We already have a zoned doe permit system. The “anyzone doe tages” from the eastern part of the state are an issue out here.
We need to stop the print your own tag nonsense and go back to state issued single use tags. Like the Tavel tags that were used in Connecticut. It’s pretty difficult to catch a poacher if they can print their own tags to bring them home with. I would gladly pay more for real tags.
The first step is for DFW to admit there is a problem and do an arial FLIR deer surveying Jan/Feb to see what the population actually is.
This.
It’s public land. Open to all, first come first serve.
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Arial or FLIR surveys in winter, with real results on state land. Don't doctor them or whatever because the insurance companies lobby you to. Likely around me.....less than 5 deer per mile on state land would be the result.
After you find out there is Ass population on state land.....put each state area by quota only or quota by permit only. Meaning......Barre Falls Area only gets 10 deer taken out of it as a goal, and they must be reported and checked. Then its closed to all hunting. Or.....assuming the success rate is 5%.....give out 200 permits for that area only and 10 deer taken should be the result give or take a few.
You can imagine for Wardens......this would be much easier to manage and catch poachers as well, as....if you don't have the Barre Falls permit, or the area is closed to deer hunting because the quota has been reached........Any dipshit in there with anything other than birdshot/bird gun in their truck.....will be a problem easy to solve.
Make smaller parcels of state land bowhunting only, with antler restrictions...focus these for quality deer......... Manage them similarly to above. Again....guns prohibited...easy to give citations.
If they get overpopulated.....quota doe permits till back in line.
One buck only will make hunters more selective, and Antler restrictions to older more mature hunters. Let kids be kids and shoot a doe or small buck one time.
In my opinion this would increase the deer pop on state land over time without an all out hunting ban. If all state land was managed this way the hunting would be much better on state land. This is the way a lot of other states do it. Some state land would actually be a destination to try for....like the Quabbin Park was this year.
Private land.......less control...but if certain averages say deer pop is down.....No doe permits in that general zone , til a rebound takes place.
MA should be managed Central/West for 30 deer a mile and you should be seeing deer in the fields now and then. It should not be a rare occurance.
Kill them all in eastern MA urban areas....you'll never do it because of Karen's land, Karen closing the town, Karen not allowing discharge, etc. Less active management other than all out slaughter is needed there.