Thoughts on Antler Restrictions in ALABAMA

bigaggie77 · 01-08-2007, 12:07 PM

Looking for input on Antler Restrictions other than the barbour county antler restriction.

How many of you would favor a State Antler Restriction of atleast 3 points on one side?

I would like to see more countys go with Antler Restrictions myself as in my mind would increase the age of the bucks that are harvested, and increase the chance of a young youth being able to harvest a nice 6 to 8 pointer. That would hook a child for life, instead of only killing a doe which seems more the rule.

input please!

rockytop · 01-08-2007, 01:27 PM

I use to hunt Alabama so I'll chime in and say yes to antler restrictions. Up here in Tennessee they have cut us back to 3 bucks a year and in 3 years we have seen some substantial improvement in the amount of mature bucks. that may be the way to go instead of trying to measure horns in the woods.

mbhutton · 01-08-2007, 07:42 PM

Yeah i got some thoughts on this and it may get long winded so bear with me. I for one am all for it, i would love to see a restriction of some sort come in to play. I am sick of hunting here on what people or clubs call manged land and the land owners ext to you shoot any thing with horns. I would like to see a rule that you have to harvest a doe befor any buck. We need to get the number of does down, I would like to see a rule come into affect to read somethuing like, unlimited doe and 2 bucks with a minimum of 3 on one siode or better or at least a 3 year old buck. Now i know people are gonna say waell that is to much, but if some thing dosent happen soon in about 2-3 years buck will be far and few and hunting here will turn into doe hunting. just my 2c

timbercruiser · 01-08-2007, 08:16 PM

In most areas of Alabama we have way too many deer, not just does. If you restrict the size on bucks there will be that many more deer in the woods, TOO many. A couple of weeks ago I had 14 small bucks in the patch at one time, I didn't shoot one, but I have been carrying my grandsons hoping one of them will shoot one of them. I would vote no on the statewide antler restrictions, just because there are too many deer as it is, manage or shootwhat you wantto on the land you have permission to hunt.

Goose 11 · 01-08-2007, 08:39 PM

I have just moved from Bama to Georgia, I have been very disappointed in the antler restrictions here. I am not for any ststewide antler restrictions in Bama. On a club basis sure, but not for everyone. I allow anyone who is hunting their first deer or even their first buck to take any deer they want at my place in Butler County. We have had 12 kids get their first deer over the last 6 years. Some hold out for a 6 or 8, some shoot the first one they see, it's their choice and they have a ball! I admit it, I hate to watch a small buck walk across the property line and get shot, but that's justpart of the hunt. We have a 6 point rule at our land. But waive it for kids and first timers.

I say let 'em all hunt and choose for themselves.

Instead of antler restrictions, I would like to get baiting legalized! Sorry, but that's my opinion.

Trae

jd3006 · 01-08-2007, 08:47 PM

My 2 cents. No to antler restrictions. I think we'd be better off with a limit on the number of bucks taken, whether it's 2,3,4 or whatever. This would still allow a kid or anyone the option of taking a smaller buck if thats all they see. We have too many people taking all the antlered deer they see. Some kill 10 or more a year and no does. With a buck limit one would tend to be more choosey if he knows there are larger ones out there. I think we are way too caught up in taking big rack bucks. A trophy is in the eye of the beholder and not what you or I or the state game dept. might think it is. Those of us that have killed our share of bucks are welcome to set a personal minimum on what we take and let that hunter who is satisfied with a smaller rack buck set his own standard.

bigaggie77 · 01-09-2007, 08:23 AM

I'm thinking that if we had a restriction then it would help bring the % of bucks up to a level that is needed compaired to the % of does. which would help the deer heard in the long run. It would cause less bucks to be harvested at first, but the harvest of bucks would be right back up to what it is right now in only a year or two. The difference is that you wouldn't see so many spikes and button bucks taken.

onebadf250 · 01-09-2007, 06:53 PM

I would like to see an antler restriction or a 2/3 buck limit.Something is better than nothing, like it is right now.There are way to many small bucks being shot. What is the point. Cut the horns off and throw them in the corner.Other than fora kid what is the point of shooting a 4pt, spike, or whatever(exceptions to the law can be made for youth). I'd rather shoot a doe if its for meat. I know that a trophy is in the eye of the beholder but there isn't one person that can say they'd rather shoot a small 4pt over a decent 8pt. Most of the time you aren't talking but one year between a 4point and a near shooter 6 or 8pt. 1 year.Like was mentioned above it wouldn't take long before the results to show.A buck limit would make most people hold out for bigger deer. It wouldn't bother me any b/c I hold out for the bigger deer anyways as it is. I may shoot 2 bucks a year with my rifle and 1 or 2 more if I get lucky enough with my bow. Not to say that I haven't shot more than that in a year but if 2 bucks a year is all I got I would be fine with it.If its not going to be at minimum a really great plauqe mount or potential wall hanger , 125"'s or better, I'm not going to shoot it.Again whats the point. I'll shoot afew does for the freezer.Look at most of your Mid West states. They all only get 1 or 2 buck tags a year. Most everyone out there waits for the big ones to roll by...do they mind waiting. No b/c they know they are there b/c they let all the little ones walk last year. If they went to a restriction or limit you wouldn't have to worry about every small buck that crossed the line. I don't worry with that anyways. If you don't let them go who will. They can't kill them all and if you are shooting them and they are shooting them then they are definitly dead and not going to grow or be there next year. My 2cents.

bigaggie77 · 01-09-2007, 07:22 PM

I agree with 100% one badf250...

I'm hoping for some change, I would love to see an antler restriction of 3 points on one side for the whole state...with a youth exception of course.

I don't mind a child shooting a any kind of dear because the kids we raise is what will keep the greating hunting going for our grandkids and so on.

I hate to see a small spike or button buck killed for the sole reason that "If I don't kill it someone else will". Let them grow first then weed them out.

USFWC · 01-11-2007, 07:15 AM

Shooting the bucks does not have much impact on the deer population. Take a buck out and that is minus one deer from the population. Take a doe out and that takes out her, her offspring, her offspring's offspring, etc., etc. There will most always be a buck there to breed her. Reducing the number of bucks one can shoot shifts some of the harvest ratio towards the side of the does.Even if there are fewer total deer harvested, the higher number of does harvested more efficiently controls the population. One buck=One deer. One doe=Many deer.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: timbercruiser

In most areas of Alabama we have way too many deer, not just does. If you restrict the size on bucks there will be that many more deer in the woods, TOO many. A couple of weeks ago I had 14 small bucks in the patch at one time, I didn't shoot one, but I have been carrying my grandsons hoping one of them will shoot one of them. I would vote no on the statewide antler restrictions, just because there are too many deer as it is, manage or shootwhat you wantto on the land you have permission to hunt.