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IW 2026 Poll Results

booneriverbucks said:
Got any good coon recipes? Not for me… but some guy I know has them scattered in the ditches from my house to my office.
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We’ve been experimenting a lot with this. Rotisserie is our current favorite since we ate the last of 500 jars of pickled coon.
I prefer a mesquite flavoring or even a light hint of hickory. Tell u what- smoked one on the clippings from our apple orchard pruning….. apple smoked coon…. to die for!!




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Make November a bird hunting only month. Very unpopular idea I’m sure but it would solve more than one issue. Think of all the mature deer that would make it through the stupid phase. Any reasons against are all going to be the me, me, me argument as some say. There’d be no excuses for having anything but a shotgun and birdshot in the vehicle. It would eliminate any questions/excuses if someone is seen shooting a rifle.

There’s a reason the majority of poaching is done at that time. The big guys are moving more than any other time of year. On top of the fact that they aren’t going to run if a hot doe is laying nearby they are getting pushed by harvest.
 
Sligh1 said:
We’ve been experimenting a lot with this. Rotisserie is our current favorite since we ate the last of 500 jars of pickled coon.
I prefer a mesquite flavoring or even a light hint of hickory. Tell u what- smoked one on the clippings from our apple orchard pruning….. apple smoked coon…. to die for!!
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I’ve skinned so many of those nasty darn things I couldn’t get by the smell. I have ate BBQ coon and honestly not terrible. I assume you eat all the nest raiding possums you kill too!!! The green stuff that oozes out of a possum surely tastes like guacamole!?!?
 
Sligh1 said:
We’ve been experimenting a lot with this. Rotisserie is our current favorite since we ate the last of 500 jars of pickled coon.
I prefer a mesquite flavoring or even a light hint of hickory. Tell u what- smoked one on the clippings from our apple orchard pruning….. apple smoked coon…. to die for!!
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Wow! My kids are gonna think these are pics are of the cats that have been disappearing around my place.
 
newfarmer said:
You have to remember- common sense isn’t common…when youth tags went to floating, A LOT of people around here let their kids use guns the entire time…..
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Are you implying that youth are using guns during bow season?
As far back as I can remember they were always floating. What changed somewhere along the line, is that that the adult accompanying them could also carry a weapon. I know that when my daughter started sitting with me around 05-06, I purchased her an actual statewide for SG or ML whichever I decided to hunt. According to the CO, I could not actively participate in the hunt if I had gotten her a youth tag. She was questioned by the same CO a few yrs ago about having statewides since she was 8. She reminded them of the “no participation” comment which refreshed their memory and got “that makes sense”.
 
seven twenty said:
Make November a bird hunting only month. Very unpopular idea I’m sure but it would solve more than one issue. Think of all the mature deer that would make it through the stupid phase. Any reasons against are all going to be the me, me, me argument as some say. There’d be no excuses for having anything but a shotgun and birdshot in the vehicle. It would eliminate any questions/excuses if someone is seen shooting a rifle.

There’s a reason the majority of poaching is done at that time. The big guys are moving more than any other time of year. On top of the fact that they aren’t going to run if a hot doe is laying nearby they are getting pushed by harvest.
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Does your area or region get a good bit of poaching or u feel not bad?
I’ll paint a simple picture…. You put a 180” heated robo buck out anywhere in 6 counties around me…. That buck is gonna need have a new hide put on by December as it would get blown to bits. You put a heated coyote in those fields…. Maybe u get lucky once a month.
Where are all these coyote hunters? Like “large scale going at it?” I absolutely know of some hardcore guys but it’s a tiny amount of people vs the landscape or vs even poaching. Why most the ground in any area gets zero coyotes killed- imo, over 50% getting zero shot. Sure- the dog groups maybe push in certain regions. Absolutely - thermals & calling is done. Same with trapping. But it’s minimal. If I didn’t trap myself - I’d have no one come trap. Non stop coyote sanctuaries down here. Most.
On the flip side…. Neighborhoods with no poaching?!?! Good gosh- I haven’t found one!!! For the guys who are truly in tune with what’s going on- poaching is all over. It just is. Killing coyotes or staying on coons- vast majority of areas- not even close to under control IMO.
If we are hypothetically talking about 30 or 45 days out of 365- I’m stumped, I truly am.

