Doe Tag vs. Buck Tag-input please!

BarnesX.308 · 12-16-2003, 05:29 AM

If the game commission is so concerned with shooting more does, why does your license come with a buck tag but you have to apply for a doe tag. Why don't they make it so your license comes with a doe tag and you have to apply for the buck tag? Just a thought.

Scott Meier
White Oak Lodge

PABowhntr · 12-16-2003, 05:36 AM

With the current system they can somewhat regulate the number of does taken in the respective wildlife management units. By making the "buck tag" an "either type" tag they lose a very large amount of that control.

BarnesX.308 · 12-16-2003, 05:41 AM

What if they just controlled the amount of buck tags. That would still reduce the number of deer being shot. What do other states do? I think some have an "earn a buck" program.

Scott Meier
White Oak Lodge

PABowhntr · 12-16-2003, 06:03 AM

Since our buck tag is our general license then that would limit the number of sales which would in turn drastically affect the gross income of the Game Commission. Somehow, I do not think they will go for that.

As for the earn a buck programs available in some areas....that might work for a limited area but to implement it across the state would seem somewhat difficult. I am not entirely sure how NJ does it but I would assume that you have to submit a filled-doe tag before being issued a buck tag. Where would you submit that doe tag to? How would you prove that you actually shot a doe? Deer checkpoints would require additional manpower and quite a few of them would need to be created in order to cover the sheer number of hunters across the state.

Just playing devil's advocate.

Martin Cougar · 12-16-2003, 06:11 AM

I'm w/ PABowhntr on this. Think of how much $ is generated by applying for 1 doe tag.

Grizzlybear · 12-16-2003, 06:11 AM

Barnes-

Finally, somebody is asking the same question I have! I've wondered that for a while.

PABowhntr is right that it probably comes back to revenue - if people don't automatically get their buck tag they might not buy the license. I wonder if running both Buck AND Doe as a lottery/draw might be feasible somehow.

I just figure getting AR in place was a major leap forward. Heck, there are plenty of grunts that still have a hard time with that since they want to shoot at anything. Maybe sometime in the future. Hunters need to put the health of the deer herd ahead of their ego that says buck, buck, buck! Just my opinion.

BarnesX.308 · 12-16-2003, 10:43 AM

My wife asked me this question the other night. She doesn't hunt but she thought it didn't make sense the way the state does it now. They want to save more bucks but they give everyone a buck tag. They want to get rid of more does but they make you apply for a doe tag. Perhaps an either sex tag would be good. I'm sure all the meat hunters or youngsters would use it on a doe. They could still sell some bonus doe tags in areas that needed it.

Scott Meier
White Oak Lodge

DoubleLung55 · 12-16-2003, 12:59 PM

Guys, I have had this one opinion for quiet some time now... I was wondering , why not do what some states like virginia and maryland do , and give u two or more tags with your general license. One HAS to be a buck and one HAS to be a doe , or one HAS to be a buck , and two have to be doe???? then have some left over to sell individually, they mihgt want to raise the license price the extra 6 dollars , but they would sell more tags IMO, and kill more doe. Cause then if you think about it , everyone would still have a shot at a deer , and not have to change back AR's . If nothing else it would make getting a deer easier for those who only get to go out that one day a year. Also for those of you that might think it would be hard to kep track of where the deer were killed , simply just put a place on the tag where u can write in the WMU u harvested the animal in , no need to have that extra tag for only ONE WMU, but at the same time u could have some left for single WMU sales. just my thoughts....