PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

It's been a two years going on the third right? Two years ago there was lots of complaining from PA hunters on here. Last year there was quite a bit, but a few guys got to connect with their best bucks ever. This year I see quite a few pictures of some really nice bucks on camera (two and three year olds that had to be passed over last year). What are your thoughts on it as you come into the season? Have any of you changed your thoughts on the issue?

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I hope it helped somewhere.Around here I seen very little difference.Alot People here shoot anything.Plus there is alot of legal poching.Every tom dick and harry thats has land is issued a nuisance permit.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Very informative lost horn. Great Post!

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Sorry, I can't say too much on the subject or I will be where uncle uly, ddear and others are.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I would like to see it up to four points on one side here in 4c:D

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I like it, think that it has beneficial and would like to continue to see it as part of our regulations.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I could go along with that, I just don't like the antlerless slaughter.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

It's served me well, I know that. After a few years of observation, however, I am opposed to the herd reduction.

Antler restrictions with limited doe harvest would be a dream.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

It does seem most people like the A.R. but the doe slaughter has really set one group of hunters against an other.

I just got the new Bowhunter Magazine yesterday and it lists PA deer #'s @ 1600000 I think these people are counting sheep in their sleep!!!!!!!!!

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

What this guy said. The bucks are bigger, but less doe slaughter would be nice.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I think the AR are long overdue. I have shot about 20 bucks in the past 30 years. Until last year only 1 wasmore than 1 1/2 years old. I hunt 4C in PA and saw 5 bucks and 2 does in 50 hours of hunting. All bucks, 4 different for sure, were nice big 6's and one 8 and one 9 that I shot. I wonder how many of the complainers of too many doe being shot harvested a doe in 2004. I bet they are they same people who say they were overservered when the get pulled over for a D.U.I. I havetwo 4c doe tags this year and they are staying at home. ALT will not destroy my spot.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

It hasn't helped any in my area. It's hard to find a doe anymore.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I like the AR. I got to hunt fora coupleyears before them, and between then and now...i have really started to see more bucks, not to mention the bucks i see are a lot bigger. The doe harvests need to be lower though. I remember my when my Dad was extatic to get a doe tag, unlike now where it is just expected.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I was doing my own AR by choice before this got started.I think it's working in some areas but on most public land the deer numbers are so low it's really hard to tell.
We were killing some great bucks before AR so I honestly can't say in our area.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I guess I could sum it up better this way.Speaking for the area we hunt in 2G we used to find nice bucks back in the nasty thick stuff.This still holds true today only there's less of them in a big way.
Used to be they shot the smaller bucks out in the open woods closer to the roads.Mostly for the older big boys you had to go back in that thick stuff.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

AR has been a success but the HR has gone too far in some areas.

Lost Horn,
They're gone due to their behavior not their views. Those of us who've been here a long time all know where you stand on this issue but you've managed to state your point without crossing that line that those two (and all their alias's) crossed many times. I for one respect your views even if we don't agree often and I'd guess that most here do as well.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Once more I must say I believe that antler restrictions are working in my area of Delaware Co. I'm seeing more larger bucks than before, so I must believe what I see. I'm pumped!!!

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

about all we see around here now are spikes and pencil racks. most of the nice racks were thined out in the first couple years. to many hunters and not enough deer. seems to be a bad combination.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

We definately got your point.:D

That's OK,these dang computers can drive ya crazy at times.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

this is how i see it also. germain you and i were doing the same thing w/ the AR on our own before. i still take it a step more though i let those med. size 8's go. im looking for the big daddy.. though since ive never got one w/ a bow, it will be hard to pass up a nice 8

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Love it. They should have started this 10 years ago.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Thanks BTBhunter, I guess what got me upset in the first place were the big WMU they put in place I know we have too many deer in some places but when they added Cameron Co. which had low deer numbers anyway into 2G this is where I do most of my hunting, yes I got upset. IMO one size fits all units don't work.
Hey one of my best ol hunting buddies is from Apollo!
:D Have a gooden.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I think most everyone on all sides of the AR/HR issue agrees thateveryone would like to see smaller WMU's

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

personally I like the ARs. I have been seeing a lot more bucks and the bucks that I'm seeing are at least 8s. I agree with everyone else though that I don't like the doe being killed off like they are and smaller wmu's would be nice.

