Anyone else passing up does this year?

[Bucksnbows]

The last year, especially after the last deer season ended, hunters all over NJ complained very loudly about a significant lack of deer numbers throughout the state.  These hunters blamed a variety of reasons or combinations of reasons including unlimited antlerless, EAB early fall bow seasons, increased predators, lack of mast crops (except last fall), too many acorns (last fall and winter), slob hunters shooting more than they eat, seasons lasting into February, etc.  I know that the zone 6 area I have hunted mainly over the last 25+ years saw a steady increase in herd numbers peaking maybe 4 or 5 years ago that quickly saw a significant decline over the last 2 or 3 years.  But I also know others such as Rusty who also hunt zone 6 who have situations where there is not enough hunting access to keep deer numbers in check and where the continued culling of antlerless deer is a must.

 

My question is, how many are sitting out the current EAB or deciding not to take any does this year so that the herds in your area can start recovering in number?  While not scientific, I do see fewer posts with "Doe Down" here and on Canadian Hunter, errr, I mean NJH since EAB opened yesterday.  I know my club is not shooting does this year in any season.  Some years we took as many as 7 does off our 124 acres, but have only taken 3 baldies in the last 2 seasons and will be shooting zero this year.  For those that complained loudly that the state is "not doing enough" or that the state "only cares about the revenue", have you altered your hunting for antlerless deer or not?  I'm curious where others fall on this topic....

 

Lastly, I fully realize that many areas of the state still need significant culling, but most of those areas are where hunting is either severely limited or not allowed at all.  I also realize certain county park systems such as Hunterdon require hunters to first shoot an antlerless deer before they can buck hunt, even in seasons like regular fall bow where EAB is not mandatory as it is in the current early season.         

[BowhunterNJ]

In the spots I hunt now I rarely shoot does anymore. The numbers just aren't there. EAB has done a job on them.

 

 

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[Buck154]

My main property i hunt i rarely take a doe from there cause i don't have many living there. I need there in the rut to bring in the bucks i perfer to take (older). As for the guys that complain about not being able to see or take a deer ... well i think they just need to get out and do a little more (be come a hunter). I can go in probably almost any zone on state land and find and take deer. Yes there is less deer but there is also a lot less land for them to live in.

I will take a doe soon as i can get out so i can have a chance at a possible shooter early season. If i don't i will most likely have to wait for late October when bucks start moving around more.

[Bucksnbows]

 As for the guys that complain about not being able to see or take a deer ... well i think they just need to get out and do a little more (be come a hunter). I can go in probably almost any zone on state land and find and take deer. Yes there is less deer but there is also a lot less land for them to live in.

 

I wasn't so much talking about hunters that complain they see too few deer based on lack of hunting skills but rather the fact that deer harvest numbers were off significantly last year.  As for there being "a lot less land for them to live in", NJ's human population continues to shrink and development has all but halted for nearly a decade, so I discount that as a reason.  We have basically the same amount of land to hunt today as a decade ago, more in fact, but not significantly more.  And when I say "more", I mean more public land as NJ continues to do a good job of land preservation.  

 

Like you, not having many does around is one of the main reasons I won't shoot one, hoping that the few we do have attract mature bucks during the rut.  

[LPJR]

With the return of EHD in Zone 13 several times in the past 6 years, I will not even draw back on a doe in that zone.

 

The numbers most definitely need to increase.

[Buck154]

Bucksnbows. In central part of the state there is still fare amount of building going on. But the state has got more land to hunt now compared to 10 years ago. It wouldn't bother me one bit it they got rid of the EAB. I would rather wait for cooler weather myself

[Bucksnbows]

Bucksnbows. In central part of the state there is still fare amount of building going on. But the state has got more land to hunt now compared to 10 years ago. It wouldn't bother me one bit it they got rid of the EAB. I would rather wait for cooler weather myself

 

That will be the only part of NJ to see any significant growth given the Pinelands and Highlands Acts.  That and (hopefully) regentrification of our inner cities and brownfield areas.  

