Guest tarheel2 Posted December 13, 2007 Report Share Posted December 13, 2007 A group of six of us deer hunted in Saskatchewan the week of November 11, 2007. We killed some bucks, but except for one 160 class buck, they were not the big bucks you go to Canada to get. Plenty of deer, good rutting activity just not many big bucks. Talked to numerous hunters in the airport and on the plane. Everybody saying the same thing. Some were successful, but not the big buck sightings as in years past. Got home and read an online article on the Sask Game Dept issuing extra deer tags to Canadians to thin the herd in the name of CWD prevention. Well, if I'm a Canadian resident and I get an extra tag, I'm sure not going to shoot a doe with my tag. Going to shoot me another big buck. Anybody heard similar stories? Are the good days for big bucks in Saskatchewan on the decline? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sask-Hunter Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 Are the good days for big bucks in Saskatchewan on the decline? Thanks On the decline No, there is still a larger number of great bucks out there, although a string of harsh winters did play a good part in this years buck quality. More noticable off the farm land in the forest, deer numbers are down from winter kill there, and since all outfits are forest fringe or forest i can see where you are coming from when saying not as many trophy deer were taken in the camps. Know a few outfitters that had the same luck. quality bucks are still there;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSU_Seminole Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 I wonder if this is the reason many outfitters have dropped their prices? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 Welcome to the Realtree Forums tarheel2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tarheel2 Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 Off the Farmland We were indeed "off the farmland " up north in the "bush". One of the guides stated they had some deep snow last winter, but I would have thought that would affect the deer herd across the board, not just the big bucks. Maybe the big bucks are just too wore down from the rut to survive harsh winters. We killed 4 bucks with six hunters, and 3 of those four were killed the last day. This particular outfitter usually has everybody tagged out with 150 class average bucks by Thursday of each week. Thanks for the feedback. We plan on going back in the future and are trying to make an educated decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc240nt Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 Most of the Outfitters that I associate with have raised thier prices! Something to think about; the more 130's you kill this year the fewer 150's you have next year. Shoot whatever you want, its your 5K. But instead of thinking that for 5K I have to kill a buck, why not eat a tag and play for a 150 or better next year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardwood_HD Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 i havent heard anything but i know i wanna see some pics!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 if I'm a Canadian resident and I get an extra tag, I'm sure not going to shoot a doe with my tag. Going to shoot me another big buck. I am not sure about out west but here in Ontario alot of our extra tags are Doe only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sask-Hunter Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 The CWD tags come in a series, anterless, 3 point buck and then you earn a buck tag. All the heads of these animals have to be submitted so even if you do get a buck, big or small, you have to cut the horns off with a saw. So no trophy hunting there, These tags only affect a limited number or zones, only a few. CWD tests are not done in the forest where all the outfitting is taking place, no lose there. Besides there is no big bucks in Saskatchewan to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tarheel2 Posted December 15, 2007 Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 CWD Tags The web article I read didn't contain details on the rules of the CWD tags. Thanks for the details. Just what I was looking for. Tarheel2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 15, 2007 Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 Welcome to the forums tarheel2. Too bad your group did not have better luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted December 15, 2007 Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 My buddy and his brother just got back from Sask last week. My bud passed 25 bucks in the week, one he passed got shot and was a 142 inch 8 pointer. His brother shot a monster that scored 178 as a main frame 9 with quite a few stickers and great mass. They are definitely going back next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superguide Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 A tough winter is very hard on the bigger bucks for sure-when you see how beat up they are after the rut it's amazing that any make it at all. There;'s less of them for sure-maybe not one behind every tree but the beauty of hunting in Sask.is that one just might show up under your tree. This winter isn't really starting out well for the deer either. Alot of Sask. residants don't or won't even participate in the CWD hunts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Most definately mature buck #'s even deer #'s are down in the forest due to last yrs harsh winter. This winter is shaping up to be one in the same. It is completely idiotic of our Gov't to issue 2 either sex tags in the forest when #'s are down, even when #'s are high in my opinion. Targetting bucks is not the way to bring the population down, anyone with a wee bit of biology knows that reducing the doe #'s is the only way to bring down population #'s. As for the CWD thing, it is terrible. I will say that any one who participates in such a hunt is robbing from their children's future b/c doing so only hurts the future of deer hunting, taints hunter/landowner relationships and is based solely on greed. i grew up in an area that has been CWD targetted for a # of yrs. Ask any local hunters there and landowners as well about the program and you'll find alot of hatred. Before driving halfway across the province to slaughter some animals, ask yourself, would I like a bunch of guys driving to my backyard and blasting at every animal in sight. Plus the procedures are stupid, turn in a doe tag and a little buck and get a trophy tag. I could have 10 doe heads and 10 little buck heads in my truck box by the time I got to where I grew up and that would be as hard as stopping by any hide drop off dumpster in every town along the way. IDIOTS!!! Anyways tarheel, I feel as though you were subject to a yr with far less mature deer than yrs past. I'd be doing some serious checking into if Sask Enviro. is going to be issuing the 2nd either sex tag before coming back, b/c if they do, you will see the quality of bucks continue to go down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 People that know me know I feel this way but I'll say it anyways for other saskatchewan members on here. If you truly care about wildlife and deer hunting in our great province..don't support the 2nd either sex tag. It is a cancer in the management of out deer hunting opportunities. I don't know who likes to fish..but if you do, look at Tobin Lake Saskatchewan, best trophy walleye and pike lake in Canada...easily.......b/c they have slot limits. We're not protecting the future of the resource by killing 2 bucks a piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tarheel2 Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Sask Man Sask Man, excellent post. If the harsh winters and the wolves (to a lesser degree) take their toll on the deer population, why would they need to issue CWD tags. I agree with everything you stated in your posts. Good to have a resident view point. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.