W
wjs
Guest
Hi to all!
I have been asked to come up with options for next year if this year's regulations do not produced the desired results. The goal is to reduce deer numbers by 25% from a year ago. We are probably ok in the northern 1/2 of the state but may need more does killed in the southern and northeastern part of the state. Here is a list of options that have been discussed along with some pros and cons.
I would like to solicit your input about these options and any others you might have.
Thanks you for your time.
wjs
Potential options to increase the deer kill.
1. Lower price of antlerless licenses.
Adv: We would probably sell more antlerless licenses if the first license cost less.
Disadv: Potential loss of revenue. Doesn't target counties where more deer need to be taken.
2. Change bag limit to 1 either sex deer and one antlerless deer.
Adv: Giving all hunters 2 licenses when the purchase an either sex tag allows all hunters to kill a doe and still hunt for a buck.
Disadv: Loss of revenue. Doesn't target counties where more deer need to be taken.
3. Require hunters to shoot an antlerless deer before they can shoot an antlered deer.
Adv: Should increase the number of does killed.
Disadv: Extremely unpopular with hunters. Difficult/impossible to actually enforce. If only done in some counties it may push hunters away from these counties.
4. Make opening day of first shotgun season antlerless only.
Adv: Should increase number of does killed.
Disadv: Unpopular with hunters. Enforcement problems but not as bad as for #3. If only done in some counties it may push hunters away from these counties.
5. Require hunters to kill a doe in previous year to be eligible for an either sex license in current year.
Adv: Forces hunters to kill a doe if they want to hunt antlered deer. Would encourage hunters to register their kill.
Disadv: Unpopular with hunters. Have to keep track of what hunters kill from year to year.
6. Open deer season on Sept 1 and let it run until Jan 31. Hunters can get 1 either sex tag and as many anlerless licenses as they want.
Adv: Might kill more deer but if not then it is because the hunters/landowners restricted the kill not the DNR.
Disadv: Hunters would probably kill fewer deer as they have a longer period and less incentive to kill their deer during any one season.
7. Offer additional county specific either sex tags (for late muzzleloader or bow season) to hunters who purchase an antlerless license for a county where the quota doesn’t fill. Could be used to encourage hunters go to those counties that don’t sell out their antlerless licenses.
Adv: Should get some hunters to come back out hunting. Could require hunters to kill the doe first before they can use the either sex license.
Disadv: Puts extra pressure on the buck segment which will lower the quality of the deer herd. If you use the earn a buck option have same problems with enforcement.
8. Give hunters a reward for killing an antlerless deer. For example, if you kill an antlerless deer this year, then next year your deer license costs $5 less.
Adv: Encourages hunters to kill does.
Disadv: Loss of revenue. Record keeping.
9. Have a lottery for either sex licenses.
Adv: Would limit the number of bucks killed.
Disadv: Might reduce deer kill if hunters don’t participate.
I have been asked to come up with options for next year if this year's regulations do not produced the desired results. The goal is to reduce deer numbers by 25% from a year ago. We are probably ok in the northern 1/2 of the state but may need more does killed in the southern and northeastern part of the state. Here is a list of options that have been discussed along with some pros and cons.
I would like to solicit your input about these options and any others you might have.
Thanks you for your time.
wjs
Potential options to increase the deer kill.
1. Lower price of antlerless licenses.
Adv: We would probably sell more antlerless licenses if the first license cost less.
Disadv: Potential loss of revenue. Doesn't target counties where more deer need to be taken.
2. Change bag limit to 1 either sex deer and one antlerless deer.
Adv: Giving all hunters 2 licenses when the purchase an either sex tag allows all hunters to kill a doe and still hunt for a buck.
Disadv: Loss of revenue. Doesn't target counties where more deer need to be taken.
3. Require hunters to shoot an antlerless deer before they can shoot an antlered deer.
Adv: Should increase the number of does killed.
Disadv: Extremely unpopular with hunters. Difficult/impossible to actually enforce. If only done in some counties it may push hunters away from these counties.
4. Make opening day of first shotgun season antlerless only.
Adv: Should increase number of does killed.
Disadv: Unpopular with hunters. Enforcement problems but not as bad as for #3. If only done in some counties it may push hunters away from these counties.
5. Require hunters to kill a doe in previous year to be eligible for an either sex license in current year.
Adv: Forces hunters to kill a doe if they want to hunt antlered deer. Would encourage hunters to register their kill.
Disadv: Unpopular with hunters. Have to keep track of what hunters kill from year to year.
6. Open deer season on Sept 1 and let it run until Jan 31. Hunters can get 1 either sex tag and as many anlerless licenses as they want.
Adv: Might kill more deer but if not then it is because the hunters/landowners restricted the kill not the DNR.
Disadv: Hunters would probably kill fewer deer as they have a longer period and less incentive to kill their deer during any one season.
7. Offer additional county specific either sex tags (for late muzzleloader or bow season) to hunters who purchase an antlerless license for a county where the quota doesn’t fill. Could be used to encourage hunters go to those counties that don’t sell out their antlerless licenses.
Adv: Should get some hunters to come back out hunting. Could require hunters to kill the doe first before they can use the either sex license.
Disadv: Puts extra pressure on the buck segment which will lower the quality of the deer herd. If you use the earn a buck option have same problems with enforcement.
8. Give hunters a reward for killing an antlerless deer. For example, if you kill an antlerless deer this year, then next year your deer license costs $5 less.
Adv: Encourages hunters to kill does.
Disadv: Loss of revenue. Record keeping.
9. Have a lottery for either sex licenses.
Adv: Would limit the number of bucks killed.
Disadv: Might reduce deer kill if hunters don’t participate.