Kraftd wrote:dan wrote:Kraftd wrote:We also can't assume that our opinions as hunters are the only ones that matter to deer herd management.
Farmers generally want deer numbers down in many areas, insurance companies generally want deer numbers down, in some areas high deer numbers impact other habitat restoration goals due to browsing so biologists want deer numbers down, lower deer numbers can mitigate starvation ad bad winter issues, we still don't understand nearly enough about CWD to know some things for sure so that needs some thought. I'm not saying at all that I'm ok with low deer numbers and the unlimited seasons, just pointing these things out.
Point is, make your voices heard, as suggested, but look at the bigger picture too. Just about everything is political and unfortunately most of the groups I listed above have more political clout than hunters. That's one reason, to me anyways, why it is important for us to stay unified. Us being ethical fair chase hunters and also public land users. Our politics, weapons of choice, methods, etc. may differ, but we're a tiny group nationally, and if we fracture, or let our sport go the way of the european pay to play model, we're doomed.
I agree about the in-fighting, its funny to see gun hunters turn on bow hunters and think its ok to take away a part of our heritage, but they sure wouldn't be willing to loose 1/2 there gun season to a bow hunt for does only.
No matter where you stand on deer numbers, you have got to see that a doe season that kills 50% bucks and eliminates opportunity for bow hunters is just plain wrong. If they gave more doe tags out hunters could regulate the herd themselves. And if they actually managed the deer herd instead of the deer numbers we could grow some of the biggest bucks in the country and become the go to place driving up revenue for every one involved including the farmers. Just look at Buffalo county.
Completely agree on the late doe seasons. Make no real sense from a deer herd management perspective if hunting is the primary goal. This is what leads me to believe that politically, our voice in deer management may never be the one most listened to, even if the loudest. This goes for both sides of the aisle.
I have doe tags left I can chase with a bow in the far southern part of the state, but just can't convince myself I feel good about doing it.
As far as "both sides the isle" go... Walker is the one who demanded the WDNR start listening to hunters, end the CWD slaughter, and give us a voice on the CDAC committee. Its people within the WDNR that are finding ways to get around that like hand choosing who will be on the CDAC committees. I agree Walker ain't perfect, but its a heck of a lot better than Doyle. He can't change what he don't know is a problem. He needs to hear from us, not the wdnr THAT IS TRYING TO HIDE OUR THOUGHTS FROM HIM.