09/02/2026
This chart represents my entire deer hunting career having started hunting in the 1970s. I have literally seen and experienced the rise and the fall of our whitetail herd. The fall? Yes, I’m aware that we still have plenty of deer but I am talking about the quality of a well managed deer herd. When we add the next layer to this chart at the end of the 2020s I have no doubt the downward trend will continue. Why is that?
We as hunters have failed to understand that mature bucks are a very limited resource. The number of hunters vying for this limited resource has grown significantly since the 1970s, hunting regulations have increased opportunities significantly and technology has increased significantly. Yes, deer herds also grew significantly since the 70s but poorly thought out regulations have failed to maintain good age structure and s*x ratios.
With continued increases in hunting pressure on mature bucks combined with continued advances in technology, the downward trend will not only continue but will increase in severity. Frankly, deer hunters themselves are the biggest problem. We embrace expanded seasons, liberalization of weapons and advancements in technology. The writing is on the wall. Our kids and grandkids will only be able to read about and dream about the good ole days.
It would be amazing if a Midwestern state would scrap all current deer hunting regulations and management practices and start over from scratch. If they were willing to do so, they could become the envy of every other state wildlife agency in the country and hunters would line up to hunt there. Will that ever happen? I doubt it. Why? Hunters are their own worst enemy. They would fight every change tooth and nail. Mark my words, giant whitetail bucks will become more and more rare. It’s already happening.
