South Dakota mule deer

[Muddawg]

Does anyone have any statistical data showing antler growth in South Dakota or a similar state during drought vs wet years? The biggest thing to look at is forage production estimated for the summer. As of right now most of Western SD is going to be well below normal for forage production. I will be interested to listen to the next gfp commission meeting on the deer tag allocations in a couple weeks. I was hoping to see more any deer tag reductions in some counties I frequently hunt.

 

[JackButler]

…
Im all for killing less does and killing a deer isnt that hard i guess but im past the stage of wanting to shoot rats. I have a 188 mulie and went into the year knowing i probably wasnt going to kill one if its not bigger than that im not that interested…

Holding out for bigger than 188 in any state, let alone SD, makes for some tough hunting.

 

[KurtR]

Holding out for bigger than 188 in any state, let alone SD, makes for some tough hunting.

Yep ate my tag that took six years to draw this year.

 

[Plainsman79]

Does anyone have any statistical data showing antler growth in South Dakota or a similar state during drought vs wet years? The biggest thing to look at is forage production estimated for the summer. As of right now most of Western SD is going to be well below normal for forage production. I will be interested to listen to the next gfp commission meeting on the deer tag allocations in a couple weeks. I was hoping to see more any deer tag reductions in some counties I frequently hunt.

Quite a few years ago Luke Medina and Kevin Monteith did a study on prenatal whitetail deer in the Black Hills vs better habitat on the eastern side of the state (more rain and better vegetation) the eastern deer grew far bigger antlers. Drought years are tough and SD has been in a bad one for to long. What your probably seeing is bucks that were born to does that weren’t super healthy to begin with and it’s effecting their antler growth for the entire lifespan of the buck. Top that with limited quality forage and increased cattle grazing all due to drought and it’s a pretty tough go right now for bucks in SD. You could probably reach out to Luke who is currently the big game director for Nebraska or Kevin in Laramie with his “shop”. They are both great dudes and might be able to give you what you’re after.

South Dakota is tough right now, has been for about 10 years. The drought has significantly reduced the herds.

 

[Muddawg]

Quite a few years ago Luke Medina and Kevin Monteith did a study on prenatal whitetail deer in the Black Hills vs better habitat on the eastern side of the state (more rain and better vegetation) the eastern deer grew far bigger antlers. Drought years are tough and SD has been in a bad one for to long. What your probably seeing is bucks that were born to does that weren’t super healthy to begin with and it’s effecting their antler growth for the entire lifespan of the buck. Top that with limited quality forage and increased cattle grazing all due to drought and it’s a pretty tough go right now for bucks in SD. You could probably reach out to Luke who is currently the big game director for Nebraska or Kevin in Laramie with his “shop”. They are both great dudes and might be able to give you what you’re after.

South Dakota is tough right now, has been for about 10 years. The drought has significantly reduced the herds.

I know Kyle(Kevin's Brother). Yes I am pretty familiar with grazing in South Dakota as I work with ranchers in Western SD for my job. I think mandatory tooth aging would help understand our population. It is only currently offered for Elk hunters in SD as far as I know. I think once E-tagging is implemented we might see some better harvest info. I'd wager most mule deer shot in SD aren't over 3.5 years old. They really blow up if you can get them past 4.5-5.5 years of age.

 

[Mondakfisher]

I am from MT and live in SD and people don't realize how good they have it here. Deer number seem decent from where I go and see. I think this spring should help as is the added doe number we have added. I think the biggest threat non weather related we see in sd is 1000 yd guns and rut hunting in open country.

 

[ChadmanS44]

Biggest one i saw on the trip

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Making my first trip out that way this year and I’d slap my momma for one close to that! I’m an Illinois whitetail hunter and just want to get me a decent muley

 

[ChadmanS44]

Thi

Nr archery isnt a draw you just have to apply. Its not random ranchers and farmers its people i have known since i moved to mobride over 20 years ago. I spend all year driving back and forth to eagle butte and spent alot of years hunting perkins county till the bad winter kill in 2010.