I honestly believe the only other alternative I’ve heard (usually I don’t hear one) …. Is to double law enforcement or crank the penalties & fines up so high that it truly drives down violations. & I’m open to that. If guys say “nope- has to be open all 12 months. And I’d like IR & spotlights added too!” … ok, let’s get real frigin serious on fines, felony level charges, gun crime violation type crime classification, loss of hunting, loss of all equipment, etc etc.
 
So.. back to the coons…. Do they top my deer meat tacos I make the kids eat every time it’s my night to cook?? I can buy more pepper. Will they notice?? Will leave the stray cats out of this for now
 
seven twenty said:
Are you implying that youth are using guns during bow season?
As far back as I can remember they were always floating. What changed somewhere along the line, is that that the adult accompanying them could also carry a weapon. I know that when my daughter started sitting with me around 05-06, I purchased her an actual statewide for SG or ML whichever I decided to hunt. According to the CO, I could not actively participate in the hunt if I had gotten her a youth tag. She was questioned by the same CO a few yrs ago about having statewides since she was 8. She reminded them of the “no participation” comment which refreshed their memory and got “that makes sense”.
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Yes, at first, I know several that were still using guns for youth during archery.. They were all addressed to my knowledge, but people just assumed the tag floated, and they could use a gun during "youth" so the "youth tag" floated... again, common sense- not common anymore
 
booneriverbucks said:
ARE YOU SERIOUSLY talking about the YOUTH SEASON!!! Haha! It’s for the FUTURE! Our CHILDREN! Haha. They NEED three weeks to kill a deer!!.. I don’t know if I’m up to debating that today. Haha.
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Yeah, after it turned to archery- they were still using guns... I know of several (all that I know anyway) got talked to by the DNR and they dont do it anymore- but it happened right at first... I dont want to argue youth right now either haha
 
Skip said

"Like when your family crossed the border illegally to come here- you did it during the dry season to get across the river easily."

Poor Curtis......I think we might pick on him a little too much. He has been VERY testy lately. The riots in MN might be hitting a little to close to home.
 
Slick said:
Skip said

"Like when your family crossed the border illegally to come here- you did it during the dry season to get across the river easily."

Poor Curtis......I think we might pick on him a little too much. He has been VERY testy lately. The riots in MN might be hitting a little to close to home.
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Curtis is a good dude.. he already knows he can come up and grab whatever cover crop/food plot seed he ever wants from my stash.. but does he really have a good coon recipe tho?? I still think the above pics are photoshopped or possibly artificially inseminated or whatever AI means these days
 
Sligh1 said:
Does your area or region get a good bit of poaching or u feel not bad?
I’ll paint a simple picture…. You put a 180” heated robo buck out anywhere in 6 counties around me…. That buck is gonna need have a new hide put on by December as it would get blown to bits. You put a heated coyote in those fields…. Maybe u get lucky once a month.
Where are all these coyote hunters? Like “large scale going at it?” I absolutely know of some hardcore guys but it’s a tiny amount of people vs the landscape or vs even poaching. Why most the ground in any area gets zero coyotes killed- imo, over 50% getting zero shot. Sure- the dog groups maybe push in certain regions. Absolutely - thermals & calling is done. Same with trapping. But it’s minimal. If I didn’t trap myself - I’d have no one come trap. Non stop coyote sanctuaries down here. Most.
On the flip side…. Neighborhoods with no poaching?!?! Good gosh- I haven’t found one!!! For the guys who are truly in tune with what’s going on- poaching is all over. It just is. Killing coyotes or staying on coons- vast majority of areas- not even close to under control IMO.
If we are hypothetically talking about 30 or 45 days out of 365- I’m stumped, I truly am.

