"Animals have been self regulating way before man came on the scene."
Yes, I agree, but man is on the scene and the landscape has changed drastically with our land use activities. Ohio and Indiana were once 90% forested, 10% grassland. That is reversed since the felling of the forests and tilling of the ground. Game paths and Indian travel routes are now county roads and state highways. The deer herd has far exceeded the local and national estimates of what they once were before domesticated crops replaced acorns as the main food source. Deer are edge animals and foragers from everything I've learned about them. Our Midwest landscapes are mainly edge habitats, that swell the population, as heavy forest is not as conducive to hold a large number of deer. In Appalachia this may not be the case. Having never hunted the region, only driven through on my motorcycle, it is obvious that the high yield crops are overshadowed by beautiful mountains and wooded hills. I am sure my hunting methods would need to be revised to be successful. Here, in SW Ohio I have some folks that ask me to hunt their property because, even with does taken and encouraged to be taken by the ODNR the herd keeps growing.
As for our tender sensibilities, we all have the one thing we won't do because it is distasteful to our way of thinking. Shooting a doe that has already conceived is one of those for some hunters. I get it and agree with your decision not to shoot a doe after the rut. Mine is to wantonly shoot coyotes in the Spring while they are raising their pups. I've gone after them with a passion in past years throughout the Fall and Winter, but once pup season hits I saw no sport or need, unless they were destroying a farmer's livestock or threatening pets. We can shoot coyotes year around, I choose not to. I actually enjoy knowing they are here and respect their tenacity. But I'll hunt and shoot them this time of year.
Hunter Thompson, I can appreciate your input as I've shot some rather nice bucks over the years, yet I am not a trophy hunter. You've learned how the deer population functions best when the harvest needs are met, which creates even better opportunities for you to target the big racked bucks. Yes, doe management has much to do with this. How you communicated this may not have been as polished as some could receive but you made your point quite understandable for those of us who are open to listening to other's opinions. Thank you.
