RE: Missouri's future deer seasons
 

I agree with the sentiments about youth season. It is totally abused. For example, this year there was a picture in the local paper about a young kid killing a 160" buck. However, at school the kid told his buddies that his dad shot it the first two times and he got to put the finishing shot in it. Granted, this is all hearsay (except for the picture in the paper part), so take it for what it is worth. Personally, I think youth season should be antlerless only. It was a great idea in theory. (Introduce new kids to hunting.) Bad idea in practice (Dad shoots buck for kid.)

As far as the antler restrictions, I am opposed to those being implemented statewide. To me, that is micromanagement of the deer herd. I see the benefit of having the antler restrictions, but if a landowner wants to shoot spikes, let him shoot spikes. Why does the government get to make that decision? Is the focus of the Missouri Department of Conservation really just to produce trophy bucks? One of the major reasons for having antler restrictions was to increase the doe harvest. But in the online video clip, they admit that in most areas/counties that had the antler point restrictions, there was little to no difference in the doe harvest. (If they really want to kill more does, takethe "earn-a-buck" approach.) Again, I'm not opposed to the idea of antler restrictions. But I think that decision should be left to hunters/landowners, neighbors, etc.

As for switching the seasons around, I am okay with the proposals. It gives me, as a graduate student, much more time to rifle hunt around Thanksgiving. Plus, I would get another weekend to bowhuntduring primetime!