I honestly believe the only other alternative I’ve heard (usually I don’t hear one) …. Is to double law enforcement or crank the penalties & fines up so high that it truly drives down violations. & I’m open to that. If guys say “nope- has to be open all 12 months. And I’d like IR & spotlights added too!” … ok, let’s get real frigin serious on fines, felony level charges, gun crime violation type crime classification, loss of hunting, loss of all equipment, etc etc.
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Had a meeting tonight and brought up some questions afterwards. 8 opinions to compare. Well over 2k acres represented (3 LO’s) The general consensus was that poaching was not a major issue and what little there may be wasn’t affecting the herd. Disease was the primary factor then all of the extra antlerless tags. Combine the 2 and here we are. None of us could even name the last deer poaching incident that we knew of.
I don’t know about other counties but we have 2 deputies running all night. Anyone looking out of place at a minimum gets their plates run. Seems to me that if poaching and nefarious conduct was as bad as you’re saying, deputies would have some idea of who they are seeing out and about. Restricting the thermals would definitely affect more guys doing it the right way than the wrong.
Majority felt that Drones are what needs addressed. Too many using them for scouting. One guy claimed that a large drone flew a path around his place (after dark/thermal) and the next day, it was odd, but people were wanting to hunt.

I don’t think anyone here or anywhere else would be against cranking the fines up as you said. Make them absolutely fear getting caught. What I don’t understand is why some of these poaching cases aren’t felonies. If they are stealing a public resource, and the value is over $1500, that should put it over the felony theft threshold. Wasn’t it just 4-5 years ago that a bill was introduced to lower fines?

The last big deer that was poached around here cost the person over 40k in fines and restitution “supposedly”. Pretty sure the fines alone were pushing 20k but I could be off. It’s been awhile and it was 2nd hand back then.
 
Sligh1 said:
Does your area or region get a good bit of poaching or u feel not bad?
I’ll paint a simple picture…. You put a 180” heated robo buck out anywhere in 6 counties around me…. That buck is gonna need have a new hide put on by December as it would get blown to bits. You put a heated coyote in those fields…. Maybe u get lucky once a month.
Where are all these coyote hunters? Like “large scale going at it?” I absolutely know of some hardcore guys but it’s a tiny amount of people vs the landscape or vs even poaching. Why most the ground in any area gets zero coyotes killed- imo, over 50% getting zero shot. Sure- the dog groups maybe push in certain regions. Absolutely - thermals & calling is done. Same with trapping. But it’s minimal. If I didn’t trap myself - I’d have no one come trap. Non stop coyote sanctuaries down here. Most.
On the flip side…. Neighborhoods with no poaching?!?! Good gosh- I haven’t found one!!! For the guys who are truly in tune with what’s going on- poaching is all over. It just is. Killing coyotes or staying on coons- vast majority of areas- not even close to under control IMO.
If we are hypothetically talking about 30 or 45 days out of 365- I’m stumped, I truly am.

I honestly believe the only other alternative I’ve heard (usually I don’t hear one) …. Is to double law enforcement or crank the penalties & fines up so high that it truly drives down violations. & I’m open to that. If guys say “nope- has to be open all 12 months. And I’d like IR & spotlights added too!” … ok, let’s get real frigin serious on fines, felony level charges, gun crime violation type crime classification, loss of hunting, loss of all equipment, etc etc.
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Those coyote hunters aren’t in your area because it’s all deer hunters that don’t want coyote hunters ruining their ruts by calling on their property, even though deer will stand there and look at the callers.

Why aren’t there trappers? Because they aren’t allowed to trap when the fur is prime because it will mess up the deer hunting. Or if they are allowed to trap it’s limited to areas where it’s not worth their time.

We have tons of trappers and coyote callers around here. Those coyote hunters are out more than deer hunters in November. They could care less about deer but they also have unlimited access to ground.

People saying raccoons aren’t worth anything and they are shooting hundreds a night must not like money. Green coons averaged around $7.50 at the Iowa auction this spring. Quick math is 100 coons would be $750 a night. Not hard to skin a raccoon either maybe 5 min tops. You could sell them for around $10 full carcass too because the meat market.
 
I got a lot more Feedback & a list of viable solutions to combat poaching here & probably keep all sides happy. I’ll post it all up in new thread sometime soon here. I am genuinely asking for solutions & the few that offer- I’ve been getting some truly awesome ideas. I am actually thinking there’s a WIN/WIN/LOSE here!!!!! Deer hunters, coyote hunters & poachers.
 
CurtisWalker said:
Uhm raccoon is actually really good eating and I’m not even kidding, I’ve had it on multiple occasions. Better than deer in most cases.
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I've never tried coon, but when I trapped there was a guy my cousin worked with that wanted everyone I caught. That was an extra 5 bucks on top of fur prices that were high in the 70's. The extra money was yummy, not sure about the greasy coon.
 
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