PA end your late season

hunter60 · 01-15-2010, 08:24 AM

Two guys I work with went hunting with two guys from pa. during late muzzleloader. They shot 4 deer 3 were bucks that already dropped there antlers. Just seems kind of dumb to me to have antler restrictions. Then shoot them when they shed.

pats102862 · 01-15-2010, 11:33 AM

That would be my luck, hunt a monster buck all year, then shoot him in late season after his antlers fell off. Another reason I don't hunt antlerless where I buck hunt.

Cornelius08 · 01-15-2010, 02:32 PM

Yeah, i hear ya pats. I shot one like that during flinter season many years ago. Swore Id never do it again and after that I made sure to check for the circles. Can see 'em if the shots not too far and you take the time. Might cost ya an opportunity if the action has to be fast but not always. Often you can tell if it is or isnt right away. Especially within reasonable flinter distances.

Also hunting with a guy once who shot a buck and went to drag and the antler came off in his hand. lol. Checked the other side and it was ready to come off as well. Wasnt a big buck though.

pats102862 · 01-15-2010, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cornelius08

Also hunting with a guy once who shot a buck and went to drag and the antler came off in his hand. lol. Checked the other side and it was ready to come off as well. Wasnt a big buck though.

What do they do in that situation if you wanted to mount it? I thought they have to use part of the skull attached to the antlers.

Camosteel · 01-15-2010, 04:01 PM

My wife had two buck run out in front of her a 1/4 mile from the house tonight. I was surprised they still had horns. They must have been decent because everytime she says she sees deer I ask her if it was a buck or doe and she just shrugs her shoulders. I didn't see a deer with horns all of flint season. Glad to know a few made it for next year.

Cornelius08 · 01-15-2010, 04:10 PM

Id imagine it wouldnt be too hard pats. Most taxidermists are experts at fixing damaged potential mounts.

Id guess the easiest way would be to put screws up through the skull plate into the bases of the antlers, adjust em, then maybe put a little epoxy around the bases under where the hair line would be. Might be hard to get the spread exactly down to the original specs, but could probably get close nuff.

Imagine it would be possible to mount even without the skull plate, with some sort of mounting block in its place. Think ive read of mounts being done with sheds.

Though if i shot a 170" buck and the antler popped off, Id probably crap myself.

berks/clintonbowhunter13 · 01-19-2010, 04:29 PM

I believe that this late season in PA where you can hunt does with a rifle is ridiculous. The deer population is terrible in almost all locations of PA compared to 10 or 20 years ago. Why kill many of the does that have all ready been bred by bucks. If we let them go, that could be 2 more fawns for next year. I see no joy in shooting a doe when i barely see any. The PGC needs to stop selling unlimited licsenses on does, its preventing the population of deer in the state a chance to regrow. It seems like idiots are hunting does until july.

ManySpurs · 01-21-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pats102862

What do they do in that situation if you wanted to mount it? I thought they have to use part of the skull attached to the antlers.

There's a number of ways to fix them. My favorite way is to drill out the antler from the bottom, then epoxy a steel bar shaped like a square into the hole. Then, in the form, a steel channel that will except the steel bar from the antlers is epoxied into the form. I have an elk mount done that way and the detachable antlers are great when trying to move it around.