State
Of Interest
Administrative |
LimitsThe two deer hunting limiting aspects are first, the total membership level is capped and the subordinate caps based on primary and secondary interest of the applicant ensures we never have too many of anyone type of hunter. Confidence this will be the management practice for the future comes from our recognition that our high renewal rate draws its strength from two features. The first is that all may deer hunt on their schedule. Second, being able to hunt without pressure from others. Maintaining these two features about the Association will sustain its membership and that keeps everything much easier when working with the same hunters from year to year. Too Many ChoicesOne firearms specific (distinct from bow hunters) deer hunting dynamic we have seen and caution hunters about is that with so much land availability many will attempt to deer hunt several properties each season. However, the general reality is that anyone that attempts deer hunting more than three properties has probably spread himself too thin. Typically, most deer hunters scout many leases settle on three or four they want to hunt and rarely hunt more than 2 the entire season. Having three leases or more to hunt does allow for choices at habitat and reaction to wind directions, but again with each hunter having multiple stands on each farm there is only so much time available to hunt. We have seen throughout the years that those that place more effort into scouting and hunt fewer leases have the most recurring success compared to those that hunt more farms.
FlexibilityThe significant value of our approach is that each hunter that does take the time developing multiple properties is the ability to react to changing whitetail patterns. We have seen through the years where trophy whitetails do not remain on the same properties from year to year and of course during the rut all bets are off as to predicting where the trophy will next show. The gene pool may exist in that locality, however the likelihood of any one lease having successive trophy deer is less than what most would want to occur. No surprises in these statements, but we have seen those that have had previous year's firearms deer hunting success on one property put themselves into a routine and will not consider other options in spite of current failures. Having several leases to pick from should result in the firearms deer hunter arguing with himself as to where he wants to hunt. And, that argument includes which deer lease he will commit to thoroughly hunting rather than just spending a day in the stand. The firearms seasons in Kansas and Missouri is by rifle and shotgun only in Iowa. In all three states shooting range of 10 yards out to farther than people are able to shoot are possible. The Kansas firearms deer hunting tag is good for the muzzleloader and regular or modern rifle season. Multi StateKansas' firearms deer season is generally the first two weeks in December parallel with Iowa. Missouri firearms deer hunting season is generally the middle two weeks of November. Early rut activity begins in late September - October, peak rut the middle two weeks of November and the trail rut from early December on. The Association hunter has the dilemma of possibly being able to hunt both Iowa and Kansas during the trail of the rut and a peak rut hunt in November in Missouri. For most firearms hunters this is more deer hunting season time than possible vacation days. The advantage is that the deer hunter has a choice when to hunt.
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