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Buck in the mist

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JW_Halverson:
Yes, there are deer on the public land where I hunt turkey. However, the tags are becoming more and more scarce for that public land while many tags go unfilled on much of the privately owned prairie land that compromises 96% of the state. The additional few percentage points of private land leased for access by the state is heavily pressured both by locals and out of state hunters. 

Since 1955 the United States has lost half of the hunting public. It is hovering just above 5% of the population. And those that hunt and fish carry almost the entire burden of conservation dollars.  The well is going dry.

BowEd:
This state monitors the numbers of harvested deer every year and tags are issued here according to what each county can handle on numbers.The harvest numbers have increased in this state from 2016 to 2017 by 4%.Granted these numbers can fluctuate a little according to the amount of antlerless tags issued and harvested but a limitless number is available for residents.Many do go unfullfilled here too but that's not out of the normal occurance since I can ever remember.I'm in my mid sixties and been hunting since a little boy.Over the last decade deer numbers are as good as they have ever been and even better.Steadily increasing from year to year.Making the well as wet or wetter than ever here for revenue from residents and for deer populations.No dooms day dilemma here.Hunters in this state can eat as much deer as they ever wanted to and a lot of meat goes to food pantries for homeless people or those needing assistance.
This is info from the horses mouth of 2 different DNR officers of this state.I cannot state anything about your state.The percentage of hunting public tags issued versus land owners tags is roughly 80% versus 20% in this state with 97% of the land hunted privately owned and 3% public hunting.Some of the lowest percentages in the country mostly because of it fertile nature of the soil used for crops.States out west have a lot larger tracts for public hunting percentage wise. I'm sure most of the hunting done on private land other than the land owner is from public hunters knowing the land owner through an acquaintance or friendship with no money involved in this state.You must not know too many country folk in your local area is all I can only imagine but you put invitations out to others for turkey hunting.I would say for your situation in your state the early bird gets the worm probably and really don't know how you can state for the state of affairs for the whole country as the info here in Iowa is we are doing fine.
It's always been the burden of hunters fees to carry the load for conservation since I can ever remember.Nothing has changed for decades about that.That's old news.
To add here in reflection no system is perfect and has it's flaws.This one though at least gives enough freedom to adapt to it.A resource as this has to be managed properly by an overall power.To be left to be managed by the public would have very toxic results.

bjrogg:
Ed congratulations again on a very successful hunting season. I know how hard it is to get these shots and how much work and planning goes into it. I own land to and much like you it is very small amount that is actually suitable for this type of hunting. It's very easy to change patterns and completely screw up my hunting even by something I do.

I really do feel blessed to have the opportunity I have and live in this great nation. To be a land owner is both a blessing and a curse. We don't have the huge tracts of land like the prairie, but we still have the same delima with land owners being afraid to let someone they don't know or maybe even do know hunt their property. The same problem of hunters being mad at land owners that won't let them hunt on their property. Of outfitters who lease properties and then charge hunters to use the land they lease. It's pretty hard, probably impossible to make everyone happy. I don't mean to disrespect any one but land owners are in a tough spot to. Many would rather put up with hundreds of deer or Elk damaging their crops then dozens of hunters driving their vehicles through them. Leaving their litter, carcasses knocking down fences leaving gates open. It may seem like paying a outfitter $1,500 or $2,000 is very expensive, but I assure you it's much cheaper than owning land and usually you get more than just the right to hunt a property. I've never done this type of hunt but I do know some local outfitters. They provide blinds, transportation to and from them. Recover animals, and process them and refrigerate them. For goose they provide decoys and set them up. No small job. They provide blinds and callers. For turkey the same. I know $1,500 or $2,000 seems like a lot and to be honest I couldn't afford it either, but it is probably a good deal compared to the expense of owning land. My property taxes are many times more than that. The outfitters I know aren't getting rich. They are providing non land owners with a much less expensive opportunity to hunt private land. Like Ed I also have many people who ask to hunt my land. I do allow a few select hunters that opportunity. Most I know, but some I don't. I might know someone else they know or a different landowner they hunt. It does help to bring a small gift. Maybe a can of peanuts any little thing. It just makes a good impression and when someone is asking to hunt your property your wondering what their really made of.

Ed I'm really sorry this post went in a different direction. It is a topic that should be in a different thread. I'm not meaning to high jack it. I'm just trying to explain a few things many don't realize or think of. And we're not even talking about the possibility of law suits.

Jerry and JW I hope you find a Happy Hunting ground without leaving this world or nation. I'm pretty sure if you can even find one landowner that allows you to hunt and you keep them happy they'll tell others.

Bjrogg

BowEd:
That's quite alright BJ.I thought I had pointed out myself too the flip side view of land ownership and it's responsibilities but your points are well stated.Experience/education/and understanding with an open mind minus the personal feelings is an invaluable sometimes scarce commodity.
There's an ongoing effort made here in the state of Iowa through news letters by the DNR because of it's lack of public hunting ground to buy private hunting ground from land owners just for public hunting or to at least volunteer the access.It makes sense of course to the DNR.Many of whom have volunteered from what I've heard.
Anyway it's that time of year now herds start forming and what my friends call and what I've seen myself too that traveler bucks start coming through to catch unbred does & does coming into estrus.It's fun to watch for sure.To get a shot is another thing,but there's a good chance of it with the weather being the way it is forecast to be.

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