PA Buck Management
 

Several years ago, PA initiated a buck management concept, 3 points or better to a side (in most areas). What is everyone's thoughts on this? Do they see bigger deer in the fields and woods? Also, I'm noticing less doe b/c of the concurrent deer season. Does PA have the state hunting going in the right direction?

RE: PA Buck Management
 

This has been beat to death in the Northeast forum, but I'll give my .02 on it. Yes, I definitely see bigger bucks and I passed on several small 7/8's this year to let them grow and go after the bigger bucks I now were in the area. In my area, I am in a 4 point per side.

The problem I have is the doe management and the way they have handled that. They have killed far too many does and it's bad in a lot of the state.

I hunt archery only in Butler county. 13 hunts and saw over 40 deer. I also saw another 10 bucks and countless doe during the day and especially on Sunday watching out my office window as I work. I buck hunt only during archery (for my own reasons) and passed several shot opportunities. It never paid off in terms of harvest but I had a very successful season.

The area I rifle hunt is Westmoreland. In 2 all day hunts, I saw 2 deer. A spike on opening day and a half rack 2 point on the last Saturday.

My archery area is flooded with deer but then again I hunt the back of residential communities and you can't rifle hunt so the deer have a safe haven for the most part.

RE: PA Buck Management
 

It depends on your perspective.

the reports ofsubstantially better and bigger bucks seem to be statewide.

There do, however, seem to be areas where deer populations are way down and some hunters simply arent happy about it.The reasons for thelack of deer whether percieved or genuine (yes, it's both) are varied and not always uncomplicated. Theantler restrictions seem to be a success and appear to be here to stay but much work remains with the area of arriving at and maintaining herd numbers that balance with the habitat in each Wildlife Management Unit

RE: PA Buck Management
 

Do you have stats on who was pro and against AR to make such a statement??

RE: PA Buck Management
 

I understand IMHO fine. But its not fact. You don;t know what the majority of hunters think...

RE: PA Buck Management
 

Over 27 years of land ownership on this hill, I have seen the quality "and" number of antlered bucks increase dramatically.
Note however, that prior to PGC-mandated AR'S, in 2000-2001 I was already seeing some great bucks.
However, myself and some neighbors voluntarily restricted our harvest to 8-points and above, several years prior, so I guess we were doing AR.
We also starting encouraging the shooting of more does --- which some of them never wanted to do in earlier years.
I do think that reduced deer numbers encouraged better habitat and that the deer simply lived better and developed better due to that.

IMHO, by far, the very greatest majority of hunters wanted and support this concept. Also, IMHO, I've talked to dozens of hunters since the close of the 2006 season and no doubt about it, the majority are thrilled with the results of the PGCdeer management efforts.
Just check your local papers. If they're anything like here in the N.E.and N.C. area, they are pumped full of pictures of good bucks.

RE: PA Buck Management
 

We were seeing some nice bucks back in the thick stuff before "buck management".But throughout the state I'd say without a doubt hunters are shooting bigger bucks.There's alot going on here to contribute,less deer=more food,antler restrictions,more private land owners practicing QDM
via foodplots,{protein grows bigger racks}.Many are reporting less bucks in places like the NC but the deer populations have greatly been reduced so that's a given.As for the herd reductions in some areas changes are needed.There's places that need more reductions and places that were overharvested.
To answer your question "is the state going in the right direction"
That would be a matter of opinion which might depend on where one is hunting.My short answer would be possibly.If some changes are made in areas overharvested then yes I think we can head in the right direction.

RE: PA Buck Management
 

Here:

AR is more about waving a carrot in front of a minority of license buyers at the sacrifice to the majority of them