Hey, Old Guys ??

[Greenhead22]

The mass harvesting of does is pushed by insurance companies, not over-population. Yes I do realize that there are parts of the state that have way too many does that need harvesting. But you've got some delta counties that are hurting right now. Even if you put sanctions on some areas and decrease the doe limit......you make it legal for 1, they take 10. My uncle is in a big lease where they avg 60+ bucks a season, 8pt or better, zero doe harvesting. They haven't gotten 60 in past 3 yrs total because they are surrounding by doe killers and the bucks just disappeared.

We had the pleasure of going on a guided deer hunt in south ms last year, over 6000 acres. He doesn't allow any doe harvesting other than by special request by a customer, which is a rariety. He's makes a living by this motto, and I believe what he says....."if you take my does, my bucks are leaving" and there goes my income. He's a wildlife biologist that has worked and consulted for several ranches in texas before coming back to ms. So when he had this big conversation about the harvesting #'s, I took everything he said to heart.

As for food plots, I believe they hurt you more than help in the delta than in the hills, and here's why. That deer in delta can walk 20 yds from his bed and get food, plus he knows that the food plot isn't going anywhere so he waits after dark to come out to eat, only the smart thing to do. Hill deer don't have as many food options so they are more or less inclined to come visit the block during daytime hrs. Last year we planted zero foodplots except for a sample plot I fixed up with some new stuff last season. We saw twice as many deer last season than the year before because the deer were forced to get up and search for food during the day. We saw more bucks also, even though the majority of them were younger bucks, which hopefully means that next season will be better, can't get any worse. The past 2 season #'s equaled harvest #'s in the early 70's, and that's not good.

[mudsucker]

So, Tunica, are you saying you rode your bike behind the fogging machine a lot?! Me, too!

I did that in the 60's Crow! Big summer fun! Lord knows what damage it did to our Pea sizrd brains!

[h2o_dog]

So, Tunica, are you saying you rode your bike behind the fogging machine a lot?! Me, too!

I'm GUILTY! and that stuff was pure DDT!

(NOW I know why I can't remember what I had for breakfast)

[RebelYelp]

We saw twice as many deer last season than the year before because the deer were forced to get up and search for food during the day. We saw more bucks also, even though the majority of them were younger bucks, which hopefully means that next season will be better, can't get any worse. The past 2 season #'s equaled harvest #'s in the early 70's, and that's not good.

it could have something to do with the previous year you did have food sources on your property.... when the time came for does to drop fawns they dropped them in areas with those food sources, etc etc aka, higher deep populations in following years. The whole argument about, i've got 5 billion does, therefore every buck in the county is gonna come on my land to breed sounds good...... but really couldn't be farther from the truth. While a buck may extend his home range during the rut, he generally goes back to his home range after. The amount of browse on your property is a constant, more does = more mouths to feed, more mouths to feed = less food per animal = less nutrients (protein, calcium, phosphorous, etc etc) therefore less healthy herds. Your carrying capacity is what it is, if you let the herd get to the capacity, you're either going to have a # of animals leave or die, that's just nature. You want a healthy herd of bucks and does, and that requires both buck and doe harvest. like i said before, it's not just food plots.... browse comprises the majority of a whitetails diet. As to your neighbors killing way to many, yes that can be a MAJOR problem, the best thing you can do is report them......

[Greenhead22]

They have been reported several times but the gw can't do anything with them because he can't even control his own son who just so happens to be the biggest outlaw in the county along with his buddies.

[duck_nutt]

So, Tunica, are you saying you rode your bike behind the fogging machine a lot?! Me, too!

\

we'd follow that mosquito machine for blocks riding our bikes in the fog....it had to do something to us>>!!??

[tunica]

So, Tunica, are you saying you rode your bike behind the fogging machine a lot?! Me, too!

\

we'd follow that mosquito machine for blocks riding our bikes in the fog....it had to do something to us>>!!??

Yas mean that I should not of been asphalt surfing behind those trucks

[comeback]

Yes,go back and read Bankermane's post. That is the way it was. I remember a Mauser or so and maybe a Jap rifle. A scoped remington bolt action was a definite acception. No camo and no stands as we no them now. We all listened for the dogs and moved accordingly. I had a .410 single shot with a slug and thought I was in it. I was about 10 in 1967. Seeing a deer back then was like seeing a goose. Yesterday a deer ran through my yard as I left for work. Go figure. I think moving away from cotton had a lot do wtih it. Just an ole timer.

[BeastMaster]

DAm.. i had forgotten about the Skeeter truck.. that stuff was potent.. remember rolling the windows up and trying to take a diff route home when that thing came around.