Hunting and fishing have long been necessary tools to manage big game and fish populations. With the growing human population this has never been truer. We are invading and negatively affecting their habitat more every year. I have seen the changes over the years and the resultant effects have been mostly positive. I won't go into great depth in any one area, but this blog chapter is both research based and from personal experience.
First of all, deer hunting. It has long been accepted that deer hunting in the U.S is buck only, except in areas whereas the overall populations are growing too rapidly for their environment. Most of the successful doe fertilization is from bucks 3 1/2 years and older, but young bucks of 1 1/2 to 2 years old collectively may sire 15-25% of all fawns. In Wisconsin research showed that the average buck may breed 7-8 does each year before being depleted.
The research for average ratio of bucks vs does is much more complex. Hunters, outdoor writers, and even biologists refer to 10:1 or 15:1 doe:buck ratios. These cannot be pre-hunt ratios because as long as the current population is reproducing and recruiting fawns, the ratio cannot be more than a maximum of 5:1. Even in the absence of doe harvest, a certain percentage of does die each year from various non-hunting factors.
Although the regulations regarding point restrictions are a successful way to allow bucks to breed successfully while young the lingering dogma about shooting only bucks troubles me. If you've ever bow hunted whitetails you'll know just how smart a doe can be. She is never any easier to harvest. Which to me begs the question "Won't allowing the harvest of bucks and does equally keep the population more in balance rather than harvesting bucks only?" If you feel that every doe harvested will also kill one fawn, then how many less fawns are produced with less bucks?
We have two properties that we hunt at both our homes in Michigan and Texas. In Michigan this is solely whitetails, and the population has declined in our county during the past 20 years. Although we're retired now and no longer hunt there, I would watch the property all year, even planting buckwheat and bean cover crops to attract them. We saw the highs and lows. In 12 years of hunting there I harvested 4 does in archery season. I also took 1 spike and 2 very nice 8 pointers during gun season. Some years I hunted elsewhere. Does with fawns were always off limits and I never allowed others to hunt it. Of course, the yearly replacing the NO HUNTING NO TRESSPASSING signs was never fun. Even with retirement I have the local sheriff's office randomly patrol as we're no longer there during season. It doesn't help much. Downstate folks want venison and choose their self-decreed constitutional right to harvest. Snowmobiling and trespassing comes shortly after and is worse. In fact, when you aren't home in the winter, it is damn near an invitation.
Our winter property in Texas is much more dynamic. We have 12 acres and a healthy population of both whitetail, axis deer, and the occasional wild hog. These axis are escapees from local game ranches and the statewide population of these free range deer runs in the tens of thousands. We have only hunted these 3 years now. Since my first axis deer I am converted. If you've ever eaten axis venison, you'd understand. I have an agreement with one of my neighbors that I won't harvest any whitetails, which is pretty hard. We have a nice herd and several very large bucks. The axis herd varies year to year in population anywhere from 12-40 animals. I do put apple corn and alfalfa out for them but choose to harvest a single animal each year. The first year we had 4 very nice bucks, and I chose to harvest just one. That year we had a 4:1 doe to buck ratio. These deer do roam a bit and so they do get harvested by other neighbors and even trapped by locals selling them back to ranches. Last year was Barb's turn and she chose a nice doe for the freezer. This year we had about 18 axis with a couple of spikes and only 2 small bucks, which resulted in a 5:1 doe/buck ratio. Hard to accurately access the effects on such a small herd. Again, I chose a doe. Of course, everyone wants a big buck, but the past 20 years we have become more meat hunters, simply enjoying the experience and the full freezer.
In order to satisfy the growing need for big game tags in various states, most have installed a 'point system'. You get 1 point each year you apply but are not successful. You can apply for 'points only' saving your right to draw till a point of your choosing. Those applying with the most points each year usually successfully draw. Variable population, more hunters......fairest way. However, Wyoming has no points system for Mountain Goats. It's just apply, wait, and hope. I know folks that have waited for many years and are still waiting. Several states also have 'bonus draws'. In Montana they have the Super Tag which people pay to apply for and 1 is drawn each year for their choice in a particular species in whatever area they wish. This raises many thousands of dollars each year for programs. There is a similar program in Michigan called the Pure Michigan Hunt. In Michigan I have 10 preference points for a black bear tag in the Upper Peninsula which I apply for each year. I hope to draw this coming year.
For years the price of tags for the most coveted animals has risen exponentially. Along with this goes the demand. There have been guides for these tags all along, but their prices must rise as well. In fact, most states have 'guide laws' which require them for nonresidents. These guides provide transportation, lodging, processing, taxidermy, as well as expertise hunting, tracking in the local area. Perhaps the bigger issue is credentials and availability. Anybody with a computer can be a guide. Prices can be very steep depending. A 9-day Dall Sheep hunt in Alberta runs $24,500. A 7-day elk hunt in Colorado runs 12,000. Moose hunt in Alaska, $20,000. These are guided prices, tags are extra when and if you draw one. Of course, most states require licensing, but that doesn't stop the 'wanna be's'. There are plenty of stories from folks that waited years to draw tags but did their own research online for a guide. Many of these stories do not have happy endings. Once you draw a lottery style tag, that's it. Automatically back the end of the line. In fact, some states allow only one tag in a lifetime for certain species. I can only recommend that meticulous research must be done and references be provided to select a professional to guide you on the hunt of a lifetime. This refers to hunts for Bighorn, Desert, Dall, and Stone Sheep as well as Moose, Mountain Goats, Caribou, Bears, and some premium elk areas. Most antelope, elk, and deer areas are a lesser matter.