There are less mule deer east river but way less pressure and way better quality in general.

Do you remember when they were handing triple tags out like candy just 15 years ago then the winter of 10 hit and then ehd.

Im all for killing less does and killing a deer isnt that hard i guess but im past the stage of wanting to shoot rats. I have a 188 mulie and went into the year knowing i probably wasnt going to kill one if its not bigger than that im not that interested. I would rather eat ducks and geese so the meat isnt a concern.

What part of the state do you live in and how many days out in the country do you spend the data i have is what I see along with a pretty big group of people i hunt with or talk to.

Our nr tags are way to cheap compared to other states that we border like wyoming and montana we should at least be in line with what they charge. Hell both rez by me charge over 700 dollars and sell out in minutes

s is the same argument you see in every state from older generations. It has very little to do with the pressure and a lot to do with the gun seasons and habitat. South Dakota for instance has more to do with the lack of water than anything. Also for him to argue not living there doesn’t qualify someone to make a judgement on it is uneducated as well. Anyone can look up the numbers of every state. If it’s down or not I don’t know I haven’t looked into it. What I do know is you can go to any state and find someone making the same argument using the same bullet points. Take Illinois for example. I hear it every day hear that our whitetail numbers are abysmal. Yet the beards are fantastic and giants are killed every single year! Herds migrate with pressure and habitat. Just because your county isn’t hot anymore doesn’t mean the entire state is suffering. I do think gun seasons shouldn’t be in prime rut. Not only does it ruin it for bow hunting but sure makes it easy to pick a dumbass horny buck off at 200 yards. Illinois is even completely over the counter for nonresidents. The arguement against nonresidents is tired! They don’t even hardly factor into the final numbers. The ones that do I usually only there for a week

 

[KurtR]

Thi

s is the same argument you see in every state from older generations. It has very little to do with the pressure and a lot to do with the gun seasons and habitat. South Dakota for instance has more to do with the lack of water than anything. Also for him to argue not living there doesn’t qualify someone to make a judgement on it is uneducated as well. Anyone can look up the numbers of every state. If it’s down or not I don’t know I haven’t looked into it. What I do know is you can go to any state and find someone making the same argument using the same bullet points. Take Illinois for example. I hear it every day hear that our whitetail numbers are abysmal. Yet the beards are fantastic and giants are killed every single year! Herds migrate with pressure and habitat. Just because your county isn’t hot anymore doesn’t mean the entire state is suffering. I do think gun seasons shouldn’t be in prime rut. Not only does it ruin it for bow hunting but sure makes it easy to pick a dumbass horny buck off at 200 yards. Illinois is even completely over the counter for nonresidents. The arguement against nonresidents is tired! They don’t even hardly factor into the final numbers. The ones that do I usually only there for a week

Second wettest July on record this year so water shouldn’t be a problem. Best years we had were during a prolonged drought as we didn’t have hard winters for five years. Didn’t apply this year so haven’t been looking much but seen an up tick of deer around while out every day for work. Most pheasants and grouse I have seen in ten years.

 

[ChadmanS44]

That’s good to hear, I’ll be out later this year!

Second wettest July on record this year so water shouldn’t be a problem. Best years we had were during a prolonged drought as we didn’t have hard winters for five years. Didn’t apply this year so haven’t been looking much but seen an up tick of deer around while out every day for work. Most pheasants and grouse I have seen in ten year

 

[Fatcamp]

Deer numbers don't change overnight, but lots of green and seen several does with three fawns. Those are good things.

 

[ChadmanS44]

Deer numbers don't change overnight, but lots of green and seen several does with three fawns. Those are good things.

Ya I was agreeing and said I haven’t looked at SD numbers. Just pointing out every state you go to you can find people complaining that numbers are down.

 

[Beagle001]

SD was about as green as I’d seen it when we went through a month ago. Glad it’s kept up.