Duckmastor2

Lemond, the 1st deer i ever shot was in 1988. You should have seen the looks i got at the parking area as my father and I tried to stuff the 105lb doe into the trunk of my Hyundia Excel.... LOL <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

We got it to fit somehow.

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

Coolerpup

We didnt get any rain in Laurel. Just east of us got quite a bit. If we do get some rain before Sept 2 that might change my game plan all together.
Man this hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait is killin me. I feel like I cant spend enough time scouting, like Im missin something. Worse than a little kid :-)


AllenC

DEBob

Back when I was 18, I killed as small buck late in December. At the time I was driving a Corvette. Looked stupid as crap with that little buck dangling off the rear deck of that fire engine red 'Vette.

Had a truck for year's after that. Bought a Blazer last year to serve as a family car. Man I miss a pick-up!!

I keep checking the forcast..doesn't look to promising for rain anytime soon!!!

lemond33

i am not pressed for the season to start. every year i am ready ready ready...then it is hot...no deer showing and u waiting until nov - dec and u put it on them. i may hunt a couple of water holes in the early season, but i am not pressed for it. does everyone see alot of people on the opener???

Duckmastor2

Last year I was set up on public land an hour and a half before shooting time. I was the 1st one out. There are about 10 stand areas on the property for Archers. About a half hour before shooting time, i saw one other person walk in. He left about a hour after 1st light. When he left i could see it was an older guy and he was carrying a crossbow. Besides from him, there was no one else. Of course, I didnt see any deer that day either.

If the sign-in board was correct (IE everyone tells the truth) I was the only hunter to take a deer there during bow season. I talked to a guy who said he lost a brusier in the morning the same day i got my deer. I got my deer in the evening.

I guess it all depends on the area. As i was getting ready to leave the parking area last year on opening day, I guy stopped in and said he tried to hunt up the road (public land, different tract) and it was mobbed and the guys were pretty territorial. I told him the truth and said &quot;this tract was dead&quot;. He was out the the next week in the afternoon. In fact, i would bet he pushed my first deer with a bow, right into my lap..... <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

12 days and counting!!!!



Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

Duckmastor2

DEBOB, I know you and I have our disagreements over the current program, but am in total agreement when it comes to instituting a QDM program here in Delaware. Liberal Doe harvests to pull the buck to doe ratio in line and point restrictions on bucks to let them get old and big. A quality herd is good for not only the hunters but for the deer as well.

Good luck on the season!!!

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

lemond33

duckmaster..i agree wit ya. i would never shot a spike or a 4pt...or 6 for that matter, but that is me. i cant expect everyone to share my views, but if they did...o man

DEBob

Duckmaster, I don't think our opinions differ that greatly. I think the F&W folks may have mis-marketed their agenda and have left alot open for interpretation. They mean well, I do know that!! A few of them are real good friends and we have discussed, at lenghth, the goals and objectives they are trying to pursue. Unfortunately, they answer to a lot of &quot;interest&quot; groups and any sales pitch is aimed at pleasing them all! Tough job!

Until QDM becomes more accepted by the hunting public (and farmers, landowners, etc.) things will undoubtedly stay the same. We, on here, pretty much represent a minor portion of the deer hunting community. The vast majority simply dabble in the sport and rarely kill a deer. I went over the stats once and seem to recall 10 percent of the hunters kill at least one deer a year, of that 1-2 percent kill more than one, and the remainder go home empty handed. Tell that almost 90 percent they have to pass up a given deer? It's tough to restrict them when they seldom have the opportunity to utilize the resource.

I'll be honest, except for some minor mis-management of public properties, I truely am happy with F&Ws approach. I think we have it reel good in Delaware. Long season, plenty of deer, and some true bruisers roming our woods (or marshes, or swamps<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>) I don't hunt much public ground but see the potential as I ride by. I scout one WMA routinely as it's close to home. With some minor modifications, it could be awesome!!! It may be the one &quot;up the road&quot; from where you mentioned above. It was hunted hard last year but there was a group of bucks routinely visible that include one possible B&C qualifier!

Good luck to you as well! I hope everyone has a safe and rewarding season!!!

6ptsika

You guys have it pretty good in DE. That's why I drive three hours down and three hourrs back every day off all fall to hunt the Eastern Shore. I wish NJ had half the bucks and half the management plan. What you guys have already, would be too strict QDM to implement here in NJ.


&quot;In heaven, even the fish have antlers&quot;

Duckmastor2

6ptsika, the zone i hunt in NJ actually has a 3pt on one side restriction and unlimted doe harvest. Of course the zones around it have no restrictions so the plan wont work. If they adopted this statewide, i think you see alot more nice sized Bucks and a better Buck to Doe ratio than we have now. Oh well. Its a start.

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2