[JackHarris]

I too have suggested WMAs' and the immediate surrounding region, be re-zoned. I also have a theory, that some may agree with, some may not... Lets all agree that a big vast WMA like "Whittingham" gets the living snot beat out of it. It's premium deer habitat, but between small game season, archery, muzzy, and multiple shotgun days, combined with many a deer drive, it's pretty hard for a herd of deer to find a comfort zone to make it their core area. It's not so much the amount of deer that are taken off such a spot, it's the constant pressure, gunshots, and overall human intrusion that drive the deer out into "unhuntable" areas. Whitetails need sanctuaries. There used to be a massive sanctuary bordering Whittingham, but the Nature's Conservancy opened it up to hunting several years ago. Now what was once a sanctuary- gets hammered as much if not more than Whittingham itself, in terms of deer hunting. (sans the small game hunting). While certainly "unlimited antlerless" and 6 legal bucks a year needs to be trimmed down to something more sensible, like 2 bucks per calendar year any weapon any season of choice, and 2 doe per hunter - I think the bigger issue is reducing the days afield to reduce the pressure on the herd... It will make the hunting BETTER if all firearm/muzzy hunting ended after 6-day, deer driving on public land were eliminated, no September bow hunting, etc... If the pressure on the land were simply reduced - the deer would return.

I would gladly give up total # of days afield in exchange for better quality hunting when afield. As of now- an WMA like Whittingham and the surrounding area have over 150 days of deer hunting...

I know to some it seems sacrilegious as a hunter to beg the F&G to reduce amount of hunting days, especially after fighting so hard to include Sunday bow hunting (do not want that removed), but the seasons are too long, the deer cannot tolerate the pressure.

So my "warped" theory is, reduce the seasons (especially the gun seasons) and it would allow more un-huntable deer to actually be hunted.

 

[OneShot1kill]

Not for nothing but you can't lump all this I to the same category. I am in zone 2, hunt 1,3,4,5 etc. I checked a cam on Saturday that is a trail through an oak flat. Have several pictures with over a dozen plus deer in them. I think it's important to remember that just because YOU aren't seein deer in a particular location doesn't mean the herd is gone, no deer left etc etc. go deeper, get in the thick stuff , the deer are there you just may have to hunt a bit harder to get on them but make no mistake , I can still drive around and spotlight in my area and count over a 100 deer in a 10 to 14 mile loop in my area.

 

[Tablegk]

I'm a relatively new hunter first season for deer was 2015 permit shotgun and 2016 winter bow half over and I know your not gonna smoke a deer or even see a deer every time out but I know I used to see deer all the time by mybgrand mother's house in Sussex when I was younger and even in west Caldwell I would see deer but I've sat several days in the stand with aid of more knowledgeable hunters and I'd say out of 9 sits I've seen deer maybe twice I haven't yet harvested my first deer the only one in range was a yearlying and Im not hurting for meat that bad.

 

[Stanton hunter]

Speaking for zone 8and12 where I hunt,deer sightings are down from the stand! That said,a simple car ride around these property's will show you close too 40or50 deer every day in ether developments or safety zones! They just simply avoid the huntable areas in daylight! My game cameras prove that point all to well,every night I have herds of 10-20 at all most every spot! They come in and hour or two after dark an are gone well before legal light!As others have said,I am all for banning public property deer drives an ending all shotgun hunting after December! If they want to leave the season as long as it is now that's fine! Make it bow and muzzleloader only after the new year! A reduced harvest limit wouldn't hurt either, how about 6deer a year(3either sex and 3doe) statewide all weapons combined! The state can keep their permit fees for access to each zone(so they don't lose any money)!

 

[bigfish525]

I don't understand why you guys cant get the facts in your heads. The DFW job is to get the deer numbers down, not to give you hunting opportunities.You keep shooting every doe you see than cry there are no deer around. Keep drinking the cool-aide.

 

[37591]

This was the first year I hunted in New Jersey so I cannot say, but I saw deer throughout the fall and winter that were within firearm range, but I had to wait until January to get one within archery range during shooting hours. I also see a lot of deer along the parkway and highways, I just don't think they are huntable for the most part.

 

[fishnhunt80]

I think that people are noticing that the herd is down in areas that are heavily hunted.. I spent a lot of time scouting and found an area in a WMA that is absolutely loaded with deer.. It's different all over the state. Some areas are down others are thriving.

 

[RussA]

I think that people are noticing that the herd is down in areas that are heavily hunted.. I spent a lot of time scouting and found an area in a WMA that is absolutely loaded with deer.. It's different all over the state. Some areas are down others are thriving.

I love statements like this, I went in deep and found all the deer... Really? There are only a handful of WMA's from Monmouth CO to Sussex CO that you can maybe walk 1 mile in, let alone really deep. I also highly doubt that no one ever goes really deep in in recent years.

