PODCAST - U.P. Deer Biology & Management - Full Interview with Jim Hammill
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024
- Podcast Episode 20 - FULL INTERVIEW with retired DNR Wildlife Biologist Jim Hammill to talk about whitetail deer management and biology here in the U.P. and the threats we are facing to our tradition and culture of deer hunting. Jim gives his ideas for deer hunting regulations, his thoughts on predators and we talk a lot more about habitat loss, the habitat work group and winter weather. We also talk about the decline in hunters and why, buck age structure in the U.P. and more.
Hammill was very supportive about reintroducing wolves to the Upper Peninsula. Us old timers remember this very well. Don’t try to revise history, or place the blame elsewhere.
Jim was the wolf specialist early on. At the time, he warned the Feds as well as the State that these animals will need to be managed, otherwise public support would go down the drain. That's exactly where we are.
@@georgelindquist6160 That is not the way I remember it, but I appreciate your input.
Hey Jim, it's your neighbor Larry. I hate to say it but this should have been addressed very seriously 20 years ago! Now it's a mad scramble!! DNR failure and mismanagement in my opinion! Harsh winters + 20 year high in Wolf population = A devistated Deer herd!! I can't even express how disgruntled I am!! Sad!! I have a hard time purchasing any licenses that helps to support the DNR!!
The wolves are the very reason the UP deer herd is struggling so bad. I’ve hunted the UP since I was 12 years old and the wolves have basically ruined all 3 areas I hunt that were once very productive for deer sightings and also harvesting some nice bucks. We’ve always had tough winters, bears, coyotes, bobcats and the deer managed just fine. Wolves are cleaning up the winter deer complexes in March/April especially after we get that late winter crust on the snow. Talk to some loggers that work around the complexes in winter and they know what’s up. It’s not a coincidence that the deer herds in many areas of northern Wisconsin and the 100 units in Minnesota are struggling for the most part.
Waaayyy less than 4% of the hunters are filling both buck tags in the north zone... That's crazy to think the very few people that are fortunate enough to fill both tags are the reason to create the imbalance in the herd. Going to one buck in the northern zone would further limit people's time in the woods.
On top of that, there's no science that saying one buck tag would benefit the herd in the northern zone.
Jim has had a hand in deer management for over thirty years..
@@UfishinfeathiespKentucky and Indiana’s Boone and Crockett entries skyrocketed when they went ton a one buck rule.
Our deer numbers at our northern Minnesota camp have gone down significantly as the wolf population increases. Lucky to see two or three deer a week where we used to see 20 to 30 a week. We have few coyotes as we suspect the wolves kill them. I saw my first coyote this year and have hunted there since 1985.
@@toddweston2840 Wisconsin leads the way in BC and PY category and has a two buck system. One buck sounds great, but when yearling buck harvest makes up 30-50% every year, even following severe winters and winter loss, it leads to where we are today. We are experiencing the same thing here in the U.P... you used to sit and see 10-30 deer every evening pre wolf. We have zero control over winters.
I totally disagree with why our deer herd is in the shape it is. I remember the late 80's and we had tons of deer, the hunting was fantastic. I also remember the disastrous winters of 95 and 96. But we had NO wolves then. We've always had bear, coyotes and bobcats and they take deer for sure, but since the wolves were established here, the deer numbers have steadily decreased. Take wolves out of the equation and the deer herd will rebound. Yes, deer winter habitat is important, but commercial property owners do not cut cedar and most private landowners don't harvest much anymore also. Wolves are devastating what deer we have left, and if they are not controlled soon there won't be anything left to hunt.
You are completely correct!!! We've lived thus! Watched it happen with our own eyes!
The wolves are the problem. The deer numbers will never bounce back with the wolves numbers so high. We’ve always had bad winters and coyotes and bears.
He’s full of it!!
This breaks my heart.....thank you for this.
Good listen
This man worked for the DNR for 30 years, who told us the follow their rules and laws. The problems of the U.P. (whitetail deer) didn't happen overnight, but did happen, because of the DNR'S leadership and directions. Don't tell me as a hunter, who lives here for the lifestyle, that it's my fault and I need to shoot only one buck. Ask yourself this? How many hunters do you know that shoot 2 bucks year after year? WOW... 1. the most important deer adult DOE - so just shoot one buck...
2. you can't disagree that global warming is real - it is... because I say so..
3. there's NO population GOALS set for Whitetail by the DNR, he says.
Then shortly after says "I see a future where there is NO deer hunting in the U.P.".
Hello, that is their GOAL...
We walked a few clear cuts over labor day and they all had white pines planted in them. Are those good for deer?
Hemlock and cedar are the best it provides food and shelter in the winters. Deer are stuck by mid winter traveling packed down trails because the snow is so deep. Easy prey for Coyotes and Wolves when they are restricted to small areas and travel paths.
Hunter impact is small compared to habitat and predation. Around 2% of hunters in the U.P. take two bucks, probably less in the north. We take more 3 1/2 year old bucks than 1 1/2. Most are letting yearlings go, one way or the other. Going to, one buck will not help!
I like the one buck idea. But the wolves have got to go.
Jim is a great guy to listen too! Super smart and I love learning this stuff! I would love to shake his hand and let him know how much he is appreciated! Great interview! My comments keep turning into paragraphs so I am stopping here. lol
...thank you Jim Hammill for your time
Excellent 👍🏻💯🇱🇷
A lot of very good points here! Worth listening to.
Great interview! 🙌