Comments on: September Firearm Deer Hunting Dates in Question

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 14:29:00 +0000

I think you miss the point with all the massive kill offs by the DNR. It is NO LONGER A SPORT!!! JUST FRIGGIN TOOL FOR BUREAUCRATS IN LANSING TO SHOVE DOWN OUR THROATS. Note also that the DNR hired this successful biologist professor from MN last year who also made should very sound game management requests that work for MN. One being the ending of massive kill offs. But as bureaucrats are famous for ignoring sound and reasoned advice.

By: matt88

matt88 — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 20:54:00 +0000

wow your all a bunch of idiots. ooohhh rural hunting??? great idea. Theres no big bucks?? its not because of early seasons. ITS BECAUSE YOUR FRICKIN NEIGHBORS SHOOTING BUCKS THAT ARE 6 POINTS AND LOWER! the early season has nothing to do with that dude! On top of that barely anyone knows about the early season. You all act like millions of deer are being shot every year!

By: Scott Bagby

Scott Bagby — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:35:00 +0000

Do not eliminate the Youth Hunts. It is difficult as it is to get youth into the sport and with the favorable weather in September it is far more attractive to a youth than sitting in the cold in November. Remember we are trying to get youth to replace the retiring hunters and we are not keeping up. Eliminating the Youth Hunts takes us in the wrong direction when talking about Hunter Retention! Not everyone has land or direct access to land to hunt. Swallow your QDM & “this is how we did it” mindsets and start thinking about how we can attract youth that already have a multitude of options when it comes to after school activities.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:10:00 +0000

Option 2 of course.

However, Oscoda County has very few deer left after years of excessive taken of deer during the gun season. Oscoda’s once huge and valued deer herd is a few dozen from extinction. This is due to TB scare in DMU 487.

Last month I received a questionnaire from MSU requesting my input regarding 2012 deer season. All indications are that the MSU/DNR team wants to continue with the massive deer kill off for DMU 487. This is again to vainly eliminate TB from DMU 487. If TB is such a big issue for DMU 487, then we should totally eliminate all deer in DMU 487 by having unrestricted deer warfare and eliminate TB once a for all.

That said, once the new deer herd comes back, they will again be infected with TB. Deer get TB from cows. Not the other way around…

Annnd sorry if I got off on a tangent but Oscoda County is bleeding downstate hunters (and hunters who own cabins) when they are going to other areas to hunt. Our once huge deer herd is waaay down to 5% from 1990′s. Our local economy is hurting really bad too!!!

By: Cfalls

Cfalls — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:07:00 +0000

I think option 2 is the best solution. I have taken my kids to the youth hunts they never did get a deer but my son had one opportunity at a 10 point but had a scope get bumped and was not sighted in he missed. I was brought up learning to deer hunt in the UP at 14 during regular firearm season you would maybe hear 3-4 shots all day and I learned alot had a great teacher, my Dad. I do know that if you try to take your kid out to say Gladwin area during the firearm season or at the worst an opening day it sounds like a war is going on, I counted over 120 shots before 8AM on one opening day. I don’t think that makes a new hunter especially a young hunter feel comfortable, they need an opportunity to hunt and feel safe and enjoy doing it.

By: Ben Milo

Ben Milo — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:56:00 +0000

I have an 8yr old just chomping at the bit to go deer hunt this September. If the hunt was not available til Oct 1st (Bow) or Nov 15th (gun) it would be better. In my eyes… I like the traditional value the way most of us grew up. However, I am glad they lowered the age requirments. My 8yr old has been ready with shooting in competition archery JOAD & blowing up milk jugs with his Remington Semi-auto 20ga youth gun.

By: tcc

tcc — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:21:00 +0000

It is interesting that so many mention that they learned to hunt without the “special” youth hunts of today and with that I agree. If a child grows up with a hunting parent and the parent brings the child along on hunts no matter what kind, there is a good chance the child will also hunt. Who says the child has to carry a rifle at 10 years old to enjoy the hunt, it is the excitement of the hunt not the killing (opps harvesting) that makes the hunt. So what we are saying is we are bribing the parent to take the kid hunting by giving them a “special season”. And who can say if the kids even shoot the deer, maybe it is just a way for dad to shoot that big wall hanger he has been seeing all summer, before anyone else can even get into the woods.

By: Mark L

Mark L — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:14:00 +0000

Great comment D. So many other good reasons for this in addition to the car-deer issue. I’ve advocated several years for the same thing. Would be great to see the State DNR come up with a “suburban hunter” training certification, that would test people for shot placement/ accuracy with their weapon of choice, range judging ability, educate on sensitivity to neighbors, et cetera. “Certified Suburban Hunters” would be a real asset to municipalities that were considering suburban hunts but worried about the backlash. Also a great youth and other hunter retention tool- how many of us have lost our good spots to suburban encroachment? I would sign up for this in a minute.

By: ML

ML — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:51:00 +0000

I think option 2 seems reasonable. Also, while they are looking at the regs lets think about something else too:

Everyone seems to be torqued off about spooked nocturnal deer (me too). Let’s set the situation straight for ALL seasons- put a 10 day resting period between seasons- that’s EVERY season! I’m tired of the public woods being filled with bowhunters up to the night before opening day of gun season. Same problem as the september hunt issue- all deer driven off land or nocturnal. Been that way for years- why go up north anymore to hunt nocturnal deer? On the Land my family has hunted for years, when we finally started hunting in 2-3 day spurts with 10 day rests in between, we started seeing a lot more deer through the whole season- and harvesting more. Think about it.

By: Copperrange2000

Copperrange2000 — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 04:39:00 +0000

No early hunts! No special youth hunts. I learned from my father-in-law during the regular firearms season; others can too! Reserve October for archery and crossbow and have the regular firearms season as is or a little later. I live in Barry county; a traditionally deer rich area but I can assure you, the deer population is way down. I know because I live in the woods and see it every day. The DNR has to stop catering to the auto insurance companies and to the persons who want more and more special seasons just tfor the extra revenue. Enough is enough! Tom J.