Tip-o-the-Mitt and Kids

[daappleknocker]

I have been out of town this week. I had a great time at the Appleknocker's Lodge and got a lot of writing done, so look out. I have to respond to a thread that was closed before I could comment. I attended the 2017 Tip-of-the Mitt Banquet on January 28. I can't comment on their big buck night, but the banquet was definitely kid centric. They put a lot of emphasis on honoring the kids, both male and female. I couldn't have been prouder of being a part of the hunting community that night, and my wife even commented how nice it was that they included the youth hunters. I do not believe after the banquet that they would make negative comments if a youth hunter harvested a small buck or doe. If it was done it was on a personal basis as we all know there are assholes out there. I did not see any at the banquet. Even knowing of my position against mandatory MAR's, I was accepted and treated very well.

[QDM MARS]

I can't comment on their big buck night, but the banquet was definitely kid centric. They put a lot of emphasis on honoring the kids, both male and female. I couldn't have been prouder of being a part of the hunting community that night, and my wife even commented how nice it was that they included the youth hunters. I do not believe after the banquet that they would make negative comments if a youth hunter harvested a small buck or doe. If it was done it was on a personal basis as we all know there are assholes out there. I did not see any at the banquet. Even knowing of my position against mandatory MAR's,

Daappleknocker

There wasn't any claim that the tipp of the mitt made negative comments toward any of the deer shot by the youth that were posted on their page . It was representatives of the tipp of the mitt posting on here that tried to make it look like that was what was claimed.

What was said and what I seen for myself, was that on the tipp of the mitt page the youth proudly posted their bucks( without neg comments)  but were not invited and encouraged in those posts to bring them to the big buck night to get them aged and entered into their manipulated "check station" data . At the same time the adults that posted pics of bigger older bucks to the page were invited and encouraged (by the page admins ) to bring their deer to the big buck night to get them aged and entered into their manipulated "check station"   data. (  disclaimer  I did not check to see if they did the same this season or not after they were found out) . Now I can assume in the tipp of the mitt's overwhelming desire to manipulate the data in  favor of MARs  with these big buck nights and  knowing the data was being entered as regular check station data ,that they really didn't see it as a big deal  and no one would even noticed they were doing it .  I see no other reason to explain  it ! 

One other thing that I am  aware of is many that were posting pics of big bucks (and the tipp of the mitt highlighting)were from properties that are highly managed with hired managers and not run of the mill hunters and hunting lands. It really doesn't matter at this point as the vote is currently taking place but it shows how deceptive they have been  to make MARs look like they work the way they advertise .

[daappleknocker]

As far as the kids go I believe it is fake news, just a way to distract from the real problem. The real problem, as you mentioned, is the collection of data at big buck nights and having that data included in the check station data either by those promoting MAR's or worse yet the DNR.

[OTC-Archer]

Feb 17, 2017 15:58:35 GMT -5 daappleknocker said:

I have been out of town this week. I had a great time at the Appleknocker's Lodge and got a lot of writing done, so look out. I have to respond to a thread that was closed before I could comment. I attended the 2017 Tip-of-the Mitt Banquet on January 28. I can't comment on their big buck night, but the banquet was definitely kid centric. They put a lot of emphasis on honoring the kids, both male and female. I couldn't have been prouder of being a part of the hunting community that night, and my wife even commented how nice it was that they included the youth hunters. I do not believe after the banquet that they would make negative comments if a youth hunter harvested a small buck or doe. If it was done it was on a personal basis as we all know there are assholes out there. I did not see any at the banquet. Even knowing of my position against mandatory MAR's, I was accepted and treated very well.

Thanks for your kind words. I suspect your cohorts will continue to disagree with you, unfortunately.