What's Going on in Vermont?

[Bignut]

That is really good to hear. I hope things are on the upswing and hunting continues to improve. Is access to huntable land difficult?

It is on the up swing. in the 80's and 90's I could go 2 or 3 years and not see a deer. however I hunted the big woods, not near agricultural land. The doe ratio as stated is off a bit though. Now if the turkeys would just stay out of the beech nuts...

 

[CJW]

Glad to hear quality is getting better. It sounds antler point restriction is letting baby bucks grow up?

I wish WI would do the same. When we have limited doe tags too many people blast the first thing with antlers. Kind of sucks to see so many bucks not make it at least into their prime. You don't need venison that bad.

 

[IdaRam]

It is on the up swing. in the 80's and 90's I could go 2 or 3 years and not see a deer. however I hunted the big woods, not near agricultural land. The doe ratio as stated is off a bit though. Now if the turkeys would just stay out of the beech nuts...

Ha ha, you got lots of turkeys too? Turkeys are doing well in Idaho as well.

 

[IdaRam]

I wish WI would do the same. When we have limited doe tags too many people blast the first thing with antlers. Kind of sucks to see so many bucks not make it at least into their prime. You don't need venison that bad.

I agree. Same most everywhere it seems. General, open units the yearling bucks get the crap shot out of them.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I’ve never played with it but it looks good, form from 8 mag brass like most of the shooting times line. Pushes a 225 over 3000 and a 250 at 2900. Definitely should be bad ass with an accubond or an A-frame!
Now you got me thinking!

My father in law’s gunsmith buddy here builds custom rifles and this is one of the cartridges along with the .340 Weatherby and others he specializes in. I was just curious?

 

[markferrigno]

Vermont here I come!
It is sad that people today, especially youth, don’t have much interest in outdoor activities. Once video games and cell phones became mainstream, hunting and fishing went by the wayside.

I am not so sure. I bet the insane regulations most states impose (my state of Colorado is a good example) turn a lot of folks off. The Big Game guide here is like a novel. CPW has classes on "how to navigate the draw" If you need classes on a draw system then it is far to complicated. I know it has turned me off, I just head to Texas each year, much easier to hunt there and there is no draw for deer.

I think most state wildlife departments are just regulating themselves out of business.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I was fortunate enough to draw one a while back 12-15 years ago ended up settling on a 700lbs cow. We had a really bad kill off of our moose population from ticks. State is working on it but population is not good at all. Tags are just about impossible to draw at this point. They can come up with a solution soon!

There was a really good article on moose tick infestation mortality in the most recent edition of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Bugle magazine. Apparently, whitetail deer have developed an immunity from the ticks having lived with them over the millennia, but moose have not? The moose populations in the states with higher elevations are doing well, because they can find cooler weather to repel the ticks in the spring and summer. Just an interesting article.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I am not so sure. I bet the insane regulations most states impose (my state of Colorado is a good example) turn a lot of folks off. The Big Game guide here is like a novel. CPW has classes on "how to navigate the draw" If you need classes on a draw system then it is far to complicated. I know it has turned me off, I just head to Texas each year, much easier to hunt there and there is no draw for deer.

I think most state wildlife departments are just regulating themselves out of business.

Yep. Now there’s an “App” one can subscribe to alert you when a tag becomes available in a leftover/returned limited draw hunt code here in Colorado! Absolutely outrageous and shouldn’t be legal. Most people have to work and can’t be checking out their phone all day for a tag alert! Not to mention it now skews the game in favor of those who buy/subscribe to the app!

 

[IdaRam]

There was a really good article on moose tick infestation mortality in the most recent edition of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Bugle magazine. Apparently, whitetail deer have developed an immunity from the ticks having lived with them over the millennia, but moose have not? The moose populations in the states with higher elevations are doing well, because they can find cooler weather to repel the ticks in the spring and summer. Just an interesting article.

That was a really good article, I read it too. Exactly the case in northern Idaho. We are not getting the sub-zero extended periods in recent winters which keeps the tick numbers down. Interestingly enough, moose populations are expanding their numbers and range in the southern part of the state.

 

[Bullthrower338]

That was a really good article, I read it too. Exactly the case in northern Idaho. We are not getting the sub-zero extended periods in recent winters which keeps the tick numbers down. Interestingly enough, moose populations are expanding their numbers and range in the southern part of the state.

I have a feeling this winter is going to be a real one again as early as it started. I’m hoping for some good fresh white stuff for my cat hunt in December

 

[IdaRam]

I have a feeling this winter is going to be a real one again as early as it started. I’m hoping for some good fresh white stuff for my cat hunt in December

It sure got serious about it on the 10th of November! 20 degrees below zero F (-29* C) north of Glasgow when I got up in the morning! It was 60*F just a couple days before.
My fingers are crossed for you buddy. What dates in December are you hunting?

 

[Bullthrower338]

It sure got serious about it on the 10th of November! 20 degrees below zero F (-29* C) north of Glasgow when I got up in the morning! It was 60*F just a couple days before.
My fingers are crossed for you buddy. What dates in December are you hunting?

My buddy’s are watching the weather and hoping it will work out so I can be home for Christmas and do the hunt. I want one more good cat for a life size mount. I never had the money to get one of them done when I was younger and I rugged out my best one. I am excited, been awhile since I’ve heard the blue ticks bay!

 

[cagkt3]

I just couldn’t find anyone to kick me in the nuts repeatedly!

You didn't look hard enough. Hell, I could find you a couple dozen right here on AH!

Looking forward to hearing about the cat hunt though!

 

[meigsbucks]

There’s no guarantee of “instant gratification “ when one hunts, fishes, etc. It can be difficult, monotonous, miserable and time consuming (kinda like being here on AH? Ha! Ha!) and many of today’s youth can’t handle it? They want gratification immediately, so they are on their phones, video games, etc.

I agree, but for me, the minute I step out of my truck and look at the lake or smell the woods... that’s INSTANT gratification.
I never had kids, but if I had, that is what I’d pass on to them.

 

[BeeMaa]

If it's hard to pull a Moose tag, what about Black Bear...still good?

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

What is going on in Vermont? Horrible trend...

I agree!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Vermont? Maple syrup?

 

[tarbe]

This has become quite the wabbit twail.