I think part of the problem is the financial part you mentioned. However, I know that in Missouri this past fall we had such a massive acorn drop that most deer did not hit the fields as much as usual.

I also think financial struggles are keeping people from booking high-priced, monster buck hunts. Something environmental must have been going on, too. I saw some dandies at the end of summer, but only saw VERY few of those deer on stand. Rough on all accounts.

I think there are a lot of hunters who get big deer that could care less about going to a show.

A good way away...

In NW MN it has been slow for big bucks, I've heard it from many hunters. I don't know if it's because of conditions, or there are less big bucks, or if they are just becoming more nocturnal. I haven't filled my buck tag since 2008 - haven't even had a fair chance at a shooter since then. Til the next one comes along I'll keep letting the little ones grow and thinning out the does though. With the price of beef nowdays I think I'll be taking plenty of does this fall!

Any stats from Iowa? We had a big carryover last season of older bucks, because of the year before, alot of the corn stayed up all winter and there was so much snow hunters could not get around.I know of at least 4 200"+ bucks killed in this area, but like me most dont get them officially scored or taken to shows.I dont know how many other states have a january antlerless season like Iowa,but that is responsible here for killing ALOT of mature shedded bucks.

The massive acorn crop in Oklahoma kept the buck sightings down.

Midwest had a really funky rut this year. Moon phase was off a bit, and the deer just weren't themselves. I hunt in Southern Illinois and it was, without a doubt, the strangest year I have ever experienced. Most of the taxidermists said they took in larger deer than usual, but in far, far fewer numbers.

It was not that many years ago people in mn were lucky
To see brown fur...period. I really think we are riding the downside of an alltime crest. Kevin has the right idea. If you want to see real horns on your meat it is time to let the little guys walk.

where i hunt in MI from what i heard you either had a great year or a bad year. for some reason instead of the deer being everywhere like they used to be, there were extemeley large amounts of them scattered in pockets around the area i was hunting. i talked to some other guys that hunt near me, saw alot of great bucks on trail cam, but only on confirmed dead at the end of the season....guess that means alot of big ones running around me next year?

Even though I hunt in alabama, i havn't seen a shooter buck in three years.

I think it's alot of things. The economy, and hunters who don't care about shows, and I'm definitely buying the acorn stuff, I'm turkey hunting right now, and am finding areas of Oak that the ground is STILL covered with un-eaten acorns. I'll buy into the moon phase stuff too, just didn't see the "rutting" behaviour as much this year as in years past.

the rut in my area of MI was apparently right on schedule and was pretty good. i wasnt able to hunt alot of it but when i did get out i saw some pretty good chasing action going on.