I hunt on Public land (State Park) and filmed this buckmy next time out after I killed my 7pt this year. I must say, it is bowhunting only on this land, except for a one day shotgun hunt each year, to keep numbers in check with available habitat.I really believe bowhunters are more apt to see greater numbers of deer due to the fact, for the most part, the deer are moving in a natural state. Gun hunters have away of sending the deer into hidingfor some reason.On the land I hunt, I see more bigger bucks than before AR were in effect. That's for sure!

True.

False, at least for me.

Count me as 51. Antler restrictions have changed the way, some of the people that USED TO "pound the smaller bucks" and wonder why there where no big ones around. All it has taken for a few of the ones that I know is a little time in the woods or a trail camera to see that there is a better age class of bucks in our woods now and it is improiving. I hunt my private land, but it is bordered by state on three sides and I am often scouting across borders and finding hunters that are experiencing the same change in age/quality of bucks they are seeing/ taking.

um 864 Rob?

This is what the bucks need to get bigger. I like seeing deer, but I like seeing better deer rather than 100 mismanaged deer. With a better buck to doe ratio, comes healther bucks after the rut heading into the winter. And better buck health in the winter sends them into the spring even better and so on and so on.

I agree. It really gets bad on those two Saturdays. I believe that ARs have also made the woods safer. A few years ago, on mob hunt Saturday, hunters didn't have to worry about identifying their targets for points. Now it forces them to.

That is exactly what I hear too.

As far as state lands in Pa I live right on the border of Pa and have heard plenty of complaints about there being no deer to shoot. The threads that get started on the north east forum also get pretty interesting when this is brought up.

My thoughts on what happened with Atlas and the hunting contest, don'tthink it really matters that much to him to enter a buck that wasn't totally Legit nor do I think he would he delay entering a buck hoping to shoot a bigger one.

I have alway's thought hunting contests are a joke, especially one where you could easily enter anyones buck as your own.

That is pretty much what they said............what are we disagreeing about again?? They said the numbers are WAY down and the big mature bucks are not anymore common then they were before AR's. They are simply seeing the spikes and forksreplaced by6's and basket 8's.........only less of them because they said the button bucks are getting creamed due to the numbers being so low the itchy triggers are as active as ever.........maybe more so.


All I can say is my version of the truth came from a large group of guys that have hunted PA state land their whole life............that's a credible source in my book. Sure beats "WOW, a bunch of good PA bucks went down on HNI this year........AR's must be working"...........which is what I have seen some people basing their opinions on (not you).



Me too............I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle as usual...........I would never discount that many of the same opinions as irrelevant though............Do you think that the average PA hunter would agree with your assessment?

I missed the whine fest about atlas's deer, but likeI said I don't think an internet deer contest is that big of a deal to Atlas.I really don't think he cares if people here think he's a big buck hunter. If he did he wouldn't post what he thinks about QDM.

If I'm not mistaken, that whole reply called me a liar?


buckeye questioned why so long, bloodcreek called you sneaky...I quoted bloodcreek....that put the bug in my ear, thought in my head again only after I knew of 2 others...and I'll publicly apologize for my comment even though you didn't ask for it. Jeff had no comments on that thread at that time. http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2432861

[quote
Original: atlasman
]They said the numbers are WAY down and the big mature bucks are not anymore common then they were before AR's.[/quote

I agree numbers are down, but mature bucks sightings for me and the poeple I have talked to and hunted with are up.

This is what Buckeye said before he posted ? Why so long .

Bloodcreeks post speaks for itself.

You were the first to question his integrity, wether you apolgized or not?

That's what I am seeing and hearing.