The odds of drawing a Bighorn Sheep tag in Montana are about 2 %
I have tried to 'paint' current conservation policies in a positive light. These agencies have a difficult job trying to maintain wildlife populations, provide current, accurate research data, and oh yeah, satisfy all the sportsmen and women. There is a tremendous amount of pressure in the western states when it comes to big game management, livestock considerations, and agencies that bind all of these folks. Many of these states' Wildlife Departments are under strong scrutiny and pressure from farmers, ranchers, USDA, US Fish and Wildlife, and of course the guides. So far, the wildlife is in the plus column, but the backslide is only just beginning.
What used to happen every year
These 'chickens' are the norm now. My wife's catch in 2014.
We have been to Alaska twice since our retirement and loved fishing both times. The amount of halibut fishing and limits have become increasingly tighter over time, especially in the Homer Alaska fishery. The years of countless large halibut over 200 lbs. is over. They realized that most of these were females and significantly reduced the overall population. Currently the enormous fleet of charter vessel anglers may keep only 1 fish per day of any size and one fish that is NO MORE than 26 inches in length. They also may not fish on Tuesday or Wednesday. These rules are just for commercial or guided fishing. The locals have different guidelines, which also can be incredibly unfair. For example, the native fleet in St. Paul has to compete against the larger commercial boats that throw away more fish each year than the indigenous folks catch. As such the entire charter and commercial industry lobbies this right back on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. There is a lot of pressure. The area near Clam Gulch just north of Homer was once the home of some of the richest areas of razor clam beds in the world. But free digging with limits of 60 clams per day has nearly decimated the population. There has been no digging allowed for 8 years now. Clams now come from the west side of Cook Inlet.
The current crop of very undersized clams at Clam Gulch
Down in the lower 48 it wasn't much different. In Washington State in 1949 daily limits were lowered to 24 clams per day in order to curb the decimating population. The diggers revolted. Likely they had never paid much attention to the limits anyways, but the Department of Fisheries had finally begun to crack down. Officers reported tourists stuffing clams in their waders, boots, or dumping their hauls into their cars before returning to dig again. One digger was busted with 300 clams. A commercial harvester on a boat dumped his haul overboard whenever enforcement came after him. He was finally apprehended by seaplane with 500 clams. I get home to dig once every couple of years and I have to say that although not as bad, the poaching climate hasn't changed much. Barb and I have seen families bring down several 5-gallon buckets and when one was filled a member took it back to their vehicle while more were dug, usually by the same person. Law enforcement is there patrolling, sometimes catching someone when they arrive at their vehicle, but hamstrung by a lack of personnel, thousands of diggers on a single beach, and believe it or not the occasional accusations of racial profiling. They have to pick their battles. Current limits are 15 clams, which is plenty. Barb and I will camp for a week digging over 200 clams for the freezer. This is plenty for us till next trip. The clams are still affected by occasional bouts with domoic acid which results from tide algae. Not harmful to the clams, but toxic to humans. Digging is not allowed when this happens.
There is a never-ending supply of TV programs dedicated to the sports of hunting and fishing and several networks to supply it. Most of these are commercial driven resulting in most programming aimed at promoting a certain product without much emphasis on the actual hunt. Some are quite good, but most are just for entertainment value, rarely stating the actual costs of such an adventure. Hard for the average person to appreciate the actual cost of these hunts as they are paid for by the program. My favorite is 'The Meat Eater' with part of each show detailing the processing and preparation of the meat while in the field. I find it remarkable that in most of the hunting programs very seldom does ANYONE EVER wear hunter orange. In fact, they hardly ever mention safety.
Although I love to hog hunt, I really don't care for the programs featuring hunting hogs from helicopters with many slaughtered with semi-automatic weapons with far less than clean kills. Although it is true that wild hogs are gaining in Texas, many of the ranches that offer $$$ hog hunting buy them from trappers on other private property. In fact, I do not understand the increasing changeover from traditional hunting rifles to (very nearly) assault style weapons designed to kill not only quickly, but often. In fact, on the ranch which I hunt they restrict magazines to 4 rounds only. I am a staunch 2nd Amendment supporter and a 22 year USAF veteran, but do not understand the fascination with these types of weapons, especially in the current national climate. Don't get me started with silencers or flash suppressors, not in the hunting environment. I am bit of a purist when it comes to traditional firearms for hunting.
Our next generation deer rifle?
Unfortunately, over the years the pressure of maintaining quality television programming often tempts the producers to 'color outside the lines.' There have been several personalities that have been heavily fined by wildlife officials for illegal practices, including outright poaching.
Some subconscious desire to treat hunting like war? Where is the sport in this?
The science of wildlife management has been around for a long time. Perhaps the near eradication of the American Bison, Bald Eagles, and American Alligators finally awoke us. I salute the many professional biologists, conservationists, rangers, and wardens who dedicate their time and effort to this labor of love. Of course, many folks also exercise their right of complaint when new rules or limits change their plans. I have done my share of voicing a contrary opinion but try to keep in mind that lots of planning, including community forums usually precede any change in practice. You can have it both ways, but only with conservation practiced by any and all people who will abide by the rules for future generations. It has never been about us, just the critters and their well-being.
"Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person"
Fred Bear
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