I think that the WMU will be marked with solid boundries like major roads will make them easier to know where you are. County boundries were always a nightmare for me. Usually an invisable line cutting across the land.

My opinion on in-lines are that they are doing the work that the deer management team asked in removing the pre-rut does. That it will soon be a very popular season. That it will never go away. And finally that it will pressure the deer and affect the archery huntings adversly. I hope it is a bargaining chip we can use someday to ask for more season.

We don't see our requests for more season seriously considered in archery because: Many rifle only hunters speakout against us getting the first crack at "their" bucks. That we are hunting them when they are stupid and anyone could get one then. Because the none of the commissioners bow hunt. Because Alt and Co. that might support them presently have their hands full with season changes and are already a big enough target for the idiots.



Edited by - mhogan on 01/09/2003 07:01:28

Mhogan, I agree that many rifle hunters speak out against archery season but if Alt is any bit of a deer biologist he would know that rifle hunters complaining about "stupid" bucks is B.S. I personally think that they should expand archery season. As for early muzzle loader I don't like it, i don't know why but I think they should have left it for late season only. What do you or anyone else think about crossbows? Should they be legal for all or not?

Turd, I like the early muzzy season so far. I haven't seen much pressure for that week in my area, so it isn't hurting anything here(NE Warren Co.).

As far as crossbows....if they want to implement them into rifel season that's fine with me, but I don't want them in archery season. I personally think too many guys will buy one thinking it's more like a rifle than a bow....and try to take too long of shots. There are a good many rifle hunters that would come into archery season with this mentallity and end up wounding and losing deer. That's strictly my opinion....myabe I'm wrong, but with the actions I see from hunters in rifle season I don't want to see the same thing in archery season.

The biologists don't set the regulations. A panel on commissioners does. Their piority just isn't helping bow hunters have more fun right now. Their feeling is, "Geeze, you already get 6 weeks, being a little greedy aren't ya?"

I agree with Jason on crossbows in archery season. And they are presently allowed in rifle season.

Crossbows are only allowed in the Special Regs areas for the general firearms season and special seasons.

There wasn't any talk of making crossbows legal in archery season, was there?

Jason, crossbows were allowed in 2 week traditional rifle season across the state for this past season.

You won't see them then though.

They have requested that they be allowed to be used in SRA's for all seasons and I believe they will be approved in all but the regular archery season there in April. That proposal was made and is in the 90 day comment period. Their argument is that if you really want the deer hervested in SRA's, you ought to give the rifle hunters a tool they could easily use and join bowhunters. We need to fight that as most of our bowhunting friends that hunt in SRA's would want us to.

Thanks for clearing that up Mark. My apologies!

Just for the record, I am not necessarily "against" the muzzleloader or two day-junior/senior rifle hunt in October...exactly. I have no problem with folks who want to use those weapons prior to the rut....

...but I rather don't like the fact that it overlaps..and therefore reduces the amount of time that bowhunters have in the woods...alone. Extending the archery season back, at least two weeks, into September would be a fine solution to this..in my opinion.

I do not really want to sound like I am complaining but this past season bowhunters basically had the first Saturday of archery "free" from other hunter's influence..then the second Saturday was that experimental youth pheasant hunt. In my stomping grounds that was basically the same thing as having regular small game season opening a few weeks early...as even though only youth could shoot the pheasants there were still two or three more individuals with them while they were hunting.

Then the following weekend was when the muzzleloader season started...and then the following weekend was small game hunting. So, in essence, for those of us who might only be able to hunt on a Saturday each week..and on public land...there was basically only one of the day season when they could bowhunt...uninterrupted.

Part of the nature of our sport almost requires that there not be any other hunting disturbances occuring in order for us to be even remotely effective in our attempt to aid in balancing the deer herd. We need to have the deer close...and not moving in order for us to even stand a reasonable chance of harvesting an animal. Having an excessive amount of other hunters in the woods while folks are trying to bowhunt is detrimental to this and directly affects the outcome of the hunt.

Here is something that I don't think many folks have considered....if small game is pushed back to the 3rd Saturday of archery next year and the youth pheasant hunt is again scheduled for the second Saturday then will be again left with just one Saturday without interruption. Not only that but small game and the early muzzleloader season will also both be starting on the same day....which means more hunters in the October woods on the same day than ever before.

Not to sound bitter but I wouldn't be surprised if the Game Commission moved the muzzleloader hunt earlier by a week so this doesn't happen....and then in turn move the youth pheasant hunt back to a week before that...thus leaving no Saturday as a day for archery only.

Rifle hunters have two uninterrupted weeks of hunting.....small game hunters basically have the last two weeks of their season uninterrupted (minus the 3 days for bear)...why can't we have at least two weeks of uninterrupted hunting?




















Edited by - PABowhntr on 01/10/2003 08:17:07

I understand. It is a valid complaint, I believe. I'm not so thrilled with the earlier start idea becauyse of the green leaves and heat, but would support it for others. My goal has always been that third week in November, but really see no reason that we shouldn't be able to archery hunt 9/15 to 1/31.