Owen Co Harvest Decline

[Rut-n-Strut]

Owen County was regularly the top county in the state for total deer harvest numbers. The numbers have been trending sharply downward in recent years to where it's now #14 and on pace for the lowest harvest since before 1999. Any thoughts on why for those that live or hunt there (habitat degradation, predator numbers, fewer hunters, disease, or ...)

 

[WaterDog88]

I don’t know about Owen county but harvest totals for a county in southeastern Kentucky I hunt have been roughly 1/2 of what the totals were prior to an ehd outbreak.

 

[Meatstick]

Everyone these days is a trophy buck hunting, badass, SOB. They'll throw their noses up at the thought of shooting a lowly doe.
If it ain't for for space book, it ain't chit.
I deer hunt a big chunk of the state. Plenty deer, and certainly no decrease this year

 

[Rut-n-Strut]

Buck to doe harvest rates have remained consistent, so I personally don't believe it's in large part due to big buck hunting.

I'll share my personal observations. I've hunted there for over 20 years. I have actually been seeing a better balanced ratio of does to bucks than in the past. However, I see a noticeable decline in the number of does, in particular. Numbers may be down a bit for bucks but not as drastic as for does. I also notice that deer that were once more spread across the land are concentrated in certain areas of properties while other areas of the property are essentially deer deserts with little use.

I'm certain of that much on the properties I work and hunt. What I can't figure out is the reason that may be happening. Are coyotes becoming better predators (or more numerous). Im not sure. Could disease like EHD be playing a part? Doubtful, as I would likely see evidence. Might the encroachment of invasive species like autumn olive be playing a role? Probably not, but hard to say with certainty.

 

[Hoene]

The number of deer in the area of owen co I hunt are down. But I think the hunter numbers are also down. Heard very few shots in gun season and in the first two days of ML season did not hear a shot.

 

[baknblack]

I don't trophy hunt but, every deer I saw this year was 100 lb or less. I am in Henry County not far from the river. I don't see nearly as many driving the back roads as I did 10 or even 5 years ago. I do know we are overrun with coyotes and there are a lot fewer hunters around here as there used to be. So, next year there should be at least a few left out of the 8 or 10 I saw still in the general area. I could of been seeing some of the same deer though as the most I saw in one day was 3.
Three guys hunt the 200 acre farm below me and none of them shot any this year. What time I was outside I never heard a shot within 2 or 3 miles of here.
I do know someone that leases his farm about 5 miles from me. His hunters took 11 does this year.

 

[Hoene]

I am also by the river on the Owen side and hardly ever see a deer in the fields.

 

[Rut-n-Strut]

I agree that hunter numbers are down. I used to hear seemingly endless shooting on weekends and even a good number during the week. Now, I probably hear about 1 or 2 shots a day during gun season on average. That makes the decline in deer numbers even more perplexing.

 

[Feedman]

Are you seeing does with single fawns or does with lots of twin fawns?
Coyotes can get up to 20 to 25 % of the fawn crop.

 

[Rut-n-Strut]

Are you seeing does with single fawns or does with lots of twin fawns?
Coyotes can get up to 20 to 25 % of the fawn crop.

It's usually boom or bust with seeing a group of older does and no fawns or a doe with 2 fawns.

 

[bowhunter269]

Only one (1) experience on an Owen County farm..........and the Amish have decimated the herd on the farm I had permission to hunt. I ran them off pretty much every time I hunted that farm and they killed dozens on adjoining properties every year. When I first got permission I would see 10+ daily. My last year hunting there I was lucky to see a deer, and that was 4 or 5 years ago.

 

[carnivore]

The farm i hunted in Owen was a 400 acre cattle farm fescue desert. Farmer did offer to plant alfalfa (to feed his cattle and presumably attract deer) but wanted an extra $5k for the lease. Rarely saw deer. At the time we were paying 3k and i think he charges 6 or 7k now. Lease turnover is frequent. Allegedly planted in clover. (Not sure how many cattle) I saw deer everywhere on the drive in.

 

[120+]

Everyone these days is a trophy buck hunting, badass, SOB. They'll throw their noses up at the thought of shooting a lowly doe.
If it ain't for for space book, it ain't chit.
I deer hunt a big chunk of the state. Plenty deer, and certainly no decrease this year

Given the price of food you would think that would change this year but guess not.

 

[10bears]

I hunt and live in Owen. Pressure has been falling off around us for the last couple years. Plenty of deer to be taken I don't think too many hunters are wanting to shoot the doe. I do know other hunters that are seeing a decline in numbers but I know what they shot for years so it truly makes sense. Driving to work corner to corner everyday there are plenty of deer. My 2 cents.

 

[WaterDog88]

Are you seeing does with single fawns or does with lots of twin fawns?
Coyotes can get up to 20 to 25 % of the fawn crop.

I saw a study done in South Carolina that had the number as high as 50%. Add to that the fact eastern coyotes are just different than western coyotes. They tend to be bigger and more predatory towards medium game. There’s tons of trail cam videos out there showing coyotes bringing down adult deer. I don’t think they will wipe a deer herd out but the fact there is a predator in the mix will affect numbers.