By the way,

Thank you to Datamax, and BawanaJim!
They have both proven it IS about the antlers.

They may not care what size they are.....BUT THATS WHAT THEY WANT.......the ANTLERS!!!!

Like I said antlers will always be SOMEWHAT of a driving force, its only natural. Since the dawn of time, man has been enamored by antlers to some extent.

Of course it is also about enjoying yourself, and spending time with friends and family discussing hunting. And its also about spending time in the woods and learning about nature. When we argue like this, we almost lose sight of that.

But to say thats THE ONLY reason you hunt, is a lie. If you're not lying, then go buy a camera, and take pictures of the deer. You can still spend time in the woods, and with friends, and you will likely learn more about the various wildlife.

I have the rights because I got out of bed went to school and earned it,try it you might like it. You do seem stuck on these dink bucks though ,maybe if you wern't draging out all those fine eating does you could spend some time buck hunting. I do live in North west P.A. If you would like to stop and see how poorly I manage my land give me a call I'm in the book. Heres one of those dinks we hunt.[:@]By the way he is eating in one of my poorly managed food plots.

that's why I listen to the F&G biologists in NH, not the F&G commission. I go to the hearings, i talk with the biologists to get the real info, then try and use this at the hearings against the commission suggestions if appropriate.

Never said "blind faith" just may naive a bit [8D]

Our biologists have been doing things recently to REDUCE our deer kill in most of the state, the commission usually STARTS with those recommendations at the hearings then gets some of them changed. Two recent issues: doe permits rather than "doe days" and changing muzzleloader to bucks only in many areas came from F&G biologists, then were eventually changed by the commission.

--Bob

Ive hunted out in Clearfield County PA for several seasons. Gary Alt really helped turn that around. The doe herd is finally in check out there, and now everyone is complaining there arent enough deer. Like I said, its a viscious cycle.

Anyway though. So you HONESTLY only shoot bucks?

WHY?

Why not harvest a doe to help ease the habitat burden as well?

Do you prefer for the other hunters to do your dirty work?

Whether you like it or not, the doe herd must be managed as well. They dont manage themselves.

By the way, I did wake up and go to school, earned one of them little degrees too....Infact I went and taught at a school. Left that job and now Im becoming a police officer. So dont think you're any better than me.
Have you ever considered the cost of living may be different where you are, compared to where I am? And the cost of buying or leasing acreage around here is astronomical.

I happen to know its A LOT cheaper where you are. Maybe someday I'll move out there, and buy up a whole bunch of land. Im looking forward to the future. I wont have to lease, I will OWN the land. I will also manage it properly, allowing the proper amount of does to be taken, and passing bucks under 5.5 years old. I guess Ill have to save up for fences or something though....not to keep the deer in, but to keep jealous hunters like you out.

By the way, not to berate the buck and your efforts, but that buck is pretty average for out in the north western region of PA. My buddy hunts near Erie every once in a while, and hes taken quite a few just like him on state land.....

So imagine how big he would get if you not only planted crops, but you passed him next year, and shot a doe instead. He'd be huge!!!

Arguing about antlers, gotta love it.

But I guess no one cares about the antlers!

bawanajim - thats a great deer in my area.


In a QDM it'd be average and I wouldn't shoot it



In other words, you've taken an enviroment and altered it so much that what use to be GREAT deer are now average deer.

I agree with you in that QDM can be an effective management tool however like I have said many times, although I am not against it per say I am also not an advocate. Like anything, there are plusses and minuses. IMO with regard to QDM the minuses outweigh the pluses. It's a value judgement of course and I wouldn't try to say that my values are better but I do think that they are valid.

My biggest problem with QDM is the movement that is associated with it. I might draw an analogy with socialism. In its purest form it can be a great thing, almost a utopia, but in practice it winds up corrupt and destructive to the same people it sets out to help. Like socialists QDMers assume they know what is best for everyone. Your little parable of hunters A-C is an example. You've taken the time to lay out what type of hunters to respect and those that don't deserve respect even though all of them are hunting legaly. It's really hard for me not to get angry with such arrogance. Hunters go into the woods for a whole lot of different reasons. QDMers assume their reasons are the only valid ones and if you don't share them you are "part of the problem". I think the problem is too much emphasis on big racks and too much divisiveness among hunters. Unfortunately the QDM movement is guilty of promoting both.

[Deleted by Admins]

Like hunting for your own reasons?

Okay ................. I'l be shooting this buck in AR the first shot I get this fall

Already been doing that, for many years now. I just don't want any stupid laws interferring with me doing what I know is right.