I think we must manage the deer herd ourselves, as once again, "The powers that be" have failed us. My daughter seen one buck opening day. One....My kids are old enough that we all hunt now. Our whole family has seen 0.....0 doe's... This has happened on places where we used to see dozens of deer over the course of the seasons. Should I see one, which I believe at this point is very unlikely, I will certainly let it walk, and when M.L. goes out we'll be done.... If you want your children to be able to hunt, if YOU want to be able to hunt in 5 years time,PLEASE stop shooting every doe in the woods. When was the last time the Government had a good idea? Indiana's plan to eradicate the deer herd is right on time with the rest. So PLEASE Dont fill your 700 doe tags, and stay home with your families after Christmas!!

Depends where you’re at. The places we hunt are bordering on overpopulation and show browse lines on the timbered edges. We could probably take extra does for years to come without taking enough does to get the population down. I understand there may be areas that are overhunted or underpopulated and your advice may apply there.

What's the bonus quota over that way 3 or 4? Those are good numbers, numbers that proved themselves for years. Its still working apparently, because you guys are still seeing deer. I'm in an 8 doe county, that's surrounded by more 8 doe counties. That's too much. Its not just my woods and fields either. The fields along the roads I travel that used to hold herds of deer in the evenings are now ghost towns...Its pretty sad.

I sympathize with your plight. I've had some rough years. But populations fluctuate and are very local.

I hunt Parke which is an 8 county and there are still plenty of deer. Mostly private ground though. I hunted Jackson/Washington (Jackson Co.) SF in bow and there are plenty of deer there still. It's a 4 county this year. Lots of public ground. Some pretty tough hills though. I hunt Monroe County, public ground, lots of deer there still too. 8 doe county. I'd shoot a doe in any of those places without any fear of impacting the resource in any appreciable negative way.

I also hunt Harrison County, have seen about the same number of deer as usual. We are the top producing county in the state and I expect the same this year. It has been a tough deer movement year with poor weather and no acorns. Hopefully your area bounces back for next year.

I didn't even see a Buck where I hunt on opening weekend but I did see quite a few Does.

I have seen more small bucks than does this year which I am not sure is a good thing. I agree Randy we need to in areas be very careful or we will not have any deer left

I think it’s all in where you are. I know the Sunday after opening day of gun season my son and I saw close to 40 does that morning and evening combined, that’s in parke co. Now I have a spot in Johnson county where it’s the opposite. Trail cam showing me 10+ different bucks and only 3-4 doe pictures all season, but this is only a 3 to 4 acre woodlot.

It is all where you are located. I know that this year I have seen more deer in general and specifically more does, most with twin yearlings running with mama still as of yesterday. I've seen more this year than I have seen in probably 6 or 7 years. There has rarely been a sit that I haven't seen deer and most sits I am seeing 7 to 10 deer a sit. Two different farms in Steuben County.

Randy,

I just re-read my post and it might seem like I am rubbing it in. That wasn't my intent at all. When Parke County had an EHD issue several years ago, it was the same way as you describe for a couple years. I couldn't have shot a doe if I wanted to. It took 3 years before I would shoot one. Now I shoot 1 (maybe 2 if one of my kids wants to shoot one) per year off the small property I hunt. The way it looks this year, I might up that a bit next year.

I guess my point is that deer are resilient. It'll get better.

The fact that it is an 8 doe county might have a psychological effect and give a false sense of abundance so someone might be more likely to kill a doe. But very few people shoot more than 3 deer per year no matter what. I am all for reducing quotas to a real world number.