The way I see it everyone wants to have the longest season with whatever they hunt with. In Missouri, bowhunters have the longest season Sept 15 thru Jan 15 with a break from Nov 11 thru Nov 22 for rifle season. Ml season is Nov 24 thru Dec 3. If you did not tag out by then, there is an anterless portion firearms season Dec 9 thru 17 in select areas of the state. So lets see the longest is bow, then rifle, then ML. Oh and the youth get screwed by only having Oct 28 and 29 (6-15 yrs). I don't see anyone trying to extend the youthseasons in any state, after all that is where our future sport will be. In my state here is what I think should be addressed:
1. Have rifle season and in-line ML season together fromNov 11-Dec 3. (seems everyone likes to take 200-300 yard shots so whats the difference)
2. Have Bow and Traditional ML from Sept 15-Jan 15. (max range seems to be 50 yards so thats resonable).
3. Do away with the extrended anterless portion as you can easily hunt with bow or traditional ML the rest of the season.
4. The youth rifle portion could take place for several weeks in October. (Not to hot or cold for the kids and deer start to move alot around here in that time) It keeps the kids interested. Two days can bore a kid right out of hunting if nothing happens. I think kids should also be allowed to hunt overbait. Here in MO it's NO for all. Bow and traditional could be put on hold during the kids portion for safety reasons. I sure as hell would put off hunting during that time if I knew children were having the exteded season and enjoying the outdoors with their families hunting. This ensures that our sport willcontinue to grow.
Our state pretty much allows anything that shoots (except crossbows but that's another story) and that's what makes each state unique. They all have different rules and methods of taking game which is why I like to hunt other states. Hell if I'm paying $600 for a tag and they say no scopes or fiber optics only open metal sights with a caplock, hey I get a new gun! What a challenge that would be, and if I don't connect the money is used in that states wildlife program. It's a win win for all involved. No one method for taking game is superior over the other, it's the skilled hunter behind the vehicle that drives it into the game we like to hunt. I don't own any traditional MLs but I sure as hell respect the guys who shoot them and want to keep them alive, after all that's the origin of all firearms. (That Lyman Deerstalker in stainless has my name on it
)
It's just my two cents.