OTC Mule Deer tags Sask
- Thread starter scott_r
- Start date
There already is a separate season for archery only if you get drawn.
Muzzle loading hunters had their own season on the Mule deer draw for a few years. They then got put in with the draw system like everyone else.
Bowhunting should be zone specific in a draw, at the same odds as any other hunters of having an opportunity to hunt.
Bowhunting should be zone specific in a draw, at the same odds as any other hunters of having an opportunity to hunt.
A whitetail draw in this day and age probably would be a good thing. The herds are so low.
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
What confuses me is why there is an either ### tag available? How the !&$% does that make any sense? If the Mulies are as they are in my area bouncing back from being hit hard by the winters of 13-14 why are they allowing an antlerless(doe/fawn) harvest??
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Exactly, and not just either ### but many zones have a doe draw as well. Even zones that up until last year had no archery tags available either. Explain that. Serm baffles me.
I am a bow hunter. My success on mulies with archery gear is less then 20%. I have seen a lot of nice deer that had I had my rifle my success rate would be closer to 90%. I enjoy the peace and tranquility of bow hunting. I also enjoy the burger and sausage of a successful hunt. If I have to wait 10 years to get drawn guess which weapon I'm taking. That means a deer almost every time I'm drawn vs every 3 or 4 if I use my bow. Most guys I know are getting drawn every 2-3 years for mule deer. And don't even start about the better archery equipment. Anyone recall a show Best of the Wast. Some hi tech equipment and practice allow for killing shots that 15 years ago were unheard of.
Used to be 100% for draw only. Now 100% for over the counter tags for all species. As well as the abolishment of seasons, ###, bag limits and hunting zones. Now we're all equal...everyone can excercise their right to hunt. People keep telling me the resource is public so what could be more public than access for all.
I have been keeping detailed records and statistics from my hunting forays for the last 6 seasons in Saskatchewan. I have hunted or scouted all over the province from east to west and south to north, prairie to boreal, public and private land. I spend between 50-100 hours a year in the bush, mostly on Provincial pastures and crown forests covering 100 miles by foot. Our wildlife populations are pathetic across the province. We need to just get this over with and give everyone access to whatever they want. There is no future for wildlife as long as it remains public.
I likely will never purchase another tag from the government. All my hunting will be behind a high fence on a game preserve. These are the only truly sustainable hunting operations anywhere and it would be wise to invest in these operations as this is the future of wildlife and unfortunately the future of hunting because we just can't manage wildlife sustainably as a public resource.
I have been keeping detailed records and statistics from my hunting forays for the last 6 seasons in Saskatchewan. I have hunted or scouted all over the province from east to west and south to north, prairie to boreal, public and private land. I spend between 50-100 hours a year in the bush, mostly on Provincial pastures and crown forests covering 100 miles by foot. Our wildlife populations are pathetic across the province. We need to just get this over with and give everyone access to whatever they want. There is no future for wildlife as long as it remains public.
I likely will never purchase another tag from the government. All my hunting will be behind a high fence on a game preserve. These are the only truly sustainable hunting operations anywhere and it would be wise to invest in these operations as this is the future of wildlife and unfortunately the future of hunting because we just can't manage wildlife sustainably as a public resource.
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So based on 50-100 hours per year and 100 miles on foot you know the population of the entire province?
Please post your detailed records to back up your claims.
Three little letters boys.
CWD
We are screwed in Saskatchewan.
Pull you're heads outa your butts and send in the head minus the rack for testing, do an antler mount only.
Testing counts are way down, CWD is in nearly every zone now even with the limited head tests. There is no answer or cure. Expect 20%+ CWD rates in the next few years.
Look up recipes for gopher stew cause that's going to be safer than deer.
Check Colorado for what to expect.
I mean no offense, but we really need to go on the offensive with total culls (I know they don't work) but with the family I can see not hunting big game for meat in 2-3 yrs. Sucks, but with a 10% or less head testing rate due to our laziness, we're fu****.
Writings on the wall, don't matter whether it's a bow or a 50...
Ps, I gave up doing sausage with people who don't get their heads tested a few years ago, you may want to consider that.
CWD
We are screwed in Saskatchewan.
Pull you're heads outa your butts and send in the head minus the rack for testing, do an antler mount only.
Testing counts are way down, CWD is in nearly every zone now even with the limited head tests. There is no answer or cure. Expect 20%+ CWD rates in the next few years.
Look up recipes for gopher stew cause that's going to be safer than deer.
Check Colorado for what to expect.
I mean no offense, but we really need to go on the offensive with total culls (I know they don't work) but with the family I can see not hunting big game for meat in 2-3 yrs. Sucks, but with a 10% or less head testing rate due to our laziness, we're fu****.
