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  • April 30, 2009

    Common Sense Deer Management-9

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    It’s amazing just how far science and technology have come in recent years in our rapidly changing world. High-tech computers, cell phones and other advanced technological innovations are everywhere you look today. However, it seems to me the one thing that has not tagged along with our fast paced society is basic common sense. Recently, we ran a piece on the BBZ that highlighted a proposed deer management plan from an anti-hunting group known as “In Defense of Animals” that was anything but logical. This group outlined six simple steps that supposedly would balance whitetail herd numbers without the “barbaric” practice of hunting or money that is generated from sportsmen. In my opinion, this advanced management plan has more problems than a crooked politician trying to explain the current state of the economy.

    Here is a common sense breakdown of why a plan like this would never work:

    Step 1: Ban all sport hunting nationwide. This brilliant move would lead to major crop devastation, increased vehicle collisions, starvation and disease. Plus, it would shutdown all state ran wildlife resource agencies, management areas, re-introduction stocking practices and other vital nature oriented programs. All of which are paid for by revenue generated by hunters. 

    Step 2: Re-introduce natural predators such as mountain lions and wolves to balance the herd. The people who support this step would be crying the loudest when the predators eventually overpopulate. When pampered household pets have been turned into bite sized snacks and a few joggers get mauled by a hungry mountain lion, then we’ll see how much these enlightened individuals like their plan. 

    Step 3: Allow fires to burn naturally in wildlife areas. Fires do spark new growth of plants and vegetation that is good for wildlife, but it also destroys whitetail bedding and protective cover. In addition, valuable homes and businesses would be lost if these fires burn out of control, which will cause insurance rates to dramatically increase.  

    Step 4: Prevent humans in residential areas and state parks from feeding deer. First of all, how would these laws be enforced and who’s going to pay for it? 

    Step 5: Outlaw clear-cut logging. I don’t like acres of trees being demolished either, but how can you prevent logging on private land? 

    Step 6: Construct 8-foot high electric fencing around crops and plants. The skyrocketing food prices that would result from this unrealistic project would really help our ailing economy right about now. Can you imagine how many miles of fence it would take? In my opinion, this plan sounds like something straight out of fantasy land and lacks any hint of common sense.

    How about we just stick with what works and support the hunters of the world? In one year, hunters do more for wildlife than any loud mouth anti-hunting group could accomplish in a dozen lifetimes. Pass It On!

    Common Sense Management
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  • April 27, 2009

    Anti-Hunting’s Deer Management Plan-49

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    As a young boy, I can remember a time when you could spend a solid week hunting the mountain country of southeastern Kentucky and only see a few measly does. In fact, just seeing a decent buck during those days was quite an accomplishment. That was close to 18 years ago and a lot has changed across the nation since those days. Currently, there are healthy populations of whitetail deer just about every where you look and things only seem to be getting better with each passing year. People need to stop and think about what really caused this dramatic change. Well, you can bet your bottom dollar that misinformed anti-hunting organizations like “In Defense of Animals” didn’t have anything to do with this unbelievable turn around! The so-called “facts” that groups like these release on their websites and news pamphlets are amazingly pathetic.

    In reality, there are thriving herds of whitetail deer due to intense wildlife management practices, habitat improvement and re-introduction stocking programs that has allowed whitetails to flourish nation wide. Consequently, the money from these projects did not come from Hollywood, PETA or other anti-hunting groups. It was the American hunter who picked up the tab and allowed state ran wildlife resource agencies to implement these costly programs. Money from hunting license and equipment sales has enabled state wildlife resource agencies to balance healthy deer herds despite major problems with human encroachment. 

