Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

I don't know whether ithas been discussed before but why doesn't the bowhunting contest include shooting does. You could have 1 doe percontestantequal to a set value of x and if everyone on the team shoots their doe they get the max points from does.As hunters, I believe we should doour share of shooting does for populations controlsas well astheQDMA benefits so many peoplehere know.The buck aspect is still there in the contesttohave a variablethatisnot fixed to have point differentials...but I am just wonderingwhynot have doesincluded in the contest for next year?

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Makes sence!!! It would give the contest a new twist. I kinda like the idea.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Some states only allow a hunter to shoot one deer. The contest must be fair to all

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Now lets be totally honest here. It's not exactly fair to begin with now is it?

Not to make excuses for other huntersbut those that live and huntin the midwest certainly have a much better chance of scoring more inches than those that live and hunt in deep South, California, etc... A 100" Florida deer is about like shooting a 150" Illinois deer. While it certainly ins't "fair" it is what it is.

While I don't get involved in these contests becauseI have no way of winning against a team of Midwest hunters (I hunt Florida)I personally think does should be "scored" in these contests.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Thenext question iswhat percentage of people would be affectedby their state only allowing one kill? Will that only affect 1-3% of contestants?An answercould be have another contestant on that team be able to shoot two does counting towards the contest to be "fair" (if their state permitted).

Another good point.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

x2

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

i like it

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

For someone like myself, I have been trying to balance the herd. I am passing little bucks and taking does. It kinda sucks because I am not supporting my team.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

I like the idea.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Great idea!!!!!!!!!

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

I vote yes, that sounds like a logical idea.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

nah!

Everyone is hunting for a buck at least, not everyone in the contest hunts for doe, me included and if not for Rick James and his deer management practices, I wouldn't have even gotten a doe tag or taken a doe. My area doesn't need them taken. I have nothing against doe being taken and thoroughly enjoyed it and know it needs done.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

How can you not be hunting for a doe each year when you are hunting for a buck every year. Each year you shoot a buck and not a doe the ratio getswider andwider of more does to bucks.It just makes sense. Also another aspect is more people would feelmore involvedin the contest and or contributed to the team.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Obviously Tex you don't hunt my deer....I don't have a buck to doe ratio problem in my core areas. I see more bucks than does the last several years. In other areas, I have no problem with them. I am also the only one of two in my household that eats venison other than the bologna I have made. I'm not a greedy person, I don't take more than I need just because.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

I think it is a good idea i'm all for it . 90% of the time i shoot a doe . Our buck to doe ratio is way off balance

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

No I don't.... but lets just say you are correct for avoiding argument purposes.... and again lets play the percentages game and say how many people can say theyshouldn't take adoeoutto thin the hearddown (improve heard density or improveratio)orto keep the ratio already in place?

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Great Idea!!!

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

No need, that would be a very small percentage. Rare is it that there are more buck than doe in an area. This year in my core area of my food plot I saw 7 different buck. I know I only saw 4 mature doe and thier offspring/ a mixture of does and buttons.

I had in the past taken does from this herd but again, I'm only one of two and taking more than my share would be greedy. I make bologna, if I want a steak, I grill a Porterhouse...this year tho I did keep some backstrap because I took a doe for Rick James to assist his herd management.

I'm not against doe shooting, obviously...I've taken many doe, several in a season with bonus tags in the past...now I don't need to so I don't.

In NC I plan on taking does to help GMMAT...but not in my core area. If it were needed, I would, it's not so I don't.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

What exactly are you going to measure on the doe to enter a score???;)

I like it just the way it is. Bucks only!! It seems to work pretty well this way.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

oh Rob, be honest you don't want more work for yourself then you already have [:-].......:D

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Everyone might not be hunting for a doe but end up shooting one more often than shooting a buck. Many people dont have the luxury (it looks like you do) of seeingall these bucks and seeing only a few does (not even enough for you toshoot one).

I was looking at percentages in deer and deer hunting magazine (i think) on percentage ofbowhunters by state thatactually harvest a deerand just scoring on a deer was a low percentage and the lowest I believe was Texas or second to lastand that was around 13% of total bowhunters scored on a deer (run sentance but oh well).

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

They would be fixed... you shoot a doe is equal to a fixed variable that is established by the contest (leaders).

1 doe = 50 points could be an example. (FIXED) (Max is 1 for each memeber of the team)

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

I'm in a contest that scores bucks by how many points it has and 5 points for each doe. I live in Indiana and could harvest well over 100 does by spliting them up in different counties. There is no state limit just county limits here.


