RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

And what will you restrict next? Where will it end? Not everyone trophy hunts, some hunt just for meat and the pleasure of the outdoors. Shoot what you want if it's legal, but leave everyone else out of it. The mania for trophy bucks is why many states have a herd that's out of control, if you want trophy bucks so badly try thinning out your does first. There's a small but vocal minority here in Indiana that are constantly pressing our DNR for antler restrictions, don't let others dictate what you can shoot.

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

missouri has no problem with trying to thin out does. with most of the counties under unlimited doe harvest.

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

i think our herd is just fine how it is now to be quite honest

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

ya i know right where its at
im about 30 miles south of st louis on 55

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

I like the resrictions and I'm not or never been a trophy hunter. If I want meat I shoot does. Normally I'll try for the first deer that comes by. I know here in Missouri we have a vast amount of deer but it wasn't always that way. It's nice to take pride in the fact that Missouri is a trophy state. Just my 2 cents worth.


Spudrow from Mo

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

spurdow, if were already a trophy state, then why do we need these regs
i think out trophy potential is just fine right now, and that we are a trophy state already. why try and fix something that aint broke?

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

I think you can call it maintanence. If we don't keep the restrictions, there won't be many trophys left and we'll be right backto the past.Like I said I'm not a trophy hunter but somehuntersare and that's ok with me. We all hunt for a variety of reasons. I don't fault the ones who hunt for antlers as long as the meat isn't wasted. The deer are there to hunt no matter what your reason as long as it's a legal one.


Spudrow from Mo

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

the fact of the matter is we can disagree with it all we want but this is what the MDC has decided is best at this point in time. and to be honest if it wasn't for them and other agencies we would be right back where we was years ago.
Statisticly we are not a trophy state. while we do have some great areas we hold nowhere near the caliber of deer that some other states do. and i believe that is some of the reasoning behind this AR.
The MDC is trying to put missouri back near the front of the pack. and lets be honest. we all know the driving factor behind any goverment agency is money.
If missouri is once again considered a "trophy state". the revenue generated from non-resident tags will double almost overnight. i would also suspect non-res tags to go up in the next few years considerin we are still below the national average. more revenue will also be generated for local economies as well for hotels and food places. true we will havemore non-res hunters flocking to our great state but considering they are still only allowed to take a max of three antlered deer. now thats one rifle non-res tag and 2 archery non-res tags. a total of $325. when you count ther number of people that would be buying them...that money could be used for alot of conservation efforts in the state. (or a raise for someone)

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

Good post Mohunter.


Spudrow from Mo

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

Do we really want to be near the front of the pack?What if the increase of non-resident hunters comes at the expense of lost hunting areas or lost hunting opportunities for resident hunters? Why manage Missouri's deer herd for anyone OTHER than Missourians?

Hey, I agree, it's great to have trophy buck hunters thatgenerate a lot of economic activity, unless it comes at your expense.

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

you know what they will probably make next,
a beard has to be at least 10 inches long to shoot legally;););)

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

Each to their own. Everyone can't be pleased all the time so we go with the majority.


Missouri has one of the best if not the best Conservation Departments in the US. Money made it like it, whether it be stocking, purchasing land to hunt, food plots, or managing wildlife. This to me thisis the best of hunting times I have ever seen in over 45 years of hunting.


Spudrow from Mo

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

very true spudrow. of course i'm not old enough to remember that far back.

and the conservation dept is not managing the herd just for residents of missouri. they do these regulations to keep the herd in check and to ensure that Everyone will have an opportunity to hunt 10 or even 15 years from now. and we dont end up with overpopulation or the problem we had not that long ago which was we had almost killed em all.

RE: Antler restrictions in Missouri - opinions
 

I hunt PA as one of my states. I can telll you that the 1st 2 years you will see mistake bucks that do not meet requirements. Then in the 3rd or 4th year you will see a down turn in the amount of hunters as they do not have the time to put in the woods so they will kill the does quick on the 1st day and leave. Saying that they will also kill a bunch of button bucks.
Now comes the argument get in the woods scout etc. Well it ain't going to happen, people don't have time or make time etc. Thus popularity of pay for game farms and leases where herds are mnanaged to a larger extent. You manage your deer and know where they be.

In PA we are harvesting bigger racks, we have less guys in the woods after the first 2 days, thus less pressure on deer in 2 week gun season. How ever (again) we change the way we hunt because seeing 4 points on one side before you pull the trigger in thick brush or over 100 yards is tough. Our drives are more stalks and smaller, slower in nature.

There is a big hunting adjustment in antler restriction besides just counting points!