WV Antler Restriction

[gutshot]

Did anyone read in the Sunday Gazette that the WV DNR is working on drafting new regs for certain WMA's to be managed for trophy bucks. What are your thoughts on this? I'm sure that it would include alot of doe hunting and antler restriction.

[wvparker]

A step in the right direction that's for sure. Another would be to reduce the number of antlered deer a year a hunter can take. The way it is now I think a hunter can take 6 antlered deer per year. And that can be 6 spikes if the hunter wants.

[BolognaSniper]

I agree, I think it is pathetic what i see ALOT of hunters in WV HARVEST AS A SO CALLED BUCK. I would take does all day over shooting a german sheppard sized button buck. If some sort of better management practices are not implemented ,especially for the WMAs,
the so called rack takers wont have anything but spikes to take. I manage my own land and this year will probably be only does for me . The bologna and burgers taste the same

[huntinwv]

I did not see the article but would love to see the law passed. I hunt in the bow-only counties as well as the others, and there is a definate difference in body and rack size.

I hope this raise the DNR is getting next year will include more enforcement for poaching!!!!!

[DannyD]

I was new to hunting last fall after moving to WV (originally from Long Island). I spent a lot of time trying to choose a gun for my daughter and I. Once that was done we spend months shooting, practicing a few times a week. Id have to say the hardest part of all was trying to understand how many of what type of deer during what season, with what weapon we could take. Then having to decide what tag and by what date i had to buy it.
I wish it was more simple than that. Say like 2 doe and 2 buck no matter what you shoot it with or when. Im not saying get rid if the different weapon seasons. just that if you take 2 doe and 2 buck in the first week of bow season then you are done.
Of course i am new and may be a little nieve about hunting but it sure would be easier

[Pro-Line]

I've been hunting WV for a lot of years...and their license/seasons are more confusing than states that have lotteries and draw permits. LOL

I am not opposed to antler restrictions at all...BUT, simply reducing the number of bucks allowed would also solve the problem. The way it is (tentatively) for this next year, you can still kill 5 bucks. That is assanine.

The DNR is cutting back on doe seasons, which is fine, but isn't touching the limit on bucks.

Were no wildlife biologists available the day they came up with that or what??? [:@]

[huntinwv]

Pro-Line, I understand what you are saying about the bucks, particulary in the southern part of the state. We don't have a huge population of deer down here. A matter-of-fact, they opened doe season for the last two years in Raleigh Coand it hurt the population BAD! I hunt private land that no one else hunts and the deer were few and far between. Its my understanding that the doe season will no longer be, but I guess you can still shoot X number of bucks???

This is why I hunt mostly in the bow only counties.

[DannyD]

im sure i'll figure out how many i can take eventually. Im not sure it's going to matter though. I can't eat more than 2-3 a year so It will not be more than that. I'd like 1 bow, 1 gun and 1 that my daughter shoots. other than that I see no need to kill more deer.
Then maybe i'll try and sit in the woods the rest of the season trying to get a black bear. Just don't know where to do that yet

[Pro-Line]

Danny, I like your idea. You get so many tags...how you fill them is up to you.

I'd like to see (like Danny said) 2 bucks, 2 does...PERIOD. You kill them the first 4 days of bow, you're done.

That's too easy. LOL

[gutshot]

I think we as West Virginia Hunters need to get out of the habit of filling every tag that we are aloud to purchase and in a sence take herd management into our own hands.