I'm looking specifically at Wyoming for this statistic but would like everybody's thoughts in general. When trying to select a unit to hunt is days/harvest important to pay attention to? Is it more important than harvest percentage? Thanks for your input!
Do you pay attention to Days/Harvest? Why? Why not?
- Thread starter carte1be
- Start date
JimP
Administrator
Days/harvest can be way off depending on the hunter.
Hunter A could go out and shoot a animal on day one. So one day one animal.
Hunter B goes out and can shoot a animal on the first day but holds out the the very end of the season. Lets say it is a 20 day season so 20 days hunted for 1 animal even if he could of shot one on day one.
I'd look harder at the percentage than the days it took to bag one.
Hunter A could go out and shoot a animal on day one. So one day one animal.
Hunter B goes out and can shoot a animal on the first day but holds out the the very end of the season. Lets say it is a 20 day season so 20 days hunted for 1 animal even if he could of shot one on day one.
I'd look harder at the percentage than the days it took to bag one.
Slugz
Veteran member
Regardless of state.......it's a data point to note but I don't think one to solely pick a hunt on. More important to me is herd size, bull to cow ratio and public land available. Until we fix the reporting requirements ......which most likley could never be perfect the data is just that....data to consider and balance against boots on the ground. I acknowledge though hard for a NR to plan a hunt so any info is good info.
Joseph
Active Member
I don't track my days, I live where I hunt so I go out every weekend and spend both days hunting form before daybreak until 1:00pm or 2:00pm. Backpack trips I hunt from before daybreak until it's too dark for my optics. I hunt until I fill the tag or the season ends whichever comes first. Some years it's over quickly other years it takes a while and there have been years when I didn't fill the freezer(usually because I passed on something I shouldn't have).
BKC
Very Active Member
Not to sound like a know it all but Days/Harvest is about the least likely statistic that i would care about.
dirtclod Az.
Veteran member
I was taught "the right place,the right time" I've shot Deer and Javelina point blank.
It,s all about the Experiance,not the kill.
It,s all about the Experiance,not the kill.
Micah S
Active Member
I look at the average hunting day per hunter because it gives me an idea of what hunting pressure will be like after the first 5 days.
It is the same as any other information - useful if it tells you something you want to know. To say it is incorrect or not useful is to lead someone astray. Statistics are amazing in their accuracy when not used as a political tool. Just cause a few guys have the skill/experience and desire to hunt all season long does not make the data any "less" - not anymore than folks who shoot the first legal thing they see.
The harvest % and the avg hunt day to kill number can be useful in understanding an area. The foremost things I think are public to private land and the overall herd numbers. Lots of private land and outfitters can skew the numbers cause we all know "private is easier".
The harvest % and the avg hunt day to kill number can be useful in understanding an area. The foremost things I think are public to private land and the overall herd numbers. Lots of private land and outfitters can skew the numbers cause we all know "private is easier".
Fink
Veteran member
Agree. And the next least important statistic is the harvest percentage.. As long as there's game in the unit, ground I can hunt, and game on the ground I can hunt during the timeframe I can hunt it.... I'll figure it out from there.
Someone driving around the road system, drinking beer, and 'hunting' for 7 days really skews the stats in the wrong direction..
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,922
- 3,241
You hunted Wyoming too?! lol
I had a couple guys roll up on me who were each a 12 pack deep around 1:00 in the afternoon one day asking me where all the big ones were at. lol I just shook my head.
Guys like this definitely skew data badly lol
Thanks for all the good info everybody! It is tough to narrow things down when you're going to a new spot and you don't have the opportunity to scout. I am using all the info I can to put the odds in my favor. Statistics and data seem to be my best bet. Just takes time to read between the lines.
To quote Mark Twain.."Lies, damned lies and statistics"
I would not but much in days/harvest. Five of us hunted Wy last year for 6 days. We say deer everyday several that were "Shooters". Three of us had taken better deer previous and were willing to eat the tag. So three of us were 0 for 6 days of hunting despite the fact we could have tagged out any time if we wanted a deer. Another guy killed a nice 5x6 opening morning (it was his first mule deer). He was 1 day and 1 deer.
I would not but much in days/harvest. Five of us hunted Wy last year for 6 days. We say deer everyday several that were "Shooters". Three of us had taken better deer previous and were willing to eat the tag. So three of us were 0 for 6 days of hunting despite the fact we could have tagged out any time if we wanted a deer. Another guy killed a nice 5x6 opening morning (it was his first mule deer). He was 1 day and 1 deer.
To quote Mark Twain.."Lies, damned lies and statistics"
I would not but much in days/harvest. Five of us hunted Wy last year for 6 days. We say deer everyday several that were "Shooters". Three of us had taken better deer previous and were willing to eat the tag. So three of us were 0 for 6 days of hunting despite the fact we could have tagged out any time if we wanted a deer. Another guy killed a nice 5x6 opening morning (it was his first mule deer). He was 1 day and 1 deer.
I would not but much in days/harvest. Five of us hunted Wy last year for 6 days. We say deer everyday several that were "Shooters". Three of us had taken better deer previous and were willing to eat the tag. So three of us were 0 for 6 days of hunting despite the fact we could have tagged out any time if we wanted a deer. Another guy killed a nice 5x6 opening morning (it was his first mule deer). He was 1 day and 1 deer.
I keep notes year after year in my spots that I routinely hunt to see if there is any pattern to elk activity. That is more important than harvest stats. Although I have killed 3 bulls and a buck on Sept 20 over the years so I do keep track!