Ft. Sill Deer Survey Results.....looks like a bad year ahead of us

[Davs2601]

Here is the info cut out of this week Cannoneer. Looks like numbers are way down. The total deer quota has been dropped by 220 deer range wide. I figure all of Oklahoma will experience the same drop in numbers. This coupled with all the new X-bow hunters I think my season will be poor at best.

http://www.swoknews.com/main.asp?SectionID=22&SubSectionID=455&AdId=2910

 

[badaugherty]

Looks like we're not going to have much an acorn crop either.

 

[bigcountryok]

1) This is one small section of the state. Why do you think that the entire state will experience this same report.
2) I was under the impression that the majority of that part of the state was becoming over populated as it was. If this is the case why is a decrease in the deer population a bad thing?
3) Why do you beleive that X-bows are going to have a negative effect on your hunts or the deer population?

 

[rlt7272]

Read last week that the deer numbers at Arcadia were down also.

 

[Jared]

sounds like were doing something right. lower deer populations can create healthier deer herds, and that can mean more trophy animals.

 

[dennishoddy]

We are still doing spotlight surveys for the DMAP, so I don't know how the numbers are going to be yet.

 

[Davs2601]

Im a fan of a healthy herd, but could care less about trophys

sounds like were doing something right. lower deer populations can create healthier deer herds, and that can mean more trophy animals.

 

[oneshotonekill]

It's a good thing if you ask me. Less deer =healthier heard. I would imagine those snowstorms really knocked a lot of the older/sick deer out.

 

[Davs2601]

1. I beleive the low numbers is due to the harsh winter. It wasnt just the lawton/ft sill area that was effected and expect the same throughout much of the state

2. I have never heard of an overpopulation of deer in sw oklahoma....it never seems that way when i hunt down there.

3.From things I have read on bowsite forums retailers are having a hard time keeping up with the demand. they are flying off the shelves. I think this fall with be filled with new xbow hunters. I hunt only publci land so this will have a dramatic effect on my deer hunting, whether it be wounded or killed animals or just more folks in the public areas.

1) This is one small section of the state. Why do you think that the entire state will experience this same report.
2) I was under the impression that the majority of that part of the state was becoming over populated as it was. If this is the case why is a decrease in the deer population a bad thing?
3) Why do you beleive that X-bows are going to have a negative effect on your hunts or the deer population?

 

[Davs2601]

One article i read suggested that it was post rut and the weather may have hit bucks really hard cooming out of the rut....who knows I still plan to spend as much time out there as years past