Antler Restrictions in Virginia
#41
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Iredell Co. North Carolina
Posts: 236
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
ORIGINAL: Sureisaniceskimask
I love the idea of antler restrictions. It's stupid when people shoot spikes just for the kill. Stupid people shooting dog sized deer piss me off... [:@]
I love the idea of antler restrictions. It's stupid when people shoot spikes just for the kill. Stupid people shooting dog sized deer piss me off... [:@]
#42
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location:
Posts: 372
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
I'm on the fence with this issue. I'm a hunter not a trophy hunter. I'm looking to put meat in the freezer. The club I belong to has some unwritten rules concerning these issues. But I belive it should be the decision of the hunter. I pass on the deer I don't want to shoot and I'm very please with each and every deer I harvest for tablefare.
#43
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
ORIGINAL: keyshunter
As I looked through the photos on the Virginia kill thread, I began to ponder "what beautiful bucks wewould becapable of producing if hunters did not kill off the small bucks". Antler restrictions have been successful in other states, so why not here? We have very liberal antlerless limits for those who are interested in meat or numbers, so why not increase the odds for those who are interested in harvesting a real trophy? I believe thatminimum antler size to protect our young bucksis an idea whose time has come for Virginia.
As I looked through the photos on the Virginia kill thread, I began to ponder "what beautiful bucks wewould becapable of producing if hunters did not kill off the small bucks". Antler restrictions have been successful in other states, so why not here? We have very liberal antlerless limits for those who are interested in meat or numbers, so why not increase the odds for those who are interested in harvesting a real trophy? I believe thatminimum antler size to protect our young bucksis an idea whose time has come for Virginia.
I see you are from Martinsville. Have you hunted Fairystone Farms? In case youare not aware it has Antler Restrictions. Must be 4 points on one side.
#44
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
ORIGINAL: CamoCop
i haven't read every post so i dunno if this has been brought up or not. AR is a good thing to a certain point BUT can also be bad. if you have a buck(s) in the area or on your property with bad genes and they never exceed the legal antler restrictions so they can be harvested, then you will have them breeding does and spreading the bad genes. these bucks need to be identified and taken out of the herd to maximize QDM.
i haven't read every post so i dunno if this has been brought up or not. AR is a good thing to a certain point BUT can also be bad. if you have a buck(s) in the area or on your property with bad genes and they never exceed the legal antler restrictions so they can be harvested, then you will have them breeding does and spreading the bad genes. these bucks need to be identified and taken out of the herd to maximize QDM.
#45
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
Very good point! Antler restrictions alone are not the answer, although they could help.Antler restrictionswill not protect, for example,a 2 year old 8 point buck that has good genes. These bucks will be killed before they have the chance to reach their full potential. IMO VA's main problem in many areas is simply too many does.
#46
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Being held POW in ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA USA
Posts: 811
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
Well at this point, you've seen every thing we've taken off our farm big buckwise. We haven't taken any 4,5,6 pts except one that was injured. unfortunatly we've only taken 3 does but have took 5BB. I wish and I'm more guilty than anyone that we would have not killed the BB's
#47
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
ORIGINAL: CAPT BRAD
Well at this point, you've seen every thing we've taken off our farm big buckwise. We haven't taken any 4,5,6 pts except one that was injured. unfortunatly we've only taken 3 does but have took 5BB. I wish and I'm more guilty than anyone that we would have not killed the BB's
Well at this point, you've seen every thing we've taken off our farm big buckwise. We haven't taken any 4,5,6 pts except one that was injured. unfortunatly we've only taken 3 does but have took 5BB. I wish and I'm more guilty than anyone that we would have not killed the BB's
I'm sure you guys are doing the right thing on the farm in Madison Co. I just wish more people would have that type of self discipline in the woods. You still got plenty of time to whack some does. Even if you don't, I would say you guys are practicing sound management techniques whether you take a few more does or not. Good luck with the rest of your year brother! Hopefully I can join ya'll next year.
VA
#48
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
I have been hunting in VA for almost 35 years, and in many different areas both public and private. IMHO nothing would help VA deer hunting more than to have an AR rule similar to PA (buck must have at least 3 0r 4 points on one side). Sure an occasional deer may never be more than a 4 or 6 point or whatever, but saving all those typical 1.5 year old spike or forky bucks would be worth it if you ask me. Of course some "hunters" (poachers)would ignore any such restriction, but that is no reason to just give into them and do nothing about the problem.
A rule that only imposes AR on the second or third buck is not enough. The average hunter today is lucky to kill even one antlered buck a year, meaning thata rule allowing the first antlered buck to be any sizedoes little to reduce the amount of pressure on those young bucks.
Happy hunting!
A rule that only imposes AR on the second or third buck is not enough. The average hunter today is lucky to kill even one antlered buck a year, meaning thata rule allowing the first antlered buck to be any sizedoes little to reduce the amount of pressure on those young bucks.
Happy hunting!
#49
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
jackw
Of course some "hunters" (poachers)would ignore any such restriction, but that is no reason to just give into them and do nothing about the problem.
Of course some "hunters" (poachers)would ignore any such restriction, but that is no reason to just give into them and do nothing about the problem.
VA
#50
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Roanoke, VA
Posts: 730
RE: Antler Restrictions in Virginia
We, my neighbors and I, have been practicing QDM on our properties for a few years and have seen the results. We are passing on all small eight pointers and smaller deer. The exception being a big-bodieddeer that looks to be older (2.5+)and having an inferior rack. We have not seen a buck that fits this description in the past five years.
I am in favor of AR's if they are done right. Meaning don't let eveyone kill all of the does like in PA. I'm in the Southwestern Mountains and we don't have the overpopulation of deer like the eastern part of the state. I do believe that allowing one buck of your choice and then placing an AR on subsequent deer would work better than nothing.
I do see a problem with AR's east of the Blue Ridge where dogs are used. Because, if a deer is being chased by a dog you are not going to have the opportunity to count anything! Therefore, the only way AR's could work is by not allowing the use of dogs, and I really don't think they will outlaw the use of dogs in eastern VA. So, that is just another point in the argument of AR's. Something to chew on!
I am in favor of AR's if they are done right. Meaning don't let eveyone kill all of the does like in PA. I'm in the Southwestern Mountains and we don't have the overpopulation of deer like the eastern part of the state. I do believe that allowing one buck of your choice and then placing an AR on subsequent deer would work better than nothing.
I do see a problem with AR's east of the Blue Ridge where dogs are used. Because, if a deer is being chased by a dog you are not going to have the opportunity to count anything! Therefore, the only way AR's could work is by not allowing the use of dogs, and I really don't think they will outlaw the use of dogs in eastern VA. So, that is just another point in the argument of AR's. Something to chew on!