Got this from a guy I know on another site. He' s a Smoke Pole hunter so I' m sure he loves this, but this really F' s us archers out of quality time afield. Make you views known! Lets nip this in the bud.

Ken Reynolds reported on a new October deer
season that is being proposed by the Division. Starting in
2004, every Friday, Saturday and Monday in October
would be open for deer hunting by any method. All other
days (excluding Sundays) in October would be open for
archery only hunting. The first 6 days of the season would
be for antlerless deer only. The remainder of the days
would be any deer days. This new season would take the
place of the October Muzzleloader season. Depending on
the year, this new concept would add 5 to 7 days of
additional deer hunting opportunity in October. This
season structure will be considered experimental. The
change will have to be promulgated through the regulatory
process. At the appropriate time, written comments and
comments at a public hearing will be entered into the
record. A recommendation will be made to the Department
Secretary who will accept or reject the proposed regulatory
change. Mr. Reynolds noted that a Deer Technical
Advisory Committee has been formed to discuss many
topics related to deer management in Delaware. This
committee is made up of a representative from the
Division as well as many stakeholders from the private
sector who have an interest in deer management

I' m with you, this sounds like a bunch of crap. Not only does it screw up pretty much the whole month of october but there going to basically end the muzzleloader season. I am all for deer managment and the whole nine but if these guys really wanted people to harvest does ...the state should give you a doe tag everytime you donate a deer. It would be a win/ win situation..you get a free tag and also get to feed the hungry. Maybe we should get the word out to bow/smokepole hunters because were both getting screwed..Bring a few thousand names to the next wildlife council meeting and see what they say then!
DJ Farmer
Felton DE

i am not feeling that at all....i hate wearing ORANGE

Unfortunately, there is not a lot that can be done...archers represent an almost insignificant portion of the hunting population. As such, we are easy pickings! We have no official bowhunting organization, and, therefore, have no lobbying power whatsoever !

Unfortunately, we are in a state of unbalance in the First State, with farmers, insurance companies, and urban landowners pushing hard for an eradication (and when I say eradication I mean EXTINCT!!!) of our ever-expanding deer herd. Representatives from these groups make up a larger portion of the interested parties. They are well versed in the political arena and are sound lobbyists!! Again, there goal is to reduce the deer population SIGNIFICANTLY if not TOTALLY!

My major beef with the whole concept is not lost days a field for the archer, but the deer population is not evenly distributed throughout the state and yet we keep managing it like they are!

DeBob,

I agree that if the true goal is to kill more deer, this new proposal will do it. I' ve always seen the most deer during October while Bow hunting. If I had a shotgun, I could have stacked them like cordwood in the truck, but with a bow, chances were few. Thats just fine though. It shouldnt be that easy!

If they change the rules though, the deer will adapt. They' ll go nocturnal quicker and I believe after the first year increase in kills, you' ll see it level off. I think the November take will decrease too because the deer will be spookier. Only time will tell. I hope though that we will never find out! The season lay out is fine the way it is. Leave it alone!

I think that the whole idea is rediculous. There is going to be so much opposition by all hunters concerned, no matter which weapon you choose, that I would be surprised if it really happens. It affects bowhunters for obvious reasons, blackpowder because they loose their own season and gun hunters because their week in November is going to be all screwed up. I don' t get it. Us bow benders will just have to get ' em in September

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Sept gun season??????

Oct is prime fishing season for me on the De. surf. If this plan goes through, there goes my Nov gun season, cause it will definitly change deer patterns earlier. [:@] Tell me agina what this proposal is "supposed" to do??


AllenC

This or something like it is going to happen. I e-mailed the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife. They said that there is going to be a meeting with in the 2-3 mounths, on adding more anterless hunting days to our current deer season. I don't know how you feel about this? But if you want to comment on this, You can send e-mail to the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, or you can call them.

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