[Bucndoe]

I don't do EAB and I don't hunt the early season. I only shoot does before the rut and never after. Just the way I hunt

[mattg1500]

I have not shot a doe in about 7 years. This year I am getting groups of up to 11 on cam so I am thinking I mite have to take 1 or 2  before the rut starts or the buck will have too many options 

[JHbowhunter]

I am not shooting any around my neighborhood in z5.... The doe numbers are not there.   Good number of juvenile bucks though, including a decent crop of 2.5 year olds. I would honestly say the doe to buck ratio on this 200 acre haven, went from 3 doe to one buck to 1 doe to 3 buck. This was a gradual occurrence since 2002, the regs are taking their toll on the doe population. I am not counting fawns in my stats.  The biggest drop-off in adult doe occurred last year. Even in 2014, I had several groups of 6+ adult doe roaming around. Now there are zero groups like that - just a few singles, and two others with fawns.

 

The spot I have about 7 miles away, last year had more does than I could count or estimate. Even that spot, is showing a lot more buck than doe this season so far. I will take an EAB there most likely, although I am not that motivated. It's not a priority.

 

So many "Experts" tried to tell me what I was seeing last season was the fault of a bumper acorn crop - which I say is BS.  When you live in an area and study the herd for as long as I have, you just know.     Very poor acorn crop so far this year - the funny thing is, for every one new acorn I see on the forest floor, there are 20 old ones from last season that never got eaten.  I have never seen a year where the entire mast crop wasn't fully consumed.   Not enough deer (mainly doe) left to eat the best acorn crop in years.   I have had other years where acorn crop was nearly as good though, and never had better deer hunting.

Edited September 11, 2016 by JHbowhunter

[smoking gun]

I wasn't so much talking about hunters that complain they see too few deer based on lack of hunting skills but rather the fact that deer harvest numbers were off significantly last year.  As for there being "a lot less land for them to live in", NJ's human population continues to shrink and development has all but halted for nearly a decade, so I discount that as a reason.  We have basically the same amount of land to hunt today as a decade ago, more in fact, but not significantly more.  And when I say "more", I mean more public land as NJ continues to do a good job of land preservation.  

 

Like you, not having many does around is one of the main reasons I won't shoot one, hoping that the few we do have attract mature bucks during the rut.

 

I took a ride up 31 today thru Hopewell and seen a large mound of stone and construction equipment in a area that held deer so yea that's gonna be less space for them and the one property I hunt they put up more homes in a major bedding ground

[rgw]

[JHbowhunter]

for the second time since 11:30 am, there is a velvet spike and 1.5 year old doe right on edge of my lawn at 30 yards off my deck. Probably brother and sister from last year. I could easily dial in the HHA and take out that perfect size doe that would not be orphaning any fawns. A) - would not be a "hunt" and B ) again - need all the does we can around these parts to rebuild stocks decimated by F&G mis-management, several brutal winters in a row (not last though thankfully) and too many coyotes and bears.

Edited September 11, 2016 by JHbowhunter

[3Blade]

I am on a township "management" hunt since its inception and am required to take doe in order to shoot a buck and remain in the hunt. I am at the point where I have only been shooting one doe a season for the last three years. I know there are still guys in the hunt that will shoot at almost any doe that gives them a shot and what is funny, they seem to complain about the low numbers yet continue to shoot multiple doe. The spot I am assigned to does not have anywhere near what it did before the hunt and EHD. Even though numbers seem to be stable now, I will continue to shoot 1 doe max at this location.

Edited September 12, 2016 by 3 Blade

[DRBetz]

I am not opposed to shooting a doe this year, but definitely not during earn a buck, mainly because the freezer is full and it is just too hot out. I really only plan on hunting buck during October, after permit bow starts I don't plan on buying an antlered deer permit unless I start seeing a really nice buck from my stand.