Shaman
Just found your website tonight and spent some time there. Nicely done!
You and I are in similar boats...63, with nearly 300 acres in a state that is not my residence (yet).
I have owned the property 10 years now, and have yet to hunt deer myself...always friends and family (mostly the latter). We generally have 4 guys hunting (son, son-in-law, brother-in-law and a friend) and kill 3 or 4 deer...a relative pittance given the entire property is good habitat.
As the guy who paid for the land, pays the taxes, clears the trails, supplements the deer...I figure I get to make the rules. Just like you do.
I believe in QDM, but not to the point where I tell the new guy (who's never killed a deer) he can't shoot a fork or a spike. I encourage thoughtful use...but sometimes the best use of a forkhorn is as a new hunter's first deer!
As the management starts paying dividends and the trail cam pics of 140 and 150 inch deer start coming, the guys self-police. Who's going to shoot a 1.5 year old fork when he knows there's a 4.5 year old 140 incher wandering close by?
Best of luck in this upcoming season (not that I believe in luck!).
Tim
