US whitetail hunters take more mature bucks than 1½-year-olds - 1st time in modern history ...

Yep......... and is an absolute road map for our IDNR for the next "angle" of revenue generation when it comes to altering our next phase of deer hunting regs...... once the " high deer population lure" won't generate the license sales to sustain budget needs due to deer herd reduction.

Points straight to what the majority of deer hunters want to see more of.... and will fund the next wave of regs to give them what they want......

Did I say "I told ya so"......or did I say "I told ya so".

LOL!!

I'm sorry, I'm not very smart. What is it you're saying Mr. Dew?

Yep. If QDMA says it, it must be true.

Lol

There is absolutely no way that is true. I'm sure the sample size is very small compared to overall harvest. Probably statistics put out on the foundation of some skewed survey.

probably true of QDMA members, not the whole hunting population

a quote from the report....

There are some very positive
trends occurring as yearling buck harvest
rates are at a record low, and the percent-
age of 3½-year-old and older bucks in the
harvest is at a record high. For the first
time, every state that collects age data
reported the majority of their buck harvest
was at least 2½ years old. In fact, in 2014
hunters shot more 3½-year-old and older
bucks than yearling bucks for the first time
in recorded history! That is truly amazing.
Hunters are clearly reaping the benefits of
more naturally balanced age structures in
herds across the whitetail’s range.

QDMA's 2016 Whitetail Report .... https://t.co/ueupt2XgJU

Looks about right to me. I don't see how the increasing age structure of the buck harvest correlates with a population decline. If anything I think it shows that the population is high and we have the ability to choose. I saw a legit 200"+ skull cap in the LGS Saturday, kid's 1st deer, and a 120" buck gets you a sharp rebuke from some guys anymore.....would have made you a hero around here 30 years ago. Yeah the DNR has a real problem in their hands.

Snake Oil ! Tell em what needs told to sell a product IMO

So who don't you guys trust? Well not the whole list.....just pertinent to this thread! The QDMA, the states they get the harvest data from or the compliant hunters that reported their bucks through their DNR? If it's pulled from state data, it should be accurate for the reported harvest. Many people pass bucks nowadays and wait for a bigger one, right? It's kinda looked down on, killing smalls. This data lines up with what I have been seeing over the past several years, seat of the pants observation. Instead of typing cryptic stuff or one liners, how about something of substance. Not looking to cyber joust, I'm just not seeing what you guys evidently are seeing and kind of shocked that it is so different. And I just tromp over-hunted public land.....far from the QDMA enhanced, private or leased ground I hear about. Meaningful discussion encouraged.

are guys self reporting the age of the bucks they shoot??

Lots like to think they are shooting mature bucks and shooting 2.5 year olds...just saying...

State lands, esp. the F&W area's will never see the age class that can be seen on good private land....way to many **** brown and downers on the State lands....myself, I'm embarrassed to shoot a 1.5 yr old buck .. a 1.5 yr old doe is freezer meat, but a 1.5 yr old buck...nope, he will walk on by .....

Did you read the report?? If not read it...

Some states have antler point restrictions and other mechanisms to determine stats, our state does not but i don't think we are unique.

Our hunting community as a whole self polices itself to a degree as far as buck harvest decisions. Many types of hunters in various situations. Fine by me if a legal hunter wants to tag any legal buck. One buck rule and social tendencies are influencing us and it is reflected in a better age structure on the buck side because of decisions like Jeff, and many of us make. Buck to doe ratio on public may well be better because of the brown and downers and all the antlerless licenses, just saying.

So if they don't hunt to your standards they aren't up to par. How about just worry about what you can control and let everyone else hunt the way they want. I shot a 1.5 year old buck this year and I'm super proud of that deer. My son was with me and that's the first deer we have killed together. We did a euro mount an dipped it ourselves. Son is super excited to have that deer on the wall. I will never be embarrassed of any deer I kill. You can't push your agenda on others.

He tries.


Aint no shame in my yearling I took this year.
Proudest buck to date, but far away from my biggest.

Yeah. With what you killed it with. I'm sure it's a proud moment in your hunting career. Congrats again.

IShot a 1 1/2 yr old and a button My hunting buddy shot a 1. 1/2 yr old with a Flinter ,Dave A 11/2 Where I Live near 129 I see a lot of deer in trucks etc No way are there more Older ones IMO Most deer hunters Are still happy with any buck and they should' be ..I Hate Hearing Management,cull ,Just ,Would have or any excuse for the Trophy they get when describing a deer

I dont shoot baby bucks...... A 1.5 yr old is a baby buck biologically... I'll pass those dinks... I dont need to kill a baby buck just to fill a tag... some dont know what it is like to pass on those dinks to get to a true big boy, and the only way they get big is by age...you kill that dink when he is 1.5, that is all he will ever be.... I may not take a mature buck every year, maybe every 2-3 years...but that is what I want...Ive killed enough deer in my life(over 120), I know what I want, and it isnt a baby buck....if you want him, that is YOUR choice...it isnt my choice....