Writings on the wall, don't matter whether it's a bow or a 50...
Ps, I gave up doing sausage with people who don't get their heads tested a few years ago, you may want to consider that.
You always ask me for my records. Remember I provided them to you on 2 separate occasions? For last year and the year previous. Get off your private bait pile and walk some PFRA's. I suggest the Biggar and Purdue pastures because they're close to you. Then you can check out Wolverine, Kelvington, Asquith, Dundurn, Montrose, Rudy Rosedale, Mcdonald, Aberdeen, Borden, Lampard, and the list goes on. I've walked about half of the PFRA's in this province. They all suck as far as I'm concerned. Just big land with very little wildlife in general. But if we lose these lands then you may as well kiss all public land goodbye cause almost all of the public land south of the forest fringe are in PFRA's. Far as I'm concerned...sell it all!! Ain't worth keepin public.
Privatize it all and charge a fee to hunt. Then watch the wildlife make a comeback. Then you can have all the over the counter tags you want cause the guys who manage their properties for wildlife will finally be able to capitalize on the resource and they'll control access and the hunters will set the price. All the freeloaders who don't want to pay to hunt can go on public land and struggle to find something mature to shoot.
You provide me with your numbers...you got any partner?
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privatizing of the land wont help hunters it will help only the few that can afford the hefty price of tags (trust me they are doing that in almost all European countries) ... you will remove what Canada is good for ... on the hunting side.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Interesting debate guys. I moved out of the province 18 yrs ago. In the 90s there were zones with so many whitetails you could buy a trophy and two non-trophy, and if you hadn't had enough fun, there were a few parts of some zones that would sell you another two tags. Now you're saying the whitetail herds are so thin there is yelling over restricting tags? What a difference! And, why the plummeting numbers? Is it all CWD and hard winters, or is it illogical management and too many hunters? The bow hunters and muzzleloaders can't be putting THAT much pressure on the herds to cause a decline.
I chased antelope until the season was closed for two-three years. Everyone in my party got surveys and we all agreed there were too few goats to support a fair hunt. The low numbers were blamed on population cycles originating in the US herds.
I hunted mulies a few years, but gave up because they were too easy to shoot. The does especially! But, two relatives got substantial bucks one year. One just got into the book, the other was just out.
I chased antelope until the season was closed for two-three years. Everyone in my party got surveys and we all agreed there were too few goats to support a fair hunt. The low numbers were blamed on population cycles originating in the US herds.
I hunted mulies a few years, but gave up because they were too easy to shoot. The does especially! But, two relatives got substantial bucks one year. One just got into the book, the other was just out.
Oh I remember, and they are a joke. Anecdotal at best, no real science. Info based on one individuals extremely limited observations.
I would say your lack of sightings has more to do with your hunting skill than actual population.
Here are a few still walking around and a couple taken last year.
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Oh I remember, and they are a joke. Anecdotal at best, no real science. Info based on one individuals extremely limited observations.
I would say your lack of sightings has more to do with your hunting skill than actual population.
Here are a few still walking around and a couple taken last year.
Those are beautiful animals. It's nice to see that you take them at 5 or 6 years of age, possibly older. Too many guys take them before they reach maturity. However, the fact cannot be understated that you have the luxury of owning your own land and living full time in an area with decent habitat and ample space for big game to roam, with relatively little hunting pressure compared to most other areas. Also you have the ability to control access to your property and spend time baiting and holding out for the big ole boys.
I have limited time as I work full time and my land is 800km away. Make no mistake I'm no fool. I get my mature buck almost every year too. And my property has elk, deer and bears that Americans would pay big cash to shoot as well as ruffed grouse, sharp tails, snowshoe hares and coyotes like few public places I have seen.
Now imagine you had every hillbilly with 2 hands buying a tag over the counter and watch the wildlife vanish.
And what do you think science is? It's observations that form the basis of data. I'm simply forming conclusions based on my field observations. No different than a government population survey other than the fact they may use a plane. Buddy I had to complete an experiment in university to get my degree so I'm well aware of how to properly conduct research and analyse data.
So you prove my point.
Your observations have more to do with habitat than actual population. You are looking at some of the poorest habitat there is for a tiny amount of time and coming to flawed conclusions.
My land and surrounding area receive tons of pressure September through December. Elk, whitetails, mules, moose, varmints and upland. The moose hunting is phenomenal.
You are like the weekend fisherman who claims the walleye population is low in a lake, when those who know the lake have no problem catching their limit.
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Where I am all you see is mule deer. Last year was the first time I seen any white tail in 4 years. Mule deer I see hundreds every year. No shortage of them where I am.