A friend of mine brought up a good point the other day that made me think. He said, if you want to have them lower the amount of doe tags being sold just tell everyone you know to send in their report card saying they harvested a doe even if they didn't get one. Now granted, I'm not going to ever do this but it did strike me as one of those things that seem so simple to come up with yet you don't think about it.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I've hunted allover NWPA my entire life and I think the AR's are the best thing since sliced bread. Overall size and rack growth has dramatically increased in my neck of the woods, but I'm still waiting for Sunday hunting.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I prefer to hunt during the week. I have tracked bucks all over the countyside for a whole day during a snowy day in rifle season and never crossed paths with another hunter. Man those kind of days are sweet. If Sunday hunting comes to be, there will never be another hunter out during the week except me, and that's just fine by me.

AR's are yummy, BTW!

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

i like the rules
all big uns in my area

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Didnt care for them when they were implemeneted and still see no need for them. They havent done what was said they would do in my area. The bucks I have seen have been like the ones in the past. Nothing spectacular. Not seeing more like bucks as a matter of fact seeing less than in years before.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Loved it then, love it now. I hope it never goes away......

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

The people who are seeing these bigger better bucks please answer me one question. Is this on private or public land? I can honestly say I have not seen bigger bucks or more bucks since it has been implemented. However, I do believe it is a good idea. The problem is we are shooting to many does( which results in shooting button bucks). I am hoping that this isthe last year that the doe slaughter stops. Public land can't take much more of this.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Here is MY answer.....Don't shoot button bucks! I know what is gonna happen to this thread now that I have said that, but too bad. Buttons are the dumbest deer in the woods and get blasted in antlerless season at an incredible rate.
My disclaimer.......If you like to shoot buttons...feel free. They are legal and there is nothing intrinsically wrong with doing so....just do not complain that Ar's are not working in your area and then poke holes in a half dozen buttons to round out your year. If big bucks are what you are after...you must learn to identify buttons and then refrain from reducing them to burger.....

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Button bucks are fawns for heaven's sake! Why would anybody who calls himself a sportsmen shoot one? And I really don't want to hear the accident thing either, its not hard to tell a fawn from an adult if you care enough to take a few seconds to look at what you are shooting at. Give'em at least a little chance to experience life.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I have seen and killed much better deer since AR came into effect.

My problem (and I think a big reason for the better bucks) I Hunt more public game land than private land when in PA for gun season. I've seen some nice bucks many I assume to be legal. But you can't pull a trigger on an assumption. The area I hunt your hard pressed to find a clearing for a shot, now when they pass that clearing you are trying to count points. Now start looking for brow tines...does it? doesn't it?

Last year I was walking into one of the private land areas I hunt. Had a deer coming at me in an open field at 6:55 am. It's a buck, a nice one too..above and wider than the ears. No chance to see how many points even though he was only 30 yards away. Couldn't poke and hope so had to let him go..That would've been a great one to shoot as I was only 100 yards from Camp and the shot would've woken up everyone sleeping in! It was Thursday Morning, so some guys who didn't fill their tag yet, took this day to sleep in!

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I want to appologize. I had no business making such a statement. I've always maintained that how somebody hunts or takes, as long as its legal, is nobody else's business. Just because I wouldn't be comfortable shooting a fawn is irrelevant. Sorry again. Enjoy the sport any way you want!!! Good luck!

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

That's the way to step and be accounted for...props to you.

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

???

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

There are 2 sides to this , at least in my mind . Do i see a difference ....? Not a noticeable one . I still see just as many small and big bucks as before . I live inbeaver county which is 4 ona side . One side of thinkin is that the younger bucks (or poor gene pool ) get to live longer . on one hand the young bucks who have a good gene pool who get a free pass is a good call . But as you kill off the bigger bucks(better gene pool) the poor gene pool scraggely bucks are left to breed and pass on their poor genes . On the other hand , by letting that good gene poolyearling to 21/2 year buck walk . That makes him that much wiser which makes it a good possibilitie that he will live longer passing his genes on to more does . So i'm kinda on the fence on this one but i lean more towards its a good thing than not .

and aseveryone else thinks , i say keep ar get the heck rid of hr !

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

I think it sucks.I hunt for the meat not the horns

RE: PA hunters, what do you think of the point restriction now?
 

Be wary of doe harvesting. It wrecked Vermont's deer herd. I know we have only the fraction of deer that PA has, but the permits given out are proportional to those given out by Vermont in the early 80's. The deer herd, especially the mountain herds, were completely obliterated. They have never returned. Add in a few hard winters, and the last decades harvest has been the worst in history. Good luck to you guys.