Deer harvest record

I agree 100% Covid and food shortages had a effect.Many people had more
opportunities to hunt and new hunters were out there. We won't ever really know how many deer were missed or wounded by Rookie hunter's that don't have the skills that years of hunting develop.
We also know that there are many other variables that influence the amount of deer killed each season. Weather,mast crop,ect .have always influenced the #s CWD is playing into the #s more and more each year. No limits in CWD counties. Replacement Tags for Bucks that tested positive.
 
peytoncreekhunter said:
Interesting that a record for bucks 3 1/2 yrs were killed also.
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That IS fascinating! As I've said before, it isn't state agency regulations that are creating this advanced buck age structure across the nation, it is hunters being very picky about what they kill. Kudos to the hunters!
 
Chiflyguy said:
I wonder how much the harvest has gone up since a lot of states allow anyone to use a crossbow?
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IMO, the impact of crossbows is grossly under rated and under noticed. Archery seasons are traditionally long and separate from gun seasons because it requires skill to utilize the weapon, and requires very close range. That is circumvented with crossbows. A crossbow effectively doubles traditional archery range but doesn't require archery skills. Yet they're allowed in archery season.

That's not an argument for nor against them. It's only pointing out the obvious. I'd have to assume much of the increase in older buck harvest is in large part credited to crossbows and/or bait. In states that allow baiting, anybody can take a big buck with a crossbow, no hunting skill required. Two of my neices, both non hunters and one literally a child, shot very nice older age class bucks this season. Both did so because somebody sat them in a blind with a crossbow, overlooking a pile of corn. And perusing through social media shows that same story over and over and over. It is what it is, and probably isn't going to change.

I'm neither here nor there about it, but recognize that it's a real thing. However, I do sometimes wonder what it teaches our young hunters. In a day of instant gratification hunting was a lesson in humility and patience. Even that has now been circumvented. I'm happy for my neices because they're happy, but I fear it's a false sense of accomplishment. What have they actually achieved? They like to compare their antlers with ones I have, which is fun, but inside I know they never got to experience the accomplishment mine represent. My trophies were hard earned and represent something substantial. And those girls are completely ignorant to it. They've each got trophy collections that rival most men who've hunted a lifetime, but neither one could tell you a white oak from a maple. Crossbows and corn piles.
 
Ski said:
IMO, the impact of crossbows is grossly under rated and under noticed. Archery seasons are traditionally long and separate from gun seasons because it requires skill to utilize the weapon, and requires very close range. That is circumvented with crossbows. A crossbow effectively doubles traditional archery range but doesn't require archery skills. Yet they're allowed in archery season.

That's not an argument for nor against them. It's only pointing out the obvious. I'd have to assume much of the increase in older buck harvest is in large part credited to crossbows and/or bait. In states that allow baiting, anybody can take a big buck with a crossbow, no hunting skill required. Two of my neices, both non hunters and one literally a child, shot very nice older age class bucks this season. Both did so because somebody sat them in a blind with a crossbow, overlooking a pile of corn. And perusing through social media shows that same story over and over and over. It is what it is, and probably isn't going to change.

I'm neither here nor there about it, but recognize that it's a real thing. However, I do sometimes wonder what it teaches our young hunters. In a day of instant gratification hunting was a lesson in humility and patience. Even that has now been circumvented. I'm happy for my neices because they're happy, but I fear it's a false sense of accomplishment. What have they actually achieved? They like to compare their antlers with ones I have, which is fun, but inside I know they never got to experience the accomplishment mine represent. My trophies were hard earned and represent something substantial. And those girls are completely ignorant to it. They've each got trophy collections that rival most men who've hunted a lifetime, but neither one could tell you a white oak from a maple. Crossbows and corn piles.
Click to expand...
I think there should be a minimum age on crossbows unless disabled. Say 50.
I saw dozens of posts on an Illinois Deer Hunting page like "Want to start deer hunting. Can anyone recommend a good crossbow? What licenses do I need" as late as September.
Too many people out in the woods to kill, not hunt.
I hunted 11 years before I shot my first deer.
I enjoyed every single season.
 

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