Is This Deer Legal in Western PA?
#11
He'd be tough to pass! I'll bet most guys wouldn't wait to see the brow tines if he was broadside to ya either!
I guess no rule is perfect but I still favor our AR's!
I guess no rule is perfect but I still favor our AR's!
#13
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 0
From: Harford Co. Maryland
A law is a law and a law-abiding hunter is a law-abiding hunter. It would really suck to pass up a deer like that because he ISN'T BIG ENOUGH. Give me a break! Just goes to show that the number of points on a buck doesn't always indicate his level of maturity.
#14
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
There's always an oddball exception. That doesn't make the entire spirit of the law such that it doesn't work. Yea there may be one or 2 bucks that are huge with out hte right number of points. Then its up to the individual hunter to make the decision to flirt with skirting the rules. 1 freak situation is not cause for a rule to be repealed.
#15
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 0
From: Harford Co. Maryland
I never mentioned a thing about repealing the law, but now that you mention it, what would be wrong with having a 4 point per side OR greater than an 18 inch spread rule?
#16
Good Idea Jimbo. The only problem I see with a spread requirement is that most hunters I know consistently overestimate spread measurement when they're 2 feet from a dead buck let alone looking at a live one.
maybe instead of inches, an outside the ears spread requirement?
maybe instead of inches, an outside the ears spread requirement?
#17
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Endicott NY
I would have to say if I saw this deer in the woods of PA. I would shoot it. The law is intended to grow bigger more mature bucks. This deer is about as big and mature as you can get anywhere in PA. I Think the PA game commision would let you slide on this one. At most a $20.00 fine, but I don't think they would give you a hard time about it. If you were to check the teeth on a deer like this I't would be over 3-1/2 years old wich is what the law is aiming for anyway. I think with the antler restriction In PA, just maybe I will be making the decesion whether or not to take a shot on a deer like this. Something that I wouldn't have been doing only 2 years ago.
#18
wish we knew the measuerments on the brows....the other tines are LONG.....so maube the nubs are atleast an inch....they might be.....but if not its not legal in 4pt areas.........
#19
It would be more of a political issue. Clearly AR's are set forth to allow young deer to age. Shot as a mistake or just willing to chance, a warden would be a real heel to fine the person who shot a buck like this. Obviously a mature whitetail, but like I said, it would be up to the discretion of the warden and seeing most PA wardens are power hungry and helpful only secondary.....the shooter would probably lose.


