RE: True or False...
 

Some states, some counties within states, have a high number of deer per square mile. Some have much, much lower density. I've hunted in north Texas all my life and never thought it was bad hunting. On my first trip into the Hill Country though, I saw 10 times more road kill deer on that drive than I'd seen in 35 years of driving on north Texas roads, combined. There was at least one for every mile between Brady and Mason, south of Abilene. I could add up every deer I'd ever seen in my life before, and the total couldn't come close to adding up to the number I saw on that one ranch on that single weekend. It was incredible.

No way bowhunters could be able to harvest enough deer from that area to keep numbers in check. It's heavily gun hunted already and it's not happening.

RE: True or False...
 

Well Jimbo, having seen all the slammers you've been knocking down over the past few years, it's pretty obvioushow well that's been working out for you, so I'll have to pass. ;):D

RE: True or False...
 

I would hate it. I want the local gun hunters to stay gun hunters, not attempt to use archery. I like being all by my lonesome.

RE: True or False...
 

Maybe a trip to the "King" ranch might suit your style a bit better.;)

RE: True or False...
 

I would continue to hunt in my county,on my ground, legal or not. Just calling it the way I see it.

Bans don't always work anyway. I know people that still use lead to hunt waterfowl. A local exterminator was fined last year for using chlordane, banned since 1988. Some people are simply going to continue to do whatever the hell they want to.

RE: True or False...
 

I'm not a fan of Texas. Thanks though.

RE: True or False...
 

My opinion is formed from hunting 2 primary locations
1. Suburban area where gun hunting is allowed, but due to the area constraints is severly limited as is any hunting at all. People will complain out of one side that the deer are eating thier plants and you can't safely drive down the roads, but no one wants to let someone hunt thier back yard. There are way too many deer. More than the habitat could naturally handle, because so many people feed the deer and or provide food for them as thier expensive landscaping.The buck:doe ratio is out of whack and I do see small under weight deer often.

2.Mostly privately owned farmland with excellent habitat, good deal of hunting pressure, but most is focused on bucks. Deer pops are exploding. Forestgrowth & regeneration has slowed dramatically, browse line is horrible. If left unchecked its going to get worse.I can drive in a 6 mile loop and see 100-130 deer in a average night of spotting.


Inplaces where the food supply is not supplemented, the deer will eat themselves right out of thier habitat and destroy it. The food supplydisappears and the deer numbers crash.In places where the food supply is supplemented, the forest habitat takes a pounding, but the numbers don't crash as bad because of crops to eat. but then get a hard winter and see what happens, with huge deer numbers and no winter browse.

RE: True or False...
 

Any plans on banning Texas?

RE: True or False...
 

I personally would be pretty pissed if my (or any county for that matter) was designated a "bow only" county. I feel it can only be detrimental to hunting as a whole. It would only further divide us as hunters and bolster the elitism that runs rampant through the bow hunting community as it is. We have this in Illinois, there are a few counties (Cook for one) that gun hunting is not allowed and I think it's pure crap!

On the other side of the coin. If I ever paid for a hunt you can bet I would never sign up with an outfitter who didn't allow bow hunting. There are those who believe it is not a humane nor efficient form of weapon.....they can keep their business. It's folks who try to divide hunters with silly and poorly researched rules that will ruin this sport for everyone.

RE: True or False...
 

The county I reside in is a bow only county.. although don't let that fool you... there is no land to hunt in it anyways.[&o]

I haven't been on in a few... when did we get all crazy about gun rights and ownership.. did I miss something? I miss alot of things here on HNI... but I would think this latest tif extends from something..:eek:

Either way.. carry on gents/ladies/Justin.[8D]

RE: True or False...
 

Big
Beautiful
&
Smart

The man has it all

RE: True or False...
 

His gayness wants to ban your right to own guns. He is willing to defend a peter puffer for his right to marry though.

RE: True or False...
 

I just pissed myself:D

RE: True or False...
 

I live "there", Ryan. What I'm witnessing here is the herd correcting itself. If our fawn mortality rate isn't over 60%......I'd be surprised. This is NOT due to predators, alone. They're handling their own issues, "naturally". In places where the herd is not as dense as the one I hunt.....and the climate is similar, fawn survival rate is sometimes greater than 1:1.....meaning the herd is replenished to the tune of more than 1 fawn that survives per doe (less deer density areas).

I don't think we have a handle on how well they are at taking care of themselves.

RE: True or False...
 

In Ohio, gun hunters have 9 (13 counting the late muzzleloader) days to shoot 'em up, and the gun seasons are post rut. Us bowhunters have 4 months during the prerut, rut, and late season to fill our tags. We still don't approach gun season harvest numbers. AND, we can use crossbows as well...

RE: True or False...
 

So do you think this is an acceptable way of controlling the herd? Having nature resort to something completely against the laws of nature. I don't find that acceptable in the slightest. That's not a healthy herd by any stretch. I know its tough in suburban areas, but at that point they might be better served to bring in sharp shooters(as much as I despise that notion) if normal hutning laws aren't working.

RE: True or False...
 

