New York Bucks Improving

[Shawn Leonard]

Ken coyotes are as big a problem up North as down here. I looked up some old posts of yours and you commented that you saw more yote tracks than deer tracks most times afield. Fulton county has a fair amount of deer killed if ya look in the reports, I think guys need to apply different strategies in your area but know bowhunters do kill deer up there. Shawn

[J.Williams]

Originally posted by KentuckyTJ:
Fantastic thread Philip. I have seen many different farms here set buck management rules and during the third and fourth year you guys will see huge jumps in your bucks. At that time you will wish your state had implemented a buck harvest rule years ago. Good for the NY state DNR.

Kentucky TJ is absolutely right that if AR's are applied in your area that you WILL notice more older bucks.I'm fortunate enough to live and hunt in the middle of the pilot AR area the DEC started 6 seasons ago and all the hunters,taxidermists and butchers I know have seen the difference as well.Not only are there more bigger bucks,but more bucks in general I believe.I took my 2 biggest racks ever,one this season and one in '09,and with a recurve and not a gun I might add.
The DEC is expanding the AR's to 7 neighboring WMU's,I believe,next year and I alotta the guys in those areas must be pumped.AR's work!

[vintage-bears]

Wow! Some great input guys!

Like I said earlier, I have seen such great bucks since the 3 point rule began. Next season is only gonna be better!

To those of you that just got or are gonna get an antler restriction in your area.......
Be patient. Don't get frustrated.
Let the little guys walk. Kill a doe.
Hopefully a dry doe.
YOU WILL SEE MORE AND BETTER BUCKS.

If we are killing does and letting little bucks live, 2 things will happen.

1- The obvious answer is the buck will live longer and develop a rack

2- By taking a doe we are bringing the buck/doe ratio to a more balanced level......
Which means the bucks will seek out these "fewer" does......which means we SEE more bucks. Racked Bucks. Keep it coming. Great tread!
.........Philip

[Shawn Leonard]

I say shoot only fawns and with a bowyou should be able to avoid button bucks. It is tough to say buck to doe ratio's are skewed when guys are not see many deer. Shoot a fawn you killthat one deer, shoot a big doe and you kill her and the fawns she was gonna have in the spring, you kill 3 for 1 when ya shoot an old doe. I hate to even shoot a 1.5yr. old doe without fawn but will instead of that 1.5yr. old buck. I passed a ton of sm. bucks this year but I will admit due to my lack of hunting time lately whatever walks by tomorrow morning is in trouble. Shawn

[vintage-bears]

Originally posted by Shawn Leonard:
I say shoot only fawns and with a bowyou should be able to avoid button bucks. It is tough to say buck to doe ratio's are skewed when guys are not see many deer. Shoot a fawn you killthat one deer, shoot a big doe and you kill her and the fawns she was gonna have in the spring, you kill 3 for 1 when ya shoot an old doe. I hate to even shoot a 1.5yr. old doe without fawn but will instead of that 1.5yr. old buck. I passed a ton of sm. bucks this year but I will admit due to my lack of hunting time lately whatever walks by tomorrow morning is in trouble. Shawn

I agree Shawn.
The doe I killed this season was a fawn.
I did say in my previous post "hopefully a dry doe".
Good for you on passing up the small bucks!
Good Luck in the morning.Be Safe.......Philip

[crotch horn]

There are a lot of yotes in the northern zone. Difference is because of fewer deer they have to hunt harder for their deer too. Antler restrictions where I hunt up north would be a tough pill to take. I love a big rack but I like meat as well. Don't give me a shoot a doe line either. Like stated by Ron there are areas in the nz where seeing a doe can be a blessing. AR are good but not for the entire state.

[vintage-bears]

Sorry to hear that.
I used to hunt in Indian Lake/ Lewey lake back in the day.
I killed a deer most every year with my bow up there along Rt. 30. between Indian and Lewey lake campgrounds.
I only killed one buck though....spike.
But plenty of deer, back then anyway.

I did hunt in Warrensburg once and saw a magnificent buck. I was not able to even draw my bow as he came out of no where real quick! Never heard him coming as it was raining and the leaves on the ground were soft as carpet.

I'm not suggesting Antler restrictions statewide.
I was sharing what it has done for my area.

Good Luck...........Philip

[Jim Keller]

When Gary Alt gave us our new deer policy(antler restrictions and high doe harvests) he said our buck kill would triple. Well it has plummeted. I'm a taxidermist and all our numbers are down from what they were before ar. Yea we're seeing nice bucks killed, just less than before. There is no doubt they work but you can't kill of all your does, If you have to hunt public land in Pa. you are an unhappy hunter. If you have private land to hunt you're blest. I'd like to move!!

[J.Williams]

Originally posted by Jim Keller:
When Gary Alt gave us our new deer policy(antler restrictions and high doe harvests) he said our buck kill would triple. Well it has plummeted. I'm a taxidermist and all our numbers are down from what they were before ar. Yea we're seeing nice bucks killed, just less than before. There is no doubt they work but you can't kill of all your does, If you have to hunt public land in Pa. you are an unhappy hunter. If you have private land to hunt you're blest. I'd like to move!!

I can understand why AR's wouldn't be very beneficial under those conditions.Hopefully your DNR sees the light and does something about not allowing so many does to be taken.

[vintage-bears]

Originally posted by J.Williams:
 

Originally posted by Jim Keller:
When Gary Alt gave us our new deer policy(antler restrictions and high doe harvests) he said our buck kill would triple. Well it has plummeted. I'm a taxidermist and all our numbers are down from what they were before ar. Yea we're seeing nice bucks killed, just less than before. There is no doubt they work but you can't kill of all your does, If you have to hunt public land in Pa. you are an unhappy hunter. If you have private land to hunt you're blest. I'd like to move!!

I can understand why AR's wouldn't be very beneficial under those conditions.Hopefully your DNR sees the light and does something about not allowing so many does to be taken. [/b]