Antler Restrictions in Virginia

keyshunter · 12-08-2006, 10:47 AM

As I looked through the photos on the Virginia kill thread, I began to ponder "what beautiful bucks wewould becapable of producing if hunters did not kill off the small bucks". Antler restrictions have been successful in other states, so why not here? We have very liberal antlerless limits for those who are interested in meat or numbers, so why not increase the odds for those who are interested in harvesting a real trophy? I believe thatminimum antler size to protect our young bucksis an idea whose time has come for Virginia.

Sureisaniceskimask · 12-08-2006, 10:49 AM

I love the idea of antler restrictions. It's stupid when people shoot spikes just for the kill. Stupid people shooting dog sized deer piss me off... [:@]

Rusty_S · 12-08-2006, 10:59 AM

Yeah my buddy shoots anything with four legs in the woods.

Rusty_S · 12-08-2006, 11:03 AM

I think that he has shot like 5 deer this year and only one of them have been worth the processing fee. and it was a retarded buck.

Sureisaniceskimask · 12-08-2006, 11:04 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Rusty_S

I think that he has shot like 5 deer this year and only one of them have been worth the processing fee. and it was a retarded buck.

And what exactly made it retarded? Was it running in circles or something. Or was it on top of Stevan Harris beating the crap out of him like Earl Bruce???

CAPT BRAD · 12-08-2006, 11:07 AM

Most of the guy's around us have either DMAP or self imposed AR's

Virginia Mike · 12-08-2006, 11:12 AM

I believe that in Shenandoah or Warren counties there is an antler restriction on your 2nd buck starting this year.I think it has to be 4 points or better per side. I feelthat we should have to earn all of our buck tags in VA by shooting a doe first. You shoot one doe, you get one buck, and so on until 3. The catch is the bucks have to have 4 points per side or better. That would solve the buck to doe ratio problem and help us start seeing more mature bucks. Just my take.

BlueRanger1 · 12-08-2006, 11:16 AM

Arkansas 3 point rule sure has helped.

CamoCop · 12-08-2006, 11:21 AM

alot of our management area's have gone to 3 points on one side

TNHagies · 12-08-2006, 11:39 AM

I think it would work in some areas of the state but in Craig and Botetourt County where we hunt, everyone meat hunts so no one really cares about shooting monsters every year.

I guess what I'm saying is that you'd have to have cooperation from the state because some people don't care about horns. So I'd go along w/point restrictions in that area if they give me more doe days. I, nor most of the people I know have a problem w/shooting does for our meat but when almost all of your days in the season are buck only... makes it kinda hard.