap about a kid getting a chance to shoot a big buck during a certain time of the year. Very first deer i killed was a yearling doe and i was so excited about that deer i never even thought about wishing it was a buck. Its this nobody loses society thats F'd up deer hunting more than the DNR.

 

[jagermeister]

I hunted for 15 years before i got my first deer and i didn't get bored. If a kid goes and gets skunked and dosn't like it they shouldn't be out there in the first place. Also whats his crap about a kid getting a chance to shoot a big buck during a certain time of the year. Very first deer i killed was a yearling doe and i was so excited about that deer i never even thought about wishing it was a buck. Its this nobody loses society thats F'd up deer hunting more than the DNR.

I couldn't agree more.

I hunted 4 or 5 years before I got my first deer. Then another 4 or 5 after that to get my second one. It was the chase that had me hooked, not the kill itself. Dad taught me about everything else in the woods to be grateful for. Actually getting a deer was just the bonus.

 

[Bigslam51]

How come nobody cares about the week added to archery? Lol

 

[Bigslam51]

I couldn't agree more.

I hunted 4 or 5 years before I got my first deer. Then another 4 or 5 after that to get my second one. It was the chase that had me hooked, not the kill itself. Dad taught me about everything else in the woods to be grateful for. Actually getting a deer was just the bonus.

Were there a decent amount of deer sightings on those hunts that you didn't kill a deer, and why such a long span between harvests? How old were you?

 

[jagermeister]

Were there a decent amount of deer sightings on those hunts that you didn't kill a deer, and why such a long span between harvests? How old were you?

No, often times I did not see a single deer. I grew up hunting segmented farm country in NW Ohio. These droughts occurred from the time I started deer hunting at age 12 until I was in my second year or so of college. Obviously I was green and had a lot to learn, but the lack of deer didn't discourage me.

 

[Milo]

So ohio has seen some polar extremes as it relates to the deer herd. But the real issues comes down to which was better hunting or at least more enjoyable? I remember growing up not seeing many deer and now seeing tons more as it relates to back then. I will take the mid 90's all day long over the early 80's. We have no excuse to not be maximize the opportunity and utilization of what open space we have left. What I also expect is that we have deer herd management team that has their head out of their rear ends. These proposal show that #2 isn't happening.

 

[Gern186]

A kid will not go beat the water all day to not catch fish, they have to catch something to stay at it. Same with hunting. It's up to the parent to take it from there, but the game has to be there for the kid to see.

I have 3 kids and I take them with me when the deer are moving, some times we sit in the middle of summer and watch them. Just because youth season is at a bad time, doesn't limit anything. It's up to you to get them in the woods when the deer are around, not ODNR. These kids are NOT limited to just 2 days a year. Shame on anyone that only takes a kid hunting on that weekend...

Good point and I agree with that, I take my kids bowhunting all through October every chance we get. The youth season allows for getting extended range shots with a gun, I would much rather see a youth hunter get a chance at a nice buck than an adult that has been hunting for 20 years, that's just me. Jim, maybe when you have kids and get them out hunting you will understand where Im coming from. Just because they moved youth gun season doesn't mean we will give up, I will figure something out Im sure. I know there are a hell of a lot of parents out there that don't have the time or energy to invest in taking their kids bowhunting all season long like I do. That's why I think its complete bullshit to take away the 2 day youth gun hunting season during the absolute best time of the year to see deer, and push it back to the October lull. Some parents don't have bows or crossbows either, but most have a gun.

Whether the kid kills a deer or not...that don't matter, but damn, don't take away their best chance at killing one.

 

[hickslawns]

I can argue either side of this one. Jagermeister- You know I love deer hunting. You know I would love to get my son more involved in deer hunting. I take him out shed hunting, hanging cameras, checking cameras. . . . at the end of the day he is still 10. He plays sports. We have other children involved in activities. My wife and I work busy schedules. We are a busy family. At 10yrs old, I am NOT going to "force" him to go with me. He has to want it. That said, I can appreciate the warmer weather for the kids. Just too darn bad it is in the midst of fall sports seasons. Just too darn bad it is a time when the foliage is thick. Too darn bad we struggle to see deer on our hunts as hunting with a youth limits hunting options. Blinds or buddy stands are about it. I don't have as many of these set ups as I do single sets. Why? My budget doesn't allow it and my son has had a difficult time getting interested given the fact we did not see a deer on any of his sits this year.

