I really dont like the PA game commission

pahunter60 · 12-01-2009, 12:15 PM

shouldnt have antler restrictions, i dont get whats the big deal about what you get. i know the stupid game commission is trying to make more mature deer. im goin by what my dad says, he's been hunting the same woods for 40 years and the last 8 or whatever with the AR has been the same except for the number of deer. same small baskets and a couple big ones run around. he doesnt have fun hunting any more because of the AR, my dad doesnt find it enjoyable not even having a chance because its so hard to count the points(has to be 4pts on a side where we hunt) maybe unless its a big rack and and he takes a chance it has enough points. we saw 4 buck and all were baskets.1 big 8 was the only nice buck seen and shot all day and its a pretty big area. its my last year as a junior and i got a 6pt. but if i was 17 i would have never taken a shot at that deer, wouldnt of been able to count points. i think the AR is dumb. also having the doe and buck season together AND giving out a billion doe tags. PA game commission needs a new president or something. it should for sure be changed

DeerandbearhoG · 12-01-2009, 12:49 PM

Uh oh, now you did it

Cornelius08 · 12-01-2009, 01:34 PM

It seems most hunters in my area generally support antler restrictions. Some dont. But you'll find VERY few who are happy about hr, the bazillion doe tags, and the game commissions slaughter the herd for the welfare of the wildflowers etc campaign.

bowtruck · 12-01-2009, 01:40 PM

in my area we cannot shoot doe till saturday. Unless you have dmaps
I think ARs have done good in my area , butours is only 3pt

rybohunter · 12-01-2009, 02:21 PM

Waaa waaa waaa
I didn't get a buck!
waaa waaa waaa

Cornelius08 · 12-01-2009, 03:00 PM

Then perhaps you shouldve hunted longer and harder rybo.

As with most years, I got mine archery season. Though going against your logic (or lack thereof) I still dont approve of mismanagement & a failed deer program & excessive ridiculous reduction implemented by the "greenies" at the trillium & hobblebush commission. lmao.

It is "surprising" to hear some irrational nonsense though. We generally get a break from it when btb is at camp or out of state.

RidgeFACTOR · 12-01-2009, 03:18 PM

I can see most of your points and views about the antler restrictions and most are valid. I live and hunt in southwestern, Pennsylvania and we don't have a problem with the 4-point to a side restriction rule. In other parts of the state where deer herds are down (mainly due to the slaughtering of does, poaching, EHD and whatever else) I can see your point(s). The thing I hate most about Pennsylvania's game commission laws/rules is two things.

1.) Why do they take archery (bow season) out when the rut starts to kick in and then you can hunt until gun season?

2.) You should be able to harvest a buck with a bow and also with a gun.

I also would like to add that I also hunt in neighboring West Virginia and this is one place without an antler restriction and they (WVDNR) have ruined the hunting there by the slaughtering of does and the selling of extra tags.
In West Virginia it's legal to take up to something like 13 deer in 1 season. I'm NOT saying we in Pennsylvania should be able to do that but we should be able to harvest (1) buck with a bow, (1) buck with a rifle/muzzleloader.

Cornelius08 · 12-01-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

In West Virginia it's legal to take up to something like 13 deer in 1 season.

WV is comparable in size to Pa, has higher deer densities for the most part in many areas and has Under three hundred thousand hunters.

By comparison Pa has around 900,000.

As for 2 buck, like the concept, but I dont see it as ever gonna happen unless hunter rate of decline went off the charts. Too many guys not getting one already for some of us to take 2. We are already splitting a paltry 109-120,000 buck harvest among 900,000 hunters. Quality would also degrade at least somewhat. Something we dont have a ton of to begin with. These things imho outweigh need for more opportunity in the way of a 2 buck harvest, though your opinion may differ and i have no problem with that.

I agree about archery season. No reason for it to end so early. They said it wasnt a biological issue with adding xbows, so there should be no problem with adding a couple weeks like other states have. Archery harvest is comparatively small, and doe tags could be adjusted if needed.

lbott29 · 12-01-2009, 03:54 PM

i wish we had antler restrictions in connecticut. way to many yearling bucks get shot it is a shame.

pahunter60 · 12-01-2009, 05:44 PM

i like the 1 week buck, then one week both maybe even less for doe like the way it was before 3 days. just even for a couple years to get the numbers up a little more then go 1 week buck and 1 week both, not as many doe will be killed. also i think if they have to do this stupid AR, for the 4pt side of it, atleast make it fair and make it all 3 on a side. i dont get why its 4pt 1/3 of the state then the rest 3.