Whitetail dave, that agenda thing goes both ways. Jeff,s agenda is letting "baby bucks" walk in hopes he can harvest one later. Your agenda is to take most any buck with your son.who,s right , who,s wrong,,,depends what floats your boat I guess. Personally, i,d rather have Jeff hunting next to me than you and your son. That,s what floats my boat.

You have no idea what my agenda is. I just explained my buck I killed this year and why I did it. That was a first for us together and my first buck in 3 years. Maybe our next first will be our first one together that goes on the wall. I'm just saying criticizing and putting down others because of what they legally kill is what's wrong with the hunting attitude these days. The "baby buck" killers license,ammo, firearm, etc money goes the same place yours does, to support hunting and conservation. I just take it all in stride and will congratulate any hunter on their kill if it was all done legally. There's nothing I can do to control the way others hunt whether it be private or public surrounding the areas I hunt.

Condescension runs deep in you , Jeff.

Baby bucks, lol

You sound like a bunny hugger

Whitetail Dave, I get ya...... and did something similar with my son in archery. Took my buck with new Excal the weekend before gun because the situation was right. New equipment, hunting with my son, camping etc. Having success with family keeps traditions going. Year before I ate tag waiting on bigger and passed a couple that I normally would have taken. It's a balance. What kid wants to hunt and never taste success? It gets old telling buddies we passed x number of deer waiting on a big one. Ya gotta let it fly when the time is right and then own it. That's probably what irks me most when folks make excuses about the buck they shot.

Condescending attitudes have come real close to taking the enjoyment of deer hunting away from me Due to the fact some judge all by the actions of one person or group .

What part of the "its your choice" that is not understood...yes, a 1.5 yr old is a "baby buck"...heck, even a 3.5 yr isnt considered "mature", but that is what I set for my "agenda" and what I want to try and take every year. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it dosnt..back in my youth Ive killed many young bucks, I'm past that and now I dont find them challenging.... If I would have shot a small 1.5 yr old, and I had over 1/2 dozen with in range and makeable shots before I shot my 182 lb 8pt 3.5 yr old this season, I'd have been done and NEVER would have had a chance for him, I got him on Nov. 13 one day before gun after hunting 10 days straight and over half of those were all day sits, before sun up to the end of shooting hours....it is MY CHOICE to pass on these younger guys... heck, some of my best hunts/years have been when I never filled a buck tag.... I dont have to fill a tag to have a good season.... it is your CHOICE ....

And by our choices collectively we represent something close to the the graph Brew posted to start this discussion.

Love all the condescending comments...childish.

Own the hunter you are, if legal go for it. Make no excuses though for who you are or what you harvest.

That is my only pet peeve about guys or gals that harvest a deer (buck or doe) and then have to disclaimer it....no disclaimers.

Interesting topic and discussion. I would like to throw in a few comments. I have been a deer scorer for 30 years. I have seen trends in attitudes and the harvest of both the people who bring deer to me to score and to deer hunting people I have been around. I do believe in the chart that was first put up on this thread. The switch to the one buck rule was not when I started seeing these trends. I actually had people starting to tell me a few years before that they were passing some small bucks. It became more prevalent after OBR became in effect. 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 year old bucks may be your bottom line. Fewer people shoot 1 1/2 yr. olds any more. Is that right on wrong? Doesn't matter. I for one haven't shot a 1 1/2 year old in 20 years. Yet also, I have never been rewarded by having the opportunity to shoot a mature buck. Do I regret it? Not one bit. I get quite a bit of pleasure watching the young bucks walk by and to see there interaction. I understand fully for someone to shoot a 1 1/2 yr. old when hunting with a long bow, recurve, or flintlock muzzle loader. These are big accomplishments. For a youth also, any deer is a reward. However, for myself and others, we have different standards. I regularly go to 2 different deer processors and look over the buck inventory after opening weekend. Used to wonder why so many shot all these dinks. Now when I do it, I see more and more larger deer and less smaller deer. In Iowa, the only reason they have bigger deer, is because they don't shoot all the little ones! NEVER have! Yet, a land owner and resident can shoot up to 3 bucks in that state. My conclusion is, believe the QDMA stats. Shoot what you want, but do think about this one thought I have had for years "What if we went one whole year and nobody shot a 1 1/2 year old buck in Indiana?"

What if we went one year and nobody shot ANY deer


There'd be plenty of big bucks for the antler worshippers, plenty of does for the freezers and more yearling bucks than you could toss a stone tipped stick at.

Who's with me? No deer in 2016!

I took that perogative this year.

I like to eat deer too much to do that!

Just hunt....

might find some 1.5 year old bucks and does in the smoker where the magic happens....

Early STS (stone tip spear) season w/ 1 year moratorium in 2016.......in lieu of HPR, all parties agree, legislation passes unanimously! Is that what you were talking about Dew? Nice post Tony, appreciate hearing about what you are seeing in your areas.

I'm sure buck-only state land impacts this - yearling / button bucks are passed when unrecognizable- this must skew the data unless this policy is the same since 1999.