Other side of the coin? When we are out together, I want him to have every chance possible in the event we actually see a deer. He spent a lot of time shooting with me. You know how difficult killing a bow range deer can be. Add a squirmy 10yr old to your set up while you are trying to coach him/her. Leaves off. More deer moving. Gun in their hands would all assist an adult trying to get a youth on their first deer. I am not sure if my son will want to try it again next year or not.

 

[Milo]

Good point and I agree with that, I take my kids bowhunting all through October every chance we get. The youth season allows for getting extended range shots with a gun, I would much rather see a youth hunter get a chance at a nice buck than an adult that has been hunting for 20 years, that's just me. Jim, maybe when you have kids and get them out hunting you will understand where Im coming from. Just because they moved youth gun season doesn't mean we will give up, I will figure something out Im sure. I know there are a hell of a lot of parents out there that don't have the time or energy to invest in taking their kids bowhunting all season long like I do. That's why I think its complete bullshit to take away the 2 day youth gun hunting season during the absolute best time of the year to see deer, and push it back to the October lull. Some parents don't have bows or crossbows either, but most have a gun.

Whether the kid kills a deer or not...that don't matter, but damn, don't take away their best chance at killing one.

Not that I ever agreed with the current location of the youth season but I feel they are going back on their principles of why they did it anyway. I bet if we look up old press releases on why the decided to set this time aside you will see it was to get kids into hunting. I agree it is a darn good time for them to shoot a good buck. At least have principles on your side when you make a decision...I can live with that bit to move it shows me it's more about getting more opening day guns into the season. Maybe Tonk doesn't want them shooting his deer? They need more OBBC entries I guess

 

[Gern186]

I can argue either side of this one. Jagermeister- You know I love deer hunting. You know I would love to get my son more involved in deer hunting. I take him out shed hunting, hanging cameras, checking cameras. . . . at the end of the day he is still 10. He plays sports. We have other children involved in activities. My wife and I work busy schedules. We are a busy family. At 10yrs old, I am NOT going to "force" him to go with me. He has to want it. That said, I can appreciate the warmer weather for the kids. Just too darn bad it is in the midst of fall sports seasons. Just too darn bad it is a time when the foliage is thick. Too darn bad we struggle to see deer on our hunts as hunting with a youth limits hunting options. Blinds or buddy stands are about it. I don't have as many of these set ups as I do single sets. Why? My budget doesn't allow it and my son has had a difficult time getting interested given the fact we did not see a deer on any of his sits this year.

Other side of the coin? When we are out together, I want him to have every chance possible in the event we actually see a deer. He spent a lot of time shooting with me. You know how difficult killing a bow range deer can be. Add a squirmy 10yr old to your set up while you are trying to coach him/her. Leaves off. More deer moving. Gun in their hands would all assist an adult trying to get a youth on their first deer. I am not sure if my son will want to try it again next year or not.

Very good points Phil. Trying to get all the stars to line up with a youth is very hard...just getting the right shot angle out of a deer blind is hard, and getting them in range of a blind is even harder.

 

[bowhunter1023]

I'm still a few years away from taking my daughter out for youth season and if this date were to hold, we would still hunt that same way we will start: with a crossbow. I'm patiently waiting for the days when I can hunt for her and stop putting pressure on myself to kill big bucks. When she is ready to start hitting the woods, we will hit it hard until she kills one and then I'll hunt. I'm tired of hunting for myself and look forward to something new. So the youth dates only piss me off because of the timing in relation to quality bow hunting. Hopefully with 2-3 weeks before prime time, they will mellow back out...

 

[GoetsTalon]

Thats how i'm going to do it this year^^^. I'm not even going to buy a tag for myself until she gets one or gets tired of going.

 

[Blackbeard]

I think what these fellas are trying to tell you is that Tonk created and extra opening day for himself. Odnr loves to piund the chest at the opening day results and this is now a fourth opening day he will have as opposed to three. That will help negate the "weather issues" he keeps pouty lipping about for the past 3 years but in reality it's about how any deer are really out there. He is trying to re energize his pumpkin ball slaughtering base he needs to keep deer in check. The early doe rage wouldn't even be able to be used is this extra gun season so their entry into this discussion is muted in my opinion.

^ what he said. I thought youth season was fine in late-Nov where it was at, but I hunt several chunks of private including my own so it really made no difference. There weren't enough gunshots during those two days to mess up anything for me. Deer movement was normal. Moving it to early October doesn't make any sense. Its all about opening days not tags, opening days kill deer.