     

    However, groups like “In Defense of Animals” claim to have a better management plan that involves six simple steps: (1) Ban all sport hunting nation wide. (2) Reintroduce natural predators, such as mountain lions, wolves, and coyotes to maintain existing populations. (3) Allow fires to burn naturally in wildlife areas and limit human habitations in these locations. (4) Prevent humans in residential areas and state parks from feeding deer. (5) Outlaw clear-cut logging. (6) Construct 8-foot high electric fencing around crops and plants. According to this organization, these cutting-edge techniques will control deer populations and create an even ratio of bucks to does. As a hunter and true conservationists, I have to wonder what the weather is like in the world of “Make Believe” after reading this garbage. Checkout the next BBZ piece to find out what the biologists who live in a place called the “Real World” have to say about this plan. Also, give me some feedback regarding the numerous problems with this anti-hunting blueprint. 

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  • April 21, 2009

    My Best Buck-19

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    Without question, one of my favorite bucks of all time never made the record books or the cover of a magazine. It was just an above average deer that came at the absolute perfect time. After a life filled with pressure, deadlines, commitments and long hours at work it finally happened. The man who had always been there for me through all of the basketball games, difficult teenage years and my first heartbreak suddenly didn’t seem invincible anymore. My childhood hero that had taught me how to cast a baitcasting reel, read deer sign and shoot a rifle was suddenly hit with a massive heart attack. The memories of those cool fall morning squirrel hunts, gobbling spring longbeards and that first buck we took together are what kept me from completely breaking down. I began to wonder if the past hunting and fishing trips we shared together were going to be the last.

    Quickly, I pulled myself together and entered the hospital room where my Dad laid helplessly in the bed. Despite my best efforts, he could see the look of despair on my face and tried to comfort me in his weak condition. A straining chuckle broke the awkward silence and he told me something that completely tore me up inside. “I guess my streak will finally come to an end this year,” he said in a depressed voice. It was late October and he had not taken a buck yet that year. My Dad had tagged a buck every single season since he had started hunting and things were looking pretty bleak at this point. The doctor said it would probably be months before he would be back on his feet again and the November gun season was definitely out of the question. By the time December rolled around, he was doing better than expected and I decided that one way or another my old man was going to keep the streak going.

    Fortunately, the late gun season in Tennessee had just opened and I took off two days from work to scout for the perfect stand location. Finally, I found an area covered in hot sign that was a short ATV drive from the main road. The following Saturday we hit the woods hard and it felt good to be back on the chase with my Dad once again. I helped him into the stand and slowly walked away to a setup not far from his tree. In the pre-dawn darkness, I asked God to please send one more buck my Dad’s way. About 30 minutes after daylight, my prayers were answered when the loud roar of his .270 rifle echoed across the deep mountain basin. The handheld radio buzzed and my Dad’s voice crackled when he told me how thankful he was to share one more deer season with his son. That 140-class buck never made the record books, but it will always have a special place in our hearts.

    Best Bucks
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  • April 16, 2009

    Deer Regulations That Work-24

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    A hot topic among many deer hunters across the country is concerning their state’s deer regulations. In recent years, there have been huge strides made in the science of deer management. Consequently, a lot of hunters are learning that allowing immature bucks to walk will ultimately lead to more trophy-class bruisers in the field. Various magazine articles, publicized studies and hunting shows are making the public aware of the amazing impact deer management practices can have on the herd. Currently, a lot of states are beginning to increase the amount of available doe tags and more hunters are harvesting does.

     

    However, there is still a division among hunters and a difference of opinion between states on what deer harvest regulations are needed. For example, some hunters feel there are already too many restrictions on deer hunting and these limitations are responsible for lowering current participation numbers. The rising cost of hunting licenses and tags along with thick regulation books are turning a lot of people away from the outdoors. On the other hand, many other hunters feel that their states simply don’t have enough regulations, especially when it comes to harvesting bucks. These hunters would like to see more conservative restrictions concerning the amount of bucks that can legally be harvested and an increase in the amount of available doe tags. They are also pushing for stricter laws that would protect immature bucks from being tagged before these animals reach maturity. 

