Deer overharvest

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Originally Posted by seedoc

Don't be a s spectator join the discussion

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I would but I feel as though she's going to be a little one-sided. Each farm I hunt and even back home where I rifle hunt the deer are thicker than thieves. Our group saw multiple deer every day during the moose hunt and multuple doe/fawn groups on the cams. We had a great spring for fawns and a great summer for food.

I understand your concern for over - harvest, but we're nowhere near that issue yet. As Frati said above, if you're worried, don't buy a tag this year. Lot of fall fishing still to be had.


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Originally Posted by seedoc

Are seasons too long? I don't want to limit tags for everyone just control the harvest so we sustain the population

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That depends. It's only long enough to fill your tag or not. My Dad's season this year was one day. He shot a doe on the archery opener. On the other hand, he's hunted the entire three month season without success and almost no sightings.

I would say there was a slight over harvest in some areas when additional tags weren't cut back in time but we're nowhere near 100% success here in Ontario. The length of the season isn't as important as the number of tags issued. Antlerless tags are issued depending on whether or not he population can sustain it and everyone gets a buck tag.

I'm not sure how long you've been hunting but I can see why you might think this way if you started 10 or 15 years ago when the population was booming. We're a little lower than normal here in 73 and 74 but I would say deer populations are closer to normal right now in most places than we have been in a long time.

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Glad to hear that members are seeing abundance of deer. I only report what I hear from others that claim the population is down. My area has deer but not as many as previous years. Thanks for the response and good luck next week everyone

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Originally Posted by seedoc

Glad to hear that members are seeing abundance of deer. I only report what I hear from others that claim the population is down. My area has deer but not as many as previous years. Thanks for the response and good luck next week everyone

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To be clear, "normal" around here is not "seeing an abundance" of deer. I'm lucky to see one deer in every 8 or 10 sits. Sometimes more often and sometimes less.

I realize that's not normal for Southern Ontario where sightings are more frequent, nor would it be normal for the North where sightings would be lower.

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Numbers are good. At least in my area.

We definitely here fewer shots opening morning of the rifle hunt than ever before. But interestingly though our harvest has never been better.

Not seeing deer doesn't mean they aren't there....I hunt with 5 guys during the rifle week. I see lots of deer in the same bush areas where some of the guys don't see any for the entire week.

If you go by what they said/saw you'd take away from the discussion there was NO deer in the area. Some hunters just don't have luck or aren't very good.

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Originally Posted by Hunter1983

We definitely here fewer shots opening morning of the rifle hunt than ever before. But interestingly though our harvest has never been better.

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That's a fact, the hunt camp numbers here aren't 1/2 what they used to be. A couple around here have closed down. Not near as many guys hunt anymore, lots to do with not being able to afford the time or cost. Nary a shot fired anymore at the crack of dawn.

...I assume that's what you meant ..LOL

No shortage in 92B in fact the farmers are steaming mad that the deer are destroying the crops Big time. We definitely need more than one seal in my area. I have not even hunted in Ontario yet because I am saving my seal for the controlled hunt next week...

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Originally Posted by MikePal

That's a fact, the hunt camp numbers here aren't 1/2 what they used to be. A couple around here have closed down. Not near as many guys hunt anymore, lots to do with not being able to afford the time or cost. Nary a shot fired anymore at the crack of dawn.

...I assume that's what you meant ..LOL

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Last year driving around the public land I saw 2 trucks with guys in orange and 3 trucks in total, at least it is a lot safer hunting public land around here now.