It's official, Lower deer harvest in 2013-2014 seasons

[Sticky Stokes]

I think it has alot to do with echeck in.

I wondered how long it would take for someone to bring up the echeck issue....lol.... so..how many deer do you think were harvested that were NOT echecked in? And don't you think those same people that didn't echeck also would not have gone to an on site check station when those were available?

 

[Sticky Stokes]

"The deer were less concentrated because food and water was more widely available as compared to previous years. In many parts of the state, there was a bumper acorn crop. So, it's no wonder that deer weren't visiting corn feeders or food plots," he said.

In most of the state, much denser foliage and taller grass growth brought on by milder and wetter conditions also hindered hunters' ability to sight deer in the field.

If this is a valid excuse for lower harvest numbers, what about this coming season? The dang grass at both of my farms is head high and growing and and the weather conditions this year have been way milder and wetter than last year....I might not even see a deer under this rationale.

 

[retrieverman]

Personally, I love echeck, because there wasn't a check station very close. I have also had the nearest one closed at random, odd times, and I would have to drive further with hopes the next one would be open. As inconvenient as it was, I played by the rules and did what I had to do to get my deer checked, but it would have been easy to not to at times.

I saw ALOT of deer last year, but I didn't kill a buck because I didn't a chance at "the one" that I wanted. I did kill three does, and unless there is a big buck I like, I may only kill does again this year.

My place is like Sticky Stokes'. It's grown up and thick. I'll bring my tractor up next trip and start the road mowing process, and I'm actually heading over to give my wife a tour of the place in a few minutes. She hasn't been up here in 9 years. I haven't been up in three weeks, so I'll have a better idea as to what I'm facing next time.

 

[justin_h635]

The weather was not that bad. Hunters are going to hunt. Yes, it snowed but I would say hunters still ventured out. It was bad in a few SW counties (correct me if I am wrong) but the majority on opening weekend was drivable.

 

[Sticky Stokes]

I killed my buck last year 2nd day of rifle in a sleet storm, it was nasty but definitely do-able.

 

[Okie4570]

E check is great, saves me a ton of time, miles and is always open. I think the roads weren't the issue during rifle, people just didn't want to sit out in the elements.

 

[r00s7a]

The weather was not that bad. Hunters are going to hunt. Yes, it snowed but I would say hunters still ventured out. It was bad in a few SW counties (correct me if I am wrong) but the majority on opening weekend was drivable.

Perhaps not in your area, but we had one of the worst ice storms on record. It pretty much closed the season early in my parts.

 

[Oklahomabassin]

Perhaps not in your area, but we had one of the worst ice storms on record. It pretty much closed the season early in my parts.

Yes and when the timber is crashing down it gets pretty noisy.

 

[r00s7a]

Dang right. I've never been so nervous before in my life, laying in bed that first night with all these huge pines snapping left and right. Sounded like gunfire all night long, I just knew one was coming through the roof. House down the road had the top break off bout a 50 ft pine tree, came down and perfectly speared the roof. It looked deadly if someone happened to be in the room below.