How has technology affected hunter sucess

[Nuts]

As we set up blinds and towers for kids I often reference what I was given as a kid. Typically a stump or tree to lean against. Typically in jeans. Sweatshirt or hand me down jacket. Always sneakers. Maybe bread bags if there was wet snow. 30/30 always with corelok bullets. Deer were killed. Mental toughness developed. No Onx, trail cameras, range finders, sitka gear etc. So how has everything available these days affected success rates. And what might be the biggest helper in success. From what I see on Google herd size of deer helps. But overall it doesent appear that the billions spent on modern technology has equaled a sky rocketing success rate that tracks with money spent. What do you see as the greatest modern technology that equals meat on the ground.

 

[MTTW]

Electronic range finders.

 

[RidgeRunner76]

Exponentially

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Undoubtedly OnX for me

 

[Rack Daniels]

As humans developed the technology to better develop tools to successfully take animals, humans would have (could have?) equally developed the means to manage those same animals substantially.
It just goes to show what we as a species focus our time, money and energy on. We primarily are a very TAKING and less GIVING species.

 

[Bux_N_Beards]

Sadly in the Southeast it has become a combination of Spincast Corn Feeders + Cellular Trail Cameras that is getting a lot of deer killed that otherwise likely never would have been by those same people.

 

[johnp]

Video technology , Social media, outdoor influencers whom exposed how easy it was to go out west and shoot mule deer that were too stupid to keep running after jumping them !

 

[Nick87]

Its interesting, technology leads to success short term but i feel like its going to limit it in the long game.

 

[Dan O]

Range finders, GPS, trail cameras, dial the range scopes plus the long range hunting phase but worst of all the internet. The good old days has turned into the crappy days ahead.

 

[Tmbrgost]

Long range shooting with a gun & bow.

 

[pabearhunter]

If we went back to what we had in the 60's and 70's we would have a bunch of hungry hunters !!

 

[SaskHunter]

If we went back to what we had in the 60's and 70's we would have a bunch of hungry hunters !!

I would gladly trade in all my gear for hunting herds of the 60s and 70s.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Does anyone have concrete evidence (ie harvest reports from a game agency) of harvest rates increasing?

 

[kiwi hunter]

If we went back to what we had in the 60's and 70's we would have a bunch of hungry hunters !!

Worth thinking on. They were far better hunters simply because all areas of the world are over run with deer at present regardless of the technology. As a student of game animals i believe sickness comes from overcrowding, in Africa the animals migrate to offset this problem.

 

[Nuts]

Does anyone have concrete evidence (ie harvest reports from a game agency) of harvest rates increasing?

Whitetail. The research I found showed higher success rates now then most times since the 80s. And some states with antler restrictions has crazy numbers in 3.5yr old + making up a big portion. I almost lean toward the higher success rates being a result of a dwindling hunting population. Everyone used to hunt. Maybe the 1st day of gun only. Now with all the distractions in the world it is more hard-core folks and not at all folks.

 

[Rainer]

Everyone always talks about the technology in cameras, optics, weapons etc. But no one talks about the technology that went into modern clothing. Not to many people are out there hunting in blue jeans and heavy wool coats anymore.

 

[WildWill]

Does anyone have concrete evidence (ie harvest reports from a game agency) of harvest rates increasing?

Oklahoma's highest season harvest was 22-23 season at just over 134k. The record before that was set in 20-21 season. And if you look at the history has only trended upwards sense our first modern season in 1954.


1954 - First statewide gun deer season (5 days) results in a harvest of 1,487 bucks.


1992 - Total harvest tops 50,000.


2000 - Deer population levels spawn a multitude of stakeholder desires and management possibilities. For the first time, deer harvest numbers top 100,000.


The above is from the odwc website.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Oklahoma's highest season harvest was 22-23 season at just over 134k. The record before that was set in 20-21 season. And if you look at the history has only trended upwards sense our first modern season in 1954.


1954 - First statewide gun deer season (5 days) results in a harvest of 1,487 bucks.


1992 - Total harvest tops 50,000.


2000 - Deer population levels spawn a multitude of stakeholder desires and management possibilities. For the first time, deer harvest numbers top 100,000.


The above is from the odwc website.

Are you controlling for # of hunters though?

 

[idelkslayer]

Rifle technology has advanced but the vast majority of hunters are still using rifle technology that was available 40 years ago i.e. scoped rifle sighted in at 100 yards. Archery and muzzleloader technology has increased at a much faster rate. Rangefinders alone probably account for a lot of increased success in those areas.

 

[WildWill]

Are you controlling for # of hunters though?

Absolutely not I'm parotting the ODWC website. But they do have all the license sales information year by year on the website. So with a little work and time it could be figured out.