This really deep thing has to be the funniest thing I have ever heard.

 

[RussA]

duplicate

 

[Pintail]

To some, really deep is not being able to see the truck? I have seen people spray paint the trees so they wouldn't get lost....pathetic

 

[X7_]

It is quite obvious the numbers are down. How much is just a guess.

 

[tcook8296]

The herd is definitely down in most areas but there are still deer out there. Pressure, is the #1 reason why people are not seeing deer. These deer have been taking a pounding for years now. Their instincts guide them to cover 1st and food 2nd. They know where the safe areas are and they are programmed to retreat to these areas. As the hunting season progresses, deer move later and later in high pressure areas and eventually they are completely nocturnal. Give them both cover and food that's where you find them. Sanctuaries are necessary for their survival. If you are only getting night time pics, there is too much pressure on your property. Establish a safe area on your property and the deer will pile in and you will see more day time activity. I could probably kill this deer by the end of the weekend if I really wanted too. He has been moving mostly at night however the the cold from the last couple days had him on his feet as well as the rest of the herd

This other buck was a night crawler too but he got comfy in his sanctuary and I shot him on the first sit when he showed himself in one of my food plots

 

[jumpthestring]

zone 3 , deer are almost extinct. 40 yrs of deer hunting never seen so bad. i hunt private and public and both are the same. no deer and hardly any sign . no scat, trails, and hardly no tracks. oh and i go in deep.lol

 

[fishnhunt80]

You can hate all you want.. There are big WMA's.. I'm speaking specifically about Black River WMA which is over 3000 acres. In my scouting I found a bunch of stands and learned where not to go.. I never said I went deep either. I found a section of the WMA that isn't hunted as hard and the herd is huge there. Do your homework and don't take the obvious route. Hunt smart.

I love statements like this, I went in deep and found all the deer... Really? There are only a handful of WMA's from Monmouth CO to Sussex CO that you can maybe walk 1 mile in, let alone really deep. I also highly doubt that no one ever goes really deep in in recent years.

This really deep thing has to be the funniest thing I have ever heard.

 

[JoeS500]

My brother and I hunt zones 50, 16, 13, and 8. This season sightings were way down. Seems like it's been getting worse every year. We manage to still take a few good bucks and let all small bucks walk. It sure isn't what it used to be 5 or even 10 years ago. Between tresspassers, unlimited doe and long liberal seasons deer don't have a chance anymore, atleast the properties where I hunt. It's a real shame to be honest. This was the first year that I didn't have one decent buck on my backyard trail cam. Previous years it was nothing to have a dozen or so "shooters" or mature bucks show up along with numerous does through out the year. Everyone I talk to is in the same boat and complains about the same issues.

 

[not on the rug]

we can only vote based on the DMZs we frequent.... I can't speak for the entire state but in Sussex County - I would say "way" down.

Warren county is way down too. Public spots and private spots. The amount of deer that I see and friends all see is substantially lower than it was just a few years ago

 

[JackHarris]

Now the natural reaction to this poll should be those in the 51% should find out where those in the 13% are hunting and start "looking for your dogs... " [lol]

I don't really mean that - happy for those that find the deer herd is just fine where they hunt.... Perhaps I am to blame for the demise of my own area - just by posting on here in the first place...

 

[pqreturn62]

Seems like almost everyone agrees that the deer are down. Simple solution. Shoot 1 doe for meat, wait for horns, if you dont shoot another by 6day, take 1 more doe. After that don't touch the does. Everyone knows its the doe population that controls the fawn numbers. I dont know how many get taking by coyotes and bear every year but I do know this, if half the does produce at least 1 fawn, you looking at upwards of a 25,000 fawn birth number. Even if half die you have still helped increase the population by almost 15% not including any natural deaths. Do that a few years in a row and you have good numbers again. Also, help create their habitat, don't just hunt in it. The better the food and shelter the better the survival rates.

 

[tcook8296]

Now the natural reaction to this poll should be those in the 51% should find out where those in the 13% are hunting and start "looking for your dogs... " [lol]

I don't really mean that - happy for those that find the deer herd is just fine where they hunt.... Perhaps I am to blame for the demise of my own area - just by posting on here in the first place...

I think those that are not seeing deer could possibly be using wildgame cameras[drinking]

 

[11pointer]

When does days were 3 days and muzzleloader season were shorter you still saw a decent amount of deer even on.public land. Now every weekend in alot of zones it's all about driving. If you were a deer would you hang around? Its kind of simple lessen days in every season ..on the front end of bow start the season everywhere first Saturday in october. Close unlimited does on public land. End all gun seasons on Dec 31st. No more two at a time on public land. It's very easy to tell a guy not to shoot does if they aren't seeing any but billy and the crew are driving every weekend killing anything that moves.