Imagine if…

[JHbowhunter]

Bucks like this were spotted in Somerset county backyards.  (Found dead in Iowa).   This should put it into perspective.  NJ ain’t Iowa. Stop pretending it is something it ain’t. Giving bucks stupid names and get it killed and posted at all costs.  
 

Best whitetail hunting series ever made is Chasing November ….

 

Yet many of us continue to “Chase New Jersey” …..

Yes the species can grow this large - maybe not NJ genetics or sub-species but still close.  
 

I still think the biggest issue we face is not “access” but our very own NJ deer biologists that swear in our faces that we do not take enough does while giving out 6 buck tags and trying to force in a 7th  !!!!

 

 

Edited October 31, 2024 by JHbowhunter

[fab]

We chase nj cuz we have to based on each of our own life situations 

 

I , like many don’t have time or resources to chase big deer anywhere.   I hunt where I can.  Deal with the nj drama n keep it moving.  
 

i scaled back alot of my hunting because of the hassle n drama associated with hunting nj.  
 

 I do hunt ny.  On my own land.  Maybe I’ll see a deer this year.  That would be nice.  

I do agree  if we had 2 bucks better one buck all weapons per season we would some larger racks

 

 

 

[vdep217]

Our biggest enemy is habitat.  Sure 2 buck tags may help but the numbers show that hunters killing mire than 3 is miniscule any way. So why not put that effort into habitat improvements 

Edited October 31, 2024 by vdep217

[Jcol6268]

6 hours ago, vdep217 said:

Our biggest enemy is habitat.  Sure 2 buck tags may help but the numbers show that hunters killing mire than 3 is miniscule any way. So why not put that effort into habitat improvements 

This year, I had two buddies, on the last Thursday and then the last Friday of fall bow shoot small dinkers. Why? They literally said because they were about to get a new buck tag. They may shoot one or two more bucks (small young bucks) because of the same scenario later in the season. Will they shoot 3 bucks? Very unlikely. But our current system has them shooting small bucks. And these guys also try to shoot older mature deer too…they will never understand it though. That’s my personal experience. I can’t be the only guy who knows guys who do the same thing. 
 

 

[Greybeard]

Let the does walk or we'll have no deer, bucks too.  

[nmc02]

You are preaching to the choir....you will not change the minds of meat hunters. A true meat hunter does just that, shoots for meat. There is nothing wrong with it. It's legal and it's their hunt.

On the other hand, I agree with you. I personally only shoot does and bucks that sport an 8 point rack or better. I am the only person in my house that eats it. Therefore, I enjoy the challenge of shooting bigger bucks and if I need meat, I'll shoot a doe.

That being said, wish NJ law allowed less bucks to be shot. 

It is all mindset...you can't change others minds for the most part. I still could not care less about the age of deer. I see some guys obsessed w the age of deer. Makes ZERO difference to me. Giant waste of money sending teeth in for age, in my opinion. 

That is my exact point....everyone has a different opinion/mindset.

Edited October 31, 2024 by nmc02

[hammer4reel]

3 hours ago, Jcol6268 said:

This year, I had two buddies, on the last Thursday and then the last Friday of fall bow shoot small dinkers. Why? They literally said because they were about to get a new buck tag. They may shoot one or two more bucks (small young bucks) because of the same scenario later in the season. Will they shoot 3 bucks? Very unlikely. But our current system has them shooting small bucks. And these guys also try to shoot older mature deer too…they will never understand it though. That’s my personal experience. I can’t be the only guy who knows guys who do the same thing. 
 

 

Thats exactly it .

Many if the guys shooting 2 bucks do just that .

Burn a tag they wouldn’t have if not soon having a new one .

‘age is what Nj lacks in most part .

best genetics and feed can’t do anything for bucks taken as a 1 1/2 year old .

 

reason there aren’t ALOT of guys shooting more than 3 bucks , is those capable of show some restraints .

and don’t shoot a buck on the last day they wouldn’t shoot in the first day .

.

 

Edited October 31, 2024 by hammer4reel

[mike033089]

I could be wrong on this but the argument of habitat seems to be very different north to south of the state. I feel like north Jersey has great habitat.  Farms, woods (not pines) and just look at the size of deer in neighborhoods.  We create edge habitat all over with developments.  Not that I like developments popping up.  

[vdep217]

10 minutes ago, mike033089 said:

I could be wrong on this but the argument of habitat seems to be very different north to south of the state. I feel like north Jersey has great habitat.  Farms, woods (not pines) and just look at the size of deer in neighborhoods.  We create edge habitat all over with developments.  Not that I like developments popping up.  

Our forests are mostly consistent of mature growth that is the issue

[KBfishing]

10 minutes ago, vdep217 said:

Our forests are mostly consistent of mature growth that is the issue

Another product of the state. Do you hunt the pinelands? What is stopping people from cutting down old growth to generate new?

[fab]

If u can’t see or hear houses you probably not shooting book deer.   
 

the giants in nj  like backyards.   

[hammer4reel]

Lots of very good bucks are taken in deep woods here in Nj

Both north and south 

[vdep217]

51 minutes ago, KBfishing said:

Another product of the state. Do you hunt the pinelands? What is stopping people from cutting down old growth to generate new?

The tree huggers.  Its a fight to get controlled burns to

[Turkeyslayer]

NJ will never be Iowa but i’m going to try and make the most out of what I have 

[tcook8296]

Everything plays a role. Its like beating a dead horse Jack.

Back yard hunting, crossbows during archery, baiting, reduced limits from dwellings, extended seasons with multiple buck tags, farmer permits and the biggest is most hunters inability to let small deer walk. There are very few sanctuaries in this state and even those have guys in the back yards with corn piles..

No age, no big bucks period