    Currently, my home state of Kentucky has dramatically increased the amount of does that hunters can legally harvest each season. In addition, the Bluegrass State has also stuck to a very conservative one buck limit per season regulation. We only have one modern gun season in November and two very short muzzleloading seasons. However, the southern bordering state of Tennessee has a completely different approach. In fact, a hunter can tag at least three bucks in most areas and there are many more opportunities to hunt with a gun or muzzleloader. Right now, places like Mississippi are making dramatic changes concerning their deer harvest regulations and it’s rumored that other states are discussing modifications as well. With that being said, I would like to get some feedback about your state’s current deer regulations. Also, do you think the current deer management practices in your particular state are working? 

     

    Travis 2
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  • April 10, 2009

    Where's Last Year's Buck?-14

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    In many cases, it’s not a well placed hunter’s bullet or arrow that brings an end to a monster buck’s life. Nature and life in general can be extremely difficult for whitetail deer, especially for the male species. Consequently, a lot of luck and skill is involved for a buck to reach a mature age before kicking the bucket. Basically, life is really not like Disney’s cartoon “Bambi” or another make believe world that many anti-hunting groups believe is out there. There are actually a lot of things in a whitetail’s living environment that are a lot worse than death by a hunter. In fact, a quick and humane kill from a hunter is a pretty good proposition considering the other alternatives.

     

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    For example, during a spring turkey hunt with my good friends Harold Knight and David Hale, we found an amazing buck that had tragically died in his prime last fall. The buck’s rack had unbelievable tine length and mass. It appeared this heavy-racked bruiser had fell victim to the notorious “Blue-Tongue” disease. The boney carcass and rack were found wasting away in the shallow end of a secluded creek. Immediately, we started discussing how many big bucks meet their demise in similar ways. Sadly, many of the buck’s that were leaving behind gigantic sign last year mysteriously vanish for a lot of hunters the following fall. Unfortunately, these bad boys have not moved areas, changed patterns, or switched over to a strict nocturnal schedule. 

    In reality, natural diseases like blue-tongue, vehicle collisions, starvation and lethal injuries sustained during the rut are responsible for making your buck disappear. As hunters, we all hate hearing about a phenomenal buck being taken out like this, but it’s a fact of life that we all must confront. Finding a monster buck dead along the highway, locked up with another giant in the woods or rotting somewhere in a creek is a common tale that can make you sick to your stomach. As of right now, this makes a total of three trophy-class bucks that I’ve personally seen dead from causes other than hunting. Harold Knight and David Hale have also found several other bruiser bucks dead in their home state of Kentucky during the blue-tongue outbreak a couple of seasons ago. I would like know if any of you have similar stories about this topic? Please post a comment on the BBZ and let us know what you’ve been finding in your hunting area. 

    Harold and David
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  • April 6, 2009

    Price Of A Buck-41

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    Growing up in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky allowed me to fully experience nature and the outdoors on a very personal level. In fact, I was busting bushy tails with a single shot .22 rifle before I was even able to walk very well. Hunting and the outdoors was not a hobby, but a way of life in my family. We planned vacations around the November rut and I was even allowed to play hooky from school when the big boys were on the prowl. I guess my background and love for the outdoors has shaped and molded a person that some may consider being a little out of touch with modern society. Heck some of you may even think that I am about two sandwiches shy from a full picnic after you hear what I turned down last Wednesday.

     

    On the other hand, my father and son knew exactly where I was coming from and supported my decision with the passion of two real deer hunters. I was actually contacted by phone and offered just over $2,000 greenbacks for the massive racked Kansas bruiser that I shot with my bow last season. There was no way after hunting five straight days from daylight until dark that I was going to let this bad boy slip off of my wall. Don’t get me wrong, there is no doubt that I could definitely use the money right now. However, I simply can not put a price tag on this buck or any of my bucks for that matter. I had several close encounters with my Kansas giant before finally connecting with him on the last day of the hunt. I guess there really are some things left in this high-tech world that money can’t buy. This is especially true when you’re talking about a mountain hunting hillbilly that lives and breathes to deer hunt! Give me some feedback and let me know what you would have done in the same situation. 

    Price of a Buck
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