NW WIsconsin deer size
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NW WIsconsin deer size
Anyone have an any info on northwoods deer? Limited in size due to lack of agriculture?
- Tim H
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
What exactly are your questions?
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
I’m thinking about hunting up there this season. I’m used to agricultural land. Buddy is telling me forest deer will not get as big as farm deer. Also bears getting in the mix will keep deer away. Is there truth to this?
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
Also how is deer density up there?
- Tim H
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
The further north you go, the less density of deer you will find. The timber chunks are large and spread out. You will not see nearly as many deer in bigwoods if that is what you're hunting or thinking of hunting. But if you know where to scout and hunt you will see deer. I stress this to many hunters. In bigwoods there are far less deer. The ratios are very tight. So if you see a deer, it's a good chance it's a buck. And if it's a buck, there is a good chance it might be a shooter.
The size of antlers isn't the same as agriculture. They are usually smaller. The food isn't as nutritious in northwoods as say crops. However the deer do get rather heavy in weight than their southern counterparts. They need to store more fat since we get more snow than southern Wisconsin.
As far as bears. I wouldn't think they would affect your hunting. IMO. I would think the bear hunters who run dogs would give you more fits than the bears themselves. But by late October you won't have to worry about anything regarding bears.
The size of antlers isn't the same as agriculture. They are usually smaller. The food isn't as nutritious in northwoods as say crops. However the deer do get rather heavy in weight than their southern counterparts. They need to store more fat since we get more snow than southern Wisconsin.
As far as bears. I wouldn't think they would affect your hunting. IMO. I would think the bear hunters who run dogs would give you more fits than the bears themselves. But by late October you won't have to worry about anything regarding bears.
- <DK>
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
One Wisconsin buck could feed the whole state of Minnesota
- Tim H
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
Darkknight54 wrote:One Wisconsin buck could feed the whole state of Minnesota
Heck, I'm still feeding off the buck I shot two years ago!
- Jonny
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
Some of the bucks my family has shot looked like horses. I used to have a picture of one my dad shot next to a confirmed 180lb buck which is a good sized 3 y/o by me. My dads looked like a plow horse next to a pony. Unreal how big that thing was.
Bears won’t cause much problem besides bed where you think bucks will bed. I have a ton of bears by me and still see deer so I don’t worry about it. I see more bears in the swamps so it keeps people out of there.
Antlers are smaller than other areas of the state. But my goal is shooting a heavy buck. Racks don’t get me that excited like weight does. Both of my last bucks were 2.5 y/o and were just basket 6’s. 2.5 y/o down in the southern farms can really shine antler wise.
Bears won’t cause much problem besides bed where you think bucks will bed. I have a ton of bears by me and still see deer so I don’t worry about it. I see more bears in the swamps so it keeps people out of there.
Antlers are smaller than other areas of the state. But my goal is shooting a heavy buck. Racks don’t get me that excited like weight does. Both of my last bucks were 2.5 y/o and were just basket 6’s. 2.5 y/o down in the southern farms can really shine antler wise.
You have a monkey Mr. Munson?
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
The farther north you go, yes deer densities lessen. But if you find a good area with a good mix of terrain types, with lots of edges. That provides plenty of food, security cover and water. You'll find the deer more concentrated in these smaller areas. So there may actually be a larger population than what that whole management zone/county averages out to.
The farther north you go anywhere. All animals average a larger body size, which helps to provide and conserve body heat for the long cold winters. So, body wise, some real tanks can be found up north.
Never seen or heard of much conflict between bears and deer in the fall. It's more of a spring problem, when the fawns are newly born. As far as you, personally having problems with bears. It'll be a treat to actually see one. Most problems happen at camp if your not keeping it bear proof. At least early in the deer season. Once it's cold enough the bears will be in or near their dens.
As far as large antlers go. The problem with most of northern Wisconsin is too much mature timber. Which means alot less deer food. Less food contributes to smaller antlers in general, also smaller deer densities. But you don't need ag fields to provide plenty of nutritious foods. While the lumber industry was in it's heyday. Quite a few B&C qualifying bucks were killed from northern Wisconsin counties. So that potential is still there. One just needs to find the right honeyhole with all of the correct ingredients. Though they may not all measure up to their southern ag eating cousins. A truly mature northern buck will still sport a decent rack, usually with some good mass.
The farther north you go anywhere. All animals average a larger body size, which helps to provide and conserve body heat for the long cold winters. So, body wise, some real tanks can be found up north.
Never seen or heard of much conflict between bears and deer in the fall. It's more of a spring problem, when the fawns are newly born. As far as you, personally having problems with bears. It'll be a treat to actually see one. Most problems happen at camp if your not keeping it bear proof. At least early in the deer season. Once it's cold enough the bears will be in or near their dens.