I'm sure everyone in Texas is wailing, gnashing their teeth and covering themselves with ashes at that news.

RE: True or False...
 

That right there, just brought the entire IQ of this thread down to room temperature. I know I am dumber for having read it.

RE: True or False...
 

I think that is a contradictory question. I think it IS the law of nature. How/why else would it be occurring the way it is? No one/nothing is making these does abandon their fawns (at the rate they are)but themselves......via some internal (natural?) mechanism. The fact that many of them aren't being bred is additional proof that she's damned good at taking care of herself (Ma nature).

RE: True or False...
 

Nature is a much more cruel executioner than a quick death by arrow or bullet from a hunter. No hunter worthy of the name is going to wish such a death on an animal.

RE: True or False...
 

But having it get that far, and reach that levelis something NOT caused by nature. Man's influence and impact created an "artificial" situation that never would have existed under "natural" conditions.

RE: True or False...
 

Amen, Arthur. If I could kill more of them....and thought that would help.....I would. I kill (and you know this about me) every female deer I get a shot opportunity to do so on......and I'll continue to do just that.

Nature's better at this than I am, though. She efficient.....but not "pretty" doing her job.

Granted. She's just "adapting".....and doing what she does best.

We are where we are, now (here)...and I don't see it changing.THE thing that would help....would be to open up the countyland to hunting. Would I be "for" that? Selfishly.....NO. I'm just being honest. So....we'll kill every female we can.....keep in touch with the Bio.....and she'll keep doing what she's doing (nature....albeit "influenced"). Given.

RE: True or False...
 

What the heck? Are you guys worried about this? I mean really? This is childsplay compared to what is being made law right now. Do you think I want my children going to unisex restrooms? Hell no!!! That is just the way our world/government is headed. That is just the beginning.


Bow-only hunting? Pfft

LT

RE: True or False...
 

Couldn't see the need here in Virginia. You have an entire month to yourself to bowhunt before the muzzleloader season. You can trophy hunt, meat hunt, whatever makes you happy as a bowhunter.Still beyound mehow someone could be so selfish as to want an ENTIRE county for their trophy hunting,at the expense of every muzzleloader hunter andfirearm hunter. Nothing more than elitism. The exact reason many gun hunters can't stand bowhunters.

RE: True or False...
 

Frankly, I'd have to agree with them. The way this poll has gone, I'm kinda ashamed right now to even be associated with bowhunting.

RE: True or False...
 

As appealing as bow hunting only would be it doesn't address the problem of access in the suburban area's where the largest concentration of deer density is likely to occur.If something like this were to happen you would also need the political support and the community support to have it work favorably.
Unless you have a county that is extremely suburban I don't think it would be a good idea at all,meaning the consideration should be one of safety not exclusion.
I also very much like the diversity of rifle hunting and wouldn't want to give it up.

RE: True or False...
 

One of the reasons I really love bowhunting is that there aren't a million other people doing it in my area. If my county went all bowhunting it would create a bunch of idiots buying a bow and not being smart enough to practice with it year round. There would be alot of lost deer due to bad judgment.

RE: True or False...
 

Not for a second!! That would be like a dream come true for me. The only thing is, it will NEVER happen for the reason you stated. Just think how it would bring poaching to a screeching halt though!;)

RE: True or False...
 

Yeah bowhunters never poach[:-]

RE: True or False...
 

Would you change that question from "bowhunters" to "criminals with bows?" Because they darn sure aren't bowhunters, or hunters of any kind.

RE: True or False...
 

Arthur I'm with you on this one.
Some of these answers just make me sick,and some I find hard to believe are being writen by hunters at all.[:'(]

RE: True or False...
 

Bow hunters vs. Bow hunters, this forum never ceases to amaze me.:D

RE: True or False...
 

I would say the VAST MAJORITY of poached deer are taken via the gun. Are you saying you don't agree with this?:eek:

RE: True or False...
 

First they ban guns and then when nobody's paying attention they wording gets changed from firearms to projectiles because some kids shot out a street light with a bb gun. You can't even shoot airsoft of a slingshot where I live. NEVER give up your right to use a gun. As far as poaching goes if the punishment were severe enough it would also come to a screeching halt.

RE: True or False...
 

I voted that I’d be thrilled. Why, you ask? (or not. I’ll tell you anyway)

1) I only bow hunt.
2) There’s no hunting in my county (Arlington, VA) at all, so bow hunting would be a great improvement.
3) Allowing gun hunting in Arlington would be INSANE! Just too urban. I wouldn’t want to walk, or even drive, during hunting season.

RE: True or False...
 

No I am saying they will use a bow if there are no guns[8D]

Poachers are scum;)

RE: True or False...
 

Id be a little ticked off. Even though i dont hunt with a firearm much anymore my kids love to. Id hate seeing them without that anymore.

RE: True or False...
 

My county is bow-only!

RE: True or False...
 

46-46 there is hope.[:-]

RE: True or False...
 

When it comes to poaching.... the weapons and practices used to do so are largely area dependant.... just like different kinds of beer come from different regions of the country... same diff....