 

[hickslawns]

How come nobody cares about the week added to archery? Lol

I'd imagine opinions would vary but I am thinking the point has been made. More deer killed on opening day of ANY gun season will do more harm than a week of archery. How many are still hunting late season archery? Sure, there are people on TOO and probably some other die hards out there. I don't think this is the norm. Shorten it a week. Shorten it two weeks. I don't care. I will hunt until I tag my two for the freezer. I will be selective on which properties I harvest them. Hopefully I will be done before the first gun season and won't care. Oh wait, first gun season is mid October now. Haha. Maybe I will be done by second gun season.

 

[giles]

Early ML aways sucked to try and get in the woods anyways. Why? Mostly because of sports! How many have kids in football or soccer? What days are the games, practice, tournaments?

I also agree that kids don't need to kill a deer on every outing. That was not my point. Seeing deer is a huge bonus, hunting or not.

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

I think the outdoor interest is something you are born with to a large degree. I know the outdoors has always been in my blood..... but I'm the only one that really has or had the outdoor additiction.

I'm in the same boat too. None of my siblings, nephews or even step son through out the years became interested. I had a terrible past season of looking for deer, but I still plug at it.

 

[Quantum673]

Potential Changes in License and Tags????

The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio should increase the cost of its fishing and hunting permits to boost yearly revenue, the state auditor recommended.
Auditor Dave Yost made those and other recommendations Thursday after a performance audit of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Columbus Dispatch reported (http://bit.ly/1zcvFNK ).
He proposed increasing the fishing license cost from $19 to $23 for Ohio residents. For nonresidents, he recommended increasing the license cost from $40 to $48.
Yost also suggested that increasing the cost of a nonresident deer hunting permit from $24 to $38 would raise more than $250,000 per year.
The audit showed that Ohio charges less for permits than surrounding states. The proposed fee changes for fishing and hunting permits could increase annual revenue by more than $1.7 million.
Yost's other proposals for the state agency include increasing the rates for overnight stays at Ohio campsites and converting some seasonal positions to part-time year-round ones to avoid unemployment costs in the offseason.
The suggested changes could generate more than $8.3 million annually and nearly $4 million in one-time savings, the audit showed.
ODNR Director James Zehringer said the agency is reviewing the recommendations.
- See more at: http://www.whio.com/news/ap/ohio/oh...m/nj9zT/?ref=cbTopWidget#sthash.pvg0sQAb.dpuf

 

[Bigcountry40]

So ohio has seen some polar extremes as it relates to the deer herd. But the real issues comes down to which was better hunting or at least more enjoyable? I remember growing up not seeing many deer and now seeing tons more as it relates to back then. I will take the mid 90's all day long over the early 80's. We have no excuse to not be maximize the opportunity and utilization of what open space we have left. What I also expect is that we have deer herd management team that has their head out of their rear ends. These proposal show that #2 isn't happening.

I was born in 84', the ohio deer herd in the 70's and 80's was bad right? People were lucky to see a deer if they hunted. Deer in the NW Ohio were almost like ghosts until the 90's correct?

 

[bowhunter1023]

You knew when people got pissed about low deer numbers and stopped hunting, they would reach in our pockets to recover lost revenue. What REALLY pisses me off is they want residents to pick up the biggest portion of the tab, even though they are basing this on an audit that looked at rates from surrounding states. Meanwhile NRs only get a $8 bump to our $14 bump. Buncha bullshit.

 

[MK111]

I was born in 1944 so I'm 40 yrs. older than you. I seen it and lived through it.
For the majority of Ohio up until the late 1960's was almost void of deer. Oh sure there was pockets of deer I would say in the NE close to PA, in the NW close to MI, and in the SW Ohio.
But the rest of Ohio the deer was damn far apart if any at all.
If someone was born in the 1960-1980 by the time they were old enough to even know what a deer was there was a decent population statewide. Then into the 1990-2000 the population was at the highest statewide.
I serious have my doubts if the state Ohio DOW, insurance companies, of the Farm Bureau will permit the deer population to get as high as the 1990-2000 numbers.
If you haven't lived through the lean years of damn few deer or Zero deer numbers in the area you lived in I just can't explain it any clearer.

I was born in 84', the ohio deer herd in the 70's and 80's was bad right? People were lucky to see a deer if they hunted. Deer in the NW Ohio were almost like ghosts until the 90's correct?