Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

I am in favor of antler restrictions in PA, let me say that first. I'm not a trophy hunter but I would like to see / harvest a good quality buck every so often. However, I tried to put myself in a stand and think back to how my last four year's bow kills transpired. All were average bucks for PA anywhere from 12 to 15 inch average basket rack 5 - 8 pts. That's all I see here in western PA for the most part and if I let too many bucks walk by me in bow season I'll end up sitting on a stump with a rife in my hand and that doesn't do it for me. There is just so much hunting pressure in most areas of this state you simply can't afford to be choosy. Just about every patch of woods is being pressured. But in thinking back, my last four years bucks I did not know on any of them for sure how many points the deer had until the blood trail ended. I saw it come in which happens quickly all so often, took a quick look at the rack saw that it was not a spike or a little fork horn and decided to take it if it was respectable. Even with a bow at less than 30 yards, in low light conditions, in the brush with limbs or the glare of sunlight it will be dang hard to be sure. Antlers can or cannot look like a lot of things in the brush, ecspecially just a couple inch points. I'd just like to throw the thought out there that when you put yourself in a tree stand and all of a sudden that buck shows up and it's now or never as it so often happens making sure there are 3 or 4 points on one side will be real tough. I know on several of the bucks I have taken if I had to tell you how many points it had on one side before I yanked the bow back they'd still be alive cause I couldn't of shot. It happens so fast sometimes even with a bow. I can't imagine how a rifle hunter would do it with a buck hauling the mail out across a mountain top. I will absolutely obey the law as a sportsman but I fear the possibility exists of my tag going unfilled. In PA you just can't be too picky and let too many walk, even with a bow, atleast in western PA.....but I guess the goal is to change that. Wouldn't putting down the rifles and picking up shotguns put some age on these bucks.....Just a thought

RE: Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

Welcome aboard Natebook! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
I think if we're patient just a year or two, you'll have no trouble counting points and bagging a better buck.

Edited by - btbowhunter on 03/05/2002 18:28:29

RE: Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

Yes, we will have to adapt. Start wearing those binoculars today and picking up on things in a hurry. Take them to the 3-D shoots and try counting points before you shoot.

RE: Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

Hey NateBook

What county are you from? I live in Indiana County. I have never had problems with seeing big bucks, I have problems with seeing small bucks haha. I think that it will be difficult for rifle hunters who see a buck running at two hundred yards, but that is a good thing. They won't be able to crack off a bunch of shots and that will make the woods alot safer. I personally don't have any problem with antler restrictions, but that is because I am blessed with hunting land that is full of BIG bucks. I do know one thing though, I have never really took the time to count ALL the points. This year I shot a buck with my bow, I thought that it was just a typical 8 point, it turned out to be a 12 point that would have been a 14 point if his main beam wasn't broken. I do see your point, alot of weekend hunters are going to have a pain getting a deer.

Good Luck This Season: Buck Magnet
&quot;Hunting is not a sport, it is a passion, it is a WAY OF LIFE&quot;

RE: Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

O yeah, welcome to the board, it is a great place, and the people are VERY nice. Just jump right in, and soon enough you will be up to a non typical like me haha.

Good Luck This Season: Buck Magnet
&quot;Hunting is not a sport, it is a passion, it is a WAY OF LIFE&quot;

RE: Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

Like BTBowhunter said Just give it a year or two and you will have no problem. welcome to the board this is a great site.

brian

RE: Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

and not one comment about the shotguns instead of rifles, come one now?????? You guys can do better than that...

RE: Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

thanks for the welcome. So you know, I got on cause I can tell all you are as passionate as I am about the sport. I just like to look out for the common Joe. You know, the guy who has two kids and a wife, the guy who has to struggle to pay the bills. After all, the common Joe is the one who funds the vast majority of the hunting licenses every year... I was wondering so maybe someone has the info, how did this concept of growing more aged, bigger antlered deer get going anyhow in PA, is this what the average deer hunter in PA was asking for or if not how did this come about? Was this the result of polls sent out?

RE: Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

NateBook, I would say that this all came about when Dr. Gary Alt took a look at our deer herd. He saw that problems with the herd and the problems with how it was managed. He knew that it was a big hole that we were in and he had to be the one to attempt to dig us out. I think that his ideas were not liked by the sportsman at first, but now everyone is comming too. They are realizing the problems and they want them to be fixed. I would venture to say that about 65 percent of Pennsylvania hunters are for Alt. I am not sure on that, but that is just a guess I made from talking with other Pennsylvania residents/hunters.

Good Luck This Season: Buck Magnet
&quot;Hunting is not a sport, it is a passion, it is a WAY OF LIFE&quot;

RE: Antler Resctrictions in PA
 

I agree. I just hope in a lot of ways we won't become similar to the midwestern states. I have hunted them and for instance, on my last Illinois trip I asked the landowner if a local neighbor living a half mile down the road could gain access to some of the local farms to hunt and his response was that it's near impossible. In other words, Illinois was a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to call it my home hunting state if I'm the common Joe. In PA I can still go down the road and get permission to hunt the area farms and I want to keep it that way, even more than I want to kill big bucks so I hope that is not the direction we are heading.Let's keep the business part of hunting out of PA for as long as we can