Jim

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

We put a limit ofone doe percontestant to address that.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

"We put a limit ofone doe percontestant to address that."


what doe you mean? In a Texas contest?



Jim

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

To be honest, the contest has ran very well for the 3 or 4 years its been here, and theres really no reason to change it. Its only for fun and bragging rights. It would be significantly more work, and keeping track of, and why should a 50 lbs yearling doe count equally as a 5.5 year old mature doe?

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

It could be easily done, you would just have to set a score for a doe.Somewhere around50 (like TexOak said) or maybe make itequal to the smallest buck taken in the contest! But you still are only allowed to enter 1 deer!

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

It's a fun contest and most are huntingforbucks whether they have 1 tag or 50. You are only allowed one buck and your first buck shot. Heck, the only one I rememberclaiming to really onlybe hunting doesthis fallhas shot two bucks so far this year. :DKeep the contest thesame. It has workedgoing on 4 years now.

Tim

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Love the idea and it comes with the right thing in mind, QDM. As far as the states that only one deer can be shot, then any team that fills all "available" doe tags can still recieve the bonus.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

I'mNOT in favor of changing the contest. It began this way, we have made some minor tweaks, no need to change a good thing.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

I posed this question during the off-season and it was met with a LOT of resistance. I didn't want to "buck" the system, and dropped it.

The contest IS skewed towrds guys from the midwest states, that's for sure.....but it is what it is. "I" think adding a doe WOULD highlight the importance of herd mgmt (I'd hazard a guess that MOST areas don't have a healthy buck:doe ratio). if does counted the same......(ex. - 50 points; 25 points....whatever) it would be fair to all. I;m guessing we don't have more than 1 person who can only harvest 1 deer, per team entered. Just place 1 of those persons on each team to keep it fair. It could work if the powers that be wanted it to.

If I were in a big buck state.....I wouldn't want it to change, either. Being from a state that isn't, though......I don't see one thing wrong with it.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

I'm from a big buck state and I think it's a great idea. Taking does is important to herd health and almost everyone tries to put one or two on the ground every year anyway, so why not make it count? Also, think about some of us who have EAB regs, we're forced to shoot an antlerless deer before taking a shot at a buck.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

If you don't like the contest as is,don't get in it ![:o]

Some of us don't need to kill to say we are hunters.:eek:

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

And some of us don't need to kill ONLY bucks to say WE are "hunters". What's the harm? Really?????

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Lets make it real fair and deduct 150 points for hit but not recovered deer,that way we would not encourage reckless or less desirable shots taken for the sake of the "team".

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

Now you're just wanting to argue. I thought I posed a fair question.

How would adding a doe encourage reckless or less desireable shot attempts?

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

E.A.B. areas come to mind.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

If it's already an EAB zone, what would this rule (contest) change? If it isn't.....simply take the doe after the buck (or before)....whenever a valid shot opportunity presents itself.

This rule change (whether it ever materializes or not) would be the ONLY part of the contest that was 100% "fair". A doe from any part of the country would count the same. Common sense tells us that it isn't that way with bucks.

I'm not bitter about the contest AT ALL. I enjoy the comaraderie of my teammates VERY much. I've made lifelong friends from it. I've also scored for my team each year I've entered.....and don't have any reservations that I will, next year. It's not about "me". I'd just like to know the real reason some don't like the idea.

In a way.....I understand that there's "tradition", but the contest IS only 3 years old (counting this year). Where's the real harm?

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

If you guys want to have that in the contest, why not just start your own contest? I am not trying to be negative or argumentative, but Rob gives up a lot of time for this contest, he doesn't want to change it, and I think it is only fair that what he says goes as far as this contest is concerned. This contest is a great time, a great way to meet a few new guys and talk about hunting. These arguments about the scoring,or changing the contestjust detract from that IMHO.

Maybe next year one of you guys could start a separte score sheet for the same teams that just keeps track of does and goes by weight or something. Just a thought.

RE: Why is this? Bowhunting Contest Question?
 

I like the way it is. If someone wants to run a doe contest than do that. But don't put more work on the guy who's kind enough to do this one.

ALSO adding doe would only increase the number of participants, I think this year it's out of hand with so may in the contest. I know the benefit to the site is more hits etc.. But on my team for instance we basically have 3 of us participating at any "active" level.

There are many variations/changesto the contest that could be incorporated. I have a lot of ideas, BUT I don't have to do the work. I'd be glad to help and maybe next year we could have a contest commitee. Members like myself, and I'm sure plenty of others, who would do what-ever Rob needed. But I believe any contest talk or possible changes should be discussed in the off season.