eightpointer":3mn3dm3j said:Sometimes no matter what you do its just not in the cards that day. I tell my Son..we are part time hunters hunting full time deer. Just enjoy the opportunity.
Love it!!! Well said
eightpointer":3mn3dm3j said:Sometimes no matter what you do its just not in the cards that day. I tell my Son..we are part time hunters hunting full time deer. Just enjoy the opportunity.
easy45":kra2bpbo said:Ok I have to get in on this discussion, I hunt land that borders Ames and I have some opinions even though some folks will fight me on them, i think the biologists that Ames has are to be completely honest, very sub-par. The over harvesting of does has been absolutely ridiculous, deer sightings are down ten fold, not only for us but for Ames Hunter's that I talk to, which in turn reduces rutting action and mature buck sightings because if there are no does around then there aren't gonna be bucks. There management scale, 125" or 4.5 is good and bad. It's nice that their hunters have the option of killing a mature, under developed buck but the vast majority of their bucks killed are 3.5 and even 2.5, most, not all of their hunters are shooting every decent buck they see not caring how old it is, that is leading to a serious high grading problem. We see twice as many mature deer with smaller than average antlers than we use to which has a direct correspondence to the high grading. We had a very large 2.5 year old deer last season that was one the do not shoot list that was shot on Ames that scored right at 130". As far as the large number of bucks Ames hunters kill that don't meet the size limits, the fines are a joke, making the fines bigger or disqualifying the hunter for the year would make them look at a deer a lot harder. Just my two cents but even though I've never hunted on Ames I've hunted beside it for 16 years and have watched the changes over the years. New management is needed.
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fairchaser":3r6bn9yo said:easy45":3r6bn9yo said:Ok I have to get in on this discussion, I hunt land that borders Ames and I have some opinions even though some folks will fight me on them, i think the biologists that Ames has are to be completely honest, very sub-par. The over harvesting of does has been absolutely ridiculous, deer sightings are down ten fold, not only for us but for Ames Hunter's that I talk to, which in turn reduces rutting action and mature buck sightings because if there are no does around then there aren't gonna be bucks. There management scale, 125" or 4.5 is good and bad. It's nice that their hunters have the option of killing a mature, under developed buck but the vast majority of their bucks killed are 3.5 and even 2.5, most, not all of their hunters are shooting every decent buck they see not caring how old it is, that is leading to a serious high grading problem. We see twice as many mature deer with smaller than average antlers than we use to which has a direct correspondence to the high grading. We had a very large 2.5 year old deer last season that was one the do not shoot list that was shot on Ames that scored right at 130". As far as the large number of bucks Ames hunters kill that don't meet the size limits, the fines are a joke, making the fines bigger or disqualifying the hunter for the year would make them look at a deer a lot harder. Just my two cents but even though I've never hunted on Ames I've hunted beside it for 16 years and have watched the changes over the years. New management is needed.
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This is definitely an off year at Ames Easy45 but not because of poor management. A hot and dry fall along with a late leaf drop has made hunting conditions very tough. The increase in small bucks harvested is due to the influx of a bunch of new members and the frustration of other hunters needing to kill something while they had time off to hunt. I doubt we will catch up on our buck kill this year but we are right on schedule for killing does which would indicate we have plenty. I expect this off year will help our mature buck population next year and maybe several years. So maybe this is a good thing for our future. I'm guessing some new members with stars in their eyes may re evaluate their decision after this season and seek greener food plots elsewhere. Ames has some of the best minds and experts in the field and their success is well known nationally and admired. You are entitled to your opinion but I disagree.
easy45":31dp1bpe said:fairchaser":31dp1bpe said:easy45":31dp1bpe said:Ok I have to get in on this discussion, I hunt land that borders Ames and I have some opinions even though some folks will fight me on them, i think the biologists that Ames has are to be completely honest, very sub-par. The over harvesting of does has been absolutely ridiculous, deer sightings are down ten fold, not only for us but for Ames Hunter's that I talk to, which in turn reduces rutting action and mature buck sightings because if there are no does around then there aren't gonna be bucks. There management scale, 125" or 4.5 is good and bad. It's nice that their hunters have the option of killing a mature, under developed buck but the vast majority of their bucks killed are 3.5 and even 2.5, most, not all of their hunters are shooting every decent buck they see not caring how old it is, that is leading to a serious high grading problem. We see twice as many mature deer with smaller than average antlers than we use to which has a direct correspondence to the high grading. We had a very large 2.5 year old deer last season that was one the do not shoot list that was shot on Ames that scored right at 130". As far as the large number of bucks Ames hunters kill that don't meet the size limits, the fines are a joke, making the fines bigger or disqualifying the hunter for the year would make them look at a deer a lot harder. Just my two cents but even though I've never hunted on Ames I've hunted beside it for 16 years and have watched the changes over the years. New management is needed.
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This is definitely an off year at Ames Easy45 but not because of poor management. A hot and dry fall along with a late leaf drop has made hunting conditions very tough. The increase in small bucks harvested is due to the influx of a bunch of new members and the frustration of other hunters needing to kill something while they had time off to hunt. I doubt we will catch up on our buck kill this year but we are right on schedule for killing does which would indicate we have plenty. I expect this off year will help our mature buck population next year and maybe several years. So maybe this is a good thing for our future. I'm guessing some new members with stars in their eyes may re evaluate their decision after this season and seek greener food plots elsewhere. Ames has some of the best minds and experts in the field and their success is well known nationally and admired. You are entitled to your opinion but I disagree.
We will have to disagree then, but a hot dry fall has nothing to do with the last several years combined and your gonna have to explain to me how an increase in the harvest of small bucks is gonna help the mature bucks. Who are your biologist who set the harvest goals for Ames.
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easy45":2prml8jy said:I actually do know Houston and Carlisle, at least know of them, I went to high school with Carlisle's sons, only problem is neither of those to are focused on deer, now I'll admit I have no clue of Craig Harper is, all I see is the results of there management plan.
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fairchaser":2v8jbohl said:easy45":2v8jbohl said:I actually do know Houston and Carlisle, at least know of them, I went to high school with Carlisle's sons, only problem is neither of those to are focused on deer, now I'll admit I have no clue of Craig Harper is, all I see is the results of there management plan.
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I would suggest you consider coming to Ames annual banquet where the management plan and the results are discussed and explained thoroughly. The banquet is open to non members if invited by a member. You can come as my guest if you like.
dgb7mm":2b876ds1 said:One of the biggest issues happening that I see is pressure on top of pressure! The older class of bucks are nocturnal! And now that the does are being hammered the older class of does are relating to the pressure. This I think resembles an over harvest. As Mike Belt has mentioned we have vast areas that are not accessible, to thick to hunt. Let me make it clear I believe we have over harvested in certain areas of the place! Just by the way the place lays out most members are not going to fool with does miles from parking. Maybe some assistance from the farm managers in retrieval since this seems to be the driving factor. Reality is this we hunt on a farm managed for bird trials not whitetails!