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Attention public land hunters!

90K views 860 replies 87 participants last post by  tOSUSteve 
#1 ·
Hot off the press...the DOW rolled out a sweeping change proposal for deer hunting regulation on public land at this evenings Wildlife Council meeting. The proposed change is two fold. First, only one antlerless deer per hunter statewide on public ground and second, only antlered deer may be taken on public ground after the statewide 7 day gun season. These changes will be voted on by council at the April meeting.

Might this increase early season pressure on public land? Possibly? But you can still only take 1 doe. And the impact on late season shed buck harvest should be dramatic.

As I continue to preach...change is coming. To all the chicken littles...apology accepted...
 
#5 ·
Hot off the press...the DOW rolled out a sweeping change proposal for deer hunting regulation on public land at this evenings Wildlife Council meeting. The proposed change is two fold. First, only one antlerless deer per hunter statewide on public ground and second, only antlered deer may be taken on public ground after the statewide 7 day gun season. These changes will be voted on by council at the April meeting.

Might this increase early season pressure on public land? Possibly? But you can still only take 1 doe. And the impact on late season shed buck harvest should be dramatic.

As I continue to preach...change is coming. To all the chicken littles...apology accepted...
I like it can u get it back to low population counties as well as public where it's needed???? Good job stake holders!
 
#11 ·
Hot off the press...the DOW rolled out a sweeping change proposal for deer hunting regulation on public land at this evenings Wildlife Council meeting. The proposed change is two fold. First, only one antlerless deer per hunter statewide on public ground and second, only antlered deer may be taken on public ground after the statewide 7 day gun season. These changes will be voted on by council at the April meeting.

Might this increase early season pressure on public land? Possibly? But you can still only take 1 doe. And the impact on late season shed buck harvest should be dramatic.

As I continue to preach...change is coming. To all the chicken littles...apology accepted...
Good news, thanks for sharing. That would make bonus gun and muzzy seasons buck only on public. Good plan. As for apologies I would argue the state owes the public land hunters one for taking action five years later than they should have. In my opinion guys expressing concerns about the states inaction for years deserve an apology for being called chicken littles. Not sure why you feel you deserve one.
 
#21 ·
What would that help unless the person checking your deer in, sits beside you while you hunt? Check in station, call in it makes absolutely no difference. I shoot a doe on public, unless someone is watching me shoot it and check it in to see my answer who is going to know? They are unable to enforce everything. Wondered how long this complaint would take to show up... it's extremely hard to make an honest person out of a criminal.
 
#20 ·
Hot off the press...the DOW rolled out a sweeping change proposal for deer hunting regulation on public land at this evenings Wildlife Council meeting. The proposed change is two fold. First, only one antlerless deer per hunter statewide on public ground and second, only antlered deer may be taken on public ground after the statewide 7 day gun season. These changes will be voted on by council at the April meeting.

Might this increase early season pressure on public land? Possibly? But you can still only take 1 doe. And the impact on late season shed buck harvest should be dramatic.

As I continue to preach...change is coming. To all the chicken littles...apology accepted...
Wow!!! Thats more like it guys!! Finally we are moving a step closer in the right direction!! That's actually a huge step!!! Thanks for all the hard work Mike!! Keep us updated!!
 
#31 ·
Mrex,

I respect everything you are doing and taking the time to keep us update. I’m a public only hunter, my best hunts come the last week of October and the first/second week of November like most people, and now I won’t be able to shoot a buck during prime rut? If this vote is passed.

I’m guessing the reasoning for this is to protect bucks through the rut to breed does?

My real question is why would I want this if I am strictly a buck hunter?
 
#32 ·
Mrex,

I respect everything you are doing and taking the time to keep us update. I'm a public only hunter, my best hunts come the last week of October and the first/second week of November like most people, and now I won't be able to shoot a buck during prime rut? If this vote is passed.

I'm guessing the reasoning for this is to protect bucks through the rut to breed does?

My real question is why would I want this if I am strictly a buck hunter?
I think the antlered only means no doe after gun week but bucks allowed all year. MREX can correct me if im wrong. I read it the way you think at first too.
 
#34 ·
I think this has to include a public land tag doesn't it? Maybe that tag can include private so it doesn't have the fear of being wasted but you can only get one and use one. Otherwise you would probably have to reduce the cost of a public land tag to help prevent widespread abuse. The antlerless tag hasn't been valid in my county after the start of gun week for years. We can't even use antlerless anymore. I dont see a problem with that at all.
 
#35 ·
This portion of the regulation presentation was quite lengthy. From survey data and telecheck data, I think it was mentioned that only a small percentage of Public Land hunters check more than one deer (and really dropped off at three). Also, mentioned approx 14K surveys sent out, 1,100 returned, 94 returned by resident public land hunters.

My summary - public land hunters aren't satisfied with deer sightings and deer harvest. This is an attempt to improve both of these. Reality is that public land hunters can take a two deer a year, a buck and/or doe through gun season. After that, only a buck (but could take a doe through gun season).

To answer kparrott, this doesn't affect your opportunity to take a buck on public land anytime. And of course you can only take one antlered deer a year in any case
 
#41 ·
I was in the room as these proposals were being presented. There is a lot of science and explanation behind these proposed changes. Questions from the Wildlife Council, who come from varied backgrounds (http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/about-contacts/wildlife-council) asked many questions. This group is NOT a rubber stamp of the DOW (nor should they be).

This group will vote on the proposals in April, there is time for your input to be heard (DOW Open Houses on March 3rd).

If requested, I would guess that you'd be able to get additional information on the data that went into this proposal. Talk to the deer biologists and other professionals who work with this day-to-day. I don't think they do it for the money (but I could be wrong).
 
#44 ·
Not trying to start an argument with you but how does DNR know they are shed bucks? I don't remember the phone check in asking me if the deer had holes in the top of its head just antlers over 3'' or whatever it is. I am honestly curious how they would even know this?

How many doe are killed before and during gun week?
 
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#45 ·
My concern with buck afterwards is now guys who don't see many doe will shoot the first buck they see like a spike cause they cant shoot a doe and don't want to waste $25.
Go ahead and burn your 1 buck tag on a spike Ohi. To the guy that does, good for him! I got a couple buddies that only have public land and didn't tag anything this year, both of them would have shot a spike the last month of the season if one presented a shot. If we Ohio hunters don't pressure the snot out of the public land does all season long hopefully a few more bucks will hang around late season. I'd bet alot more would.. Not shooting shed bucks is huge too!

This is all good stuff. If it passes they have tools to monitor outcomes.. Their data plus hunter provided data to manage it for the best outcome for everyone.
 
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#50 ·
I think it’s a great idea. I’m not really sure how to respond to the negative comments. Everyone wants more deer so they are changing the rules to try and get less does shot on public. Now we are going to have a shortage of bucks. Don’t really get that argument. You are still only aloud to shoot one buck per season statewide. I have a feeling that a guy that’s going to shoot a little buck was going to shoot one regardless if it was the new rules or old rules. They had to implement the buck only rule after gun season if they wanted no more does to be shot after gun season. You would have a grey area where people try to say they thought it was a shed buck when they shot it to try and get by with shooting another doe. So I don’t think it has anything to do with them trying to push the trophy potential up so they can make more money. All though it is going to save some shed bucks that are going to be bigger in a year. Sounds like it’s a win win for the public land hunters.
 
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