As far as large antlers go. The problem with most of northern Wisconsin is too much mature timber. Which means alot less deer food. Less food contributes to smaller antlers in general, also smaller deer densities. But you don't need ag fields to provide plenty of nutritious foods. While the lumber industry was in it's heyday. Quite a few B&C qualifying bucks were killed from northern Wisconsin counties. So that potential is still there. One just needs to find the right honeyhole with all of the correct ingredients. Though they may not all measure up to their southern ag eating cousins. A truly mature northern buck will still sport a decent rack, usually with some good mass.
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
Forget bears - there are wuffs running around up there that have a lot more impact
Antlers are a bit smaller on average yes, a buck might be 4 or 5 years old but only 120-130", but they have big bodies. Careful, its addicting chasing around big woods deer....I can't get enough of it.
Antlers are a bit smaller on average yes, a buck might be 4 or 5 years old but only 120-130", but they have big bodies. Careful, its addicting chasing around big woods deer....I can't get enough of it.
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
JoeRE wrote:Forget bears - there are wuffs running around up there that have a lot more impact
Antlers are a bit smaller on average yes, a buck might be 4 or 5 years old but only 120-130", but they have big bodies. Careful, its addicting chasing around big woods deer....I can't get enough of it.
You can always move joe. I’ll go to Iowa and you can come to Wisconsin. Seems like a win win
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You have a monkey Mr. Munson?
- headgear
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
stash59 wrote:The farther north you go anywhere. All animals average a larger body size, which helps to provide and conserve body heat for the long cold winters. So, body wise, some real tanks can be found up north.
Yep this one, the deer are plenty big but the racks can be a year or so behind because they don't have as much nutrition as their agg cousins but they can and do catchup. A fully mature 5 year old buck will be just as large but sometimes the body and rack size can depend on the genetics and the time of year they were born. The bigwoods is a whole new experience and challenge, I've seen dozens of camps come and go over the years, many don't have the patience.
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
NorthwoodsWiscoHnter wrote:Darkknight54 wrote:One Wisconsin buck could feed the whole state of Minnesota
Heck, I'm still feeding off the buck I shot two years ago!
Its a line from that old deer hunting movie. I cant remember hpw the actual line goes but was hilarious.
- magicman54494
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
Darkknight54 wrote:One Wisconsin buck could feed the whole state of Minnesota
OK Magic, Take your fingers off the keyboard. I know you could have lots of fun with this one but a few people in Minn still like you.
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Re: NW WIsconsin deer size
Northwoods deer are just like deer anywhere else, with the exception of antlers. It takes them longer to grow bigger racks. I have buddies who hunt prime ag land in SW Wisconsin who talk about bucks around the P&Y minimum at 2.5 YO. Up north, a 3.5 YO is commonly around 90-100".
Antler size also can vary according to soil type. Heavier soils (clay) tend to grow larger deer with bigger racks. In sand country, some 1.5 YO bucks won't even make the WI legal minimum of a single 3" antler. My last two WI bucks were both 4.5 YO and grossed 116" (168 pounds field-dressed) and 130" (189 pounds field dressed).
Body size can vary a lot, just as it can anywhere else. It's up to the individual deer, the food it's eating that year, and how hard it's been rutting. I've shot a 3.5 YO buck that field dressed 138 pounds, but have tagged bucks up to 225 pounds weighed, as well as a 208 with its rump barely off the ground and its hind feet still touching (its body was too long to get it higher on the meat pole). A friend once shot a buck with a very short body that weighed 158 field-dressed, but scored 156".
So far as the herd, as mentioned earlier the farther north you go the fewer deer you'll find. The herds in many locations are still trying to recover from the winters of 2012-13 and 2013-14, and last winter didn't help in some places.
Antler size also can vary according to soil type. Heavier soils (clay) tend to grow larger deer with bigger racks. In sand country, some 1.5 YO bucks won't even make the WI legal minimum of a single 3" antler. My last two WI bucks were both 4.5 YO and grossed 116" (168 pounds field-dressed) and 130" (189 pounds field dressed).
Body size can vary a lot, just as it can anywhere else. It's up to the individual deer, the food it's eating that year, and how hard it's been rutting. I've shot a 3.5 YO buck that field dressed 138 pounds, but have tagged bucks up to 225 pounds weighed, as well as a 208 with its rump barely off the ground and its hind feet still touching (its body was too long to get it higher on the meat pole). A friend once shot a buck with a very short body that weighed 158 field-dressed, but scored 156".
So far as the herd, as mentioned earlier the farther north you go the fewer deer you'll find. The herds in many locations are still trying to recover from the winters of 2012-13 and 2013-14, and last winter didn't help in some places.
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