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Probably some truth in that but a few thoughts: - 25% is an awful big “compromise”. And that’s Iowa, in IL there are lots of counties that are down 30-40% And make no mistake, those folks still want more killed plus you have more coyotes than ever before plus you have crossguns, more nr’s...

And I know I beat this horse to death but it’s just so fascinating and at same time frustrating to me that pretty much all the statistical scientific data (in the Midwest) shows that the best deer hunting from a quality and quantity standpoint was during that stretch in the mid 2000s when there...

Wonder if they produce this data per county? That would be very interesting.

So down 25% from the “golden years”. That’s pretty significant. Have always felt that for the quality to be off the charts good there has to almost be more 4,5,6 year old bucks than hunters can kill. In IL it feels like a very high % of the nice 4 plus year olds get killed every year. Need that...

203 I’ve always said that if a person (me one day) gets to where he can’t pull a bow back then by all means make it legal for those folks….I’d never want to prevent someone from partaking in the sport all together. IL used to have an age limit or proof from a doctor of a medical reason. I think...

Go in to cabelas today to educate myself on them as I’m going to be buying one for a friend of mine for an elk hunt he’s going on this fall (he’s mostly a duck hunter, has never bow hunted and doesn’t want to try and get proficient by September). Guy shows me the latest Ravins and says this one...

I typically find around 20-30 sheds per spring on my farm so I guess that’s around 80-100 over the last 4 years and it seems like very rarely if ever do I find both sides laying together. It’s probably happened but I don’t remember it. side note, I seem to have a really high number of bucks on...

Dec 15 to March 20….that’s crazy. Dont think I’ve ever heard of something like that before. Dec 15 is awfully early, do you know if the buck had an injury?

Pretty much all the pros and cons being touched on so far. Like Skip, I hate hunting out of box blinds while bowhunting. Maybe I’ve just not gotten used to them but I love being in my stand 30-45 minutes before light and being able to hear everything in the woods especially in the rut and when...

Sorry, not trying to do that nor trying to rile you up. Have always appreciated your posts probably as much or more than any on this board and that’s saying something bc there’s a heck of a group of guys on here. Didn’t think you’d take my post the direction you did, again sorry. I must have it...

Curious too Daver, would you say in your area that there are more, less, or about the same number of deer than there was around 15 years ago in that area (I’m assuming you’ve been there that long, if not disregard the question).? Along the same lines, would you say the quantity of really good...

It is but at the same time my concern is that if 90% of the state(s) is down significantly I feel like we’re not sending the message that needs to be sent. “Highly situational” sounds way too much like it’s a 50/50 issue and it’s not even close. 90% is a huge number. And at least in IL even...

Great point Skip, totally agree. I’d add to your very last sentence/equation…..educated deer managers + general public - coyote explosion - overall - too many does being killed I know you’ve been raging against them on here and I’m with ya. Don’t think most hunters are factoring in just how...

So you changed my 180-200 category to 170-180. Splitting hairs, no big deal. If you go back and read the first page or two of skips post here he seems to agree that deer that caliber are still awfully rare. Unicorns probably apply to that 200 number obviously more so than 180. Guy I know in IL...

You’re probably technically right IBH but at the same time when by just about every metric that the states use to track deer numbers at a county and state level show a significant reduction in numbers then what do you do if youre In charge of that state? Or if you’re a hunter in that...

Point 2 is spot on imo. Don Higgins talked about this some on his farm too. Super important to try and harvest the inferior 3 and 4 yr olds on any given farm. Perfect way to bring kids in to hunt, friends/family that have never killed a 130” deer before, etc…. side note on “bully bucks”….I feel...

See my post above….I am using IL as the basis for my opinion but it certainly applies to IA and the rest of the Midwest. As Skip and I agreed, it’s possible that you are in a rare area that have adequate doe numbers. I certainly can’t speak to your specific example or the area you hunt but I...

I’d be curious though Skip in the 10% areas what the herd quality is….Other than in the very very rare area where there’s more deer than the habitat can sustain (and I’d question whether that even exists in IA) I believe that those areas with the most deer also have the most upper end bucks (All...

You guys are touching on a sensitive topic for me with the shoot more does comments haha. Sorry, I been on a multi year rant about it. Just not convinced that in 90% of the Midwest right now that there needs to be incentives or encouragement to shoot does. I also know that’s not a popular...

Thanks guys, thanks Daver!