Has anyone else noticed less deer in WMU # 65

[rlg]

My buddy and I do an annual bow hunting trip in WMU # 65 on some land near Maxville, Ontario. We hunted from the 1st to the 4th this week and saw a total of 4 dear. Based on past experience, that is not normal. Not only did we not see many deer, but the evidence of deer such as droppings, tracks, scrapings, etc., was also almost non-existent.

The person that runs the B & B we stay at while hunting said that she regularly saw herds of 15 to 20 dear in her far back cornfield in the previous years. She said that this year she occasionally sees one or two animals at a time.

I had heard that there has been a reduction in the deer population in that area, but I did not think it was so dramatic. I am no biologist, but I think that a reduction of that magnitude can only be caused by some disease.

Regards
Robert

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

The deer population has been down for almost two years, two winters ago there were too many deer combined with poor conditions and many does aborted their fawns. Kill numbers were way down for everyone I talk to, it will be several years until we reach the levels that we had, the fact that nearly the same number of doe tags were issued last year as the year before means that a good number were killed at a time when they shouldn't have been.

 

[phishstik]

I farm near Morrisburg and we have seen tons of them this year. Less turkeys though..

 

[archie126]

No disease I'd say just couple of harsh winters, more tags, the population is down which is likely a good thing.

 

[beefman]

My thoughts: (WMU 65-Cornwall area)

1. a couple of long-late winters/ heavy snow cover 2-3 years ago, put the kibosh to the extraordinarily high deer numbers.

2. MNR did not respond immediately by cutting doe tag numbers.

3. Coyote populations are VERY high, and fawn predation is another key factor.

The #'s are improving...slowly.

Hope to be back to the 2003-4-5 levels, soon.

 

[diemaco]

I think beefman nailed it. The last couple years have been terrible hunting. I hunt 64A,66A, and 65. I've been seeing more deer this year though, and we had a good year weather wise. I think if we have another decent winter, the population will to to go back to where it was.

 

[rlg]

My thoughts: (WMU 65-Cornwall area)1. a couple of long-late winters/ heavy snow cover 2-3 years ago, put the kibosh to the extraordinarily high deer numbers. 2. MNR did not respond immediately by cutting doe tag numbers.3. Coyote populations are VERY high, and fawn predation is another key factor.The #'s are improving...slowly. Hope to be back to the 2003-4-5 levels, soon.

I think that your assesment makes sense, especially to point about the doe tags.

I think if we have another decent winter, the population will to to go back to where it was.

I hope you are right.

 

[12pointer]

well there is lots of factors but the biggest factor is for about two years you could purchase up to six or five tags for theses areas and every one shot every thing that came two theme fawns does bucks it was a sloter i know some groups shot 20 some deer in one week so it doesnt take long to thin out the heards and than there is coyote population concerns as well how many deer have thay killed/eaten so thats my conclusion .but the smarter hunters that didnt kill off all there does/fawns still have some great hunting left

 

[yorgi]

well there is lots of factors but the biggest factor is for about two years you could purchase up to six or five tags for theses areas and every one shot every thing that came two theme fawns does bucks it was a sloter i know some groups shot 20 some deer in one week so it doesnt take long to thin out the heards and than there is coyote population concerns as well how many deer have thay killed/eaten so thats my conclusion .but the smarter hunters that didnt kill off all there does/fawns still have some great hunting left

BINGO, all your points are CORRECT!!!
Don't forget to add the "nuisance tag" program to your list, many a deer have dropped prematurely because of it. It's a limited resource people....
MNR acted foolishly and in the stupor of filling government coffers with extra tag cash went overboard.
Our gang has had a self-imposed buck-only rule for the last three years. Not helping our cause much however since the neighbouring gangs help themselves to all the does we let walk away...