antler restrictions
 

I was just wondering what everybody thinks about antler restrictions?
I really want them in WV how bout you guys?

RE: antler restrictions
 

They are a great thing. Must be patient to see them pay off. Michigan has some antler restricted areas in affect, and you can see a difference. It is difficult otherwise because land owners have such little land. Some may promote QDM yet others shoot anything.

It is difficult though because I do believe some of the younger bucks need to be taken out of the herd.

Just My .02

RE: antler restrictions
 

I hate them. A lot.

RE: antler restrictions
 

In CA there needs to be at least 1 fork. What i wish is that CA would allow us to shoot does........

RE: antler restrictions
 

Why do you hate them so much?

RE: antler restrictions
 

we dont have them in ky.... but on the farm that we hunt we have them, anything below an 8-pointer is a $100 fine... i like them because it gives the smaller deer on the farm a chance to grow into monsters:D

RE: antler restrictions
 

I would think that they would be a good thing,

Rory, who no love? Im interested in hearing some info on this...

RE: antler restrictions
 

that makes me sick considering we dont have any deer here hardley

RE: antler restrictions
 

I have no experience with them so I couldn't give a real opinion. We don't have them in OK.

If they did enforce an AR I don't think it would change my huting very much. From what I have seen, the restrictions in other states don't restrict very much at all. Most go off # of points, which doesn't seem to prove much, to me. It would be nice if there was some sort of age restriction, but there is no way that could be possible. Your average joe hunter simply can't field judge antlers and age on the spot.

RE: antler restrictions
 

The reason(s) I hate them, is that hunting's not supposed to be about size of antlers. The law also shouldn't tell me what deer I can and cannot shoot. Also, AR's makes a bunch of hunter shoot the first legal buck they have a chance at, which means a lot of 1.5-2.5 year old bucks with great potential being killed. Another reason is, how the hell are you gonna tell a kid he can't shoot a buck because "the government doesn't want us shooting it". Same goes for an adult that's a first time hunter, or hell for that matter, anybody in general. Hunting's a very personal hobby, with all of the personal achievements and goals, and it needs to be kept that way.
Here's a couple "illegal" bucks, if AR's were implemented earlier. The first is a 3.5 year old (mature) 6 point. The second is a 6.5-7.5 (mature) 5 point. After those two pictures, is a 2.5 year old (immature) 7 point. Hmm isn't that wierd?

RE: antler restrictions
 

You make good points Rory,

But i just think that it would be a good law to have in place. Around here, the average 1.5 is a 6 point, and those 6 points turn into dandy 120 class 8 points in their second years...so if that was happening more and more then we would have larger bucks on average. Just my logic.

RE: antler restrictions
 

Very good points Rory, In NY Youths are exzempt from the AR laws where present. I aggree that the government should not control what size deer we can shoot.

RE: antler restrictions
 

im sorry to hear that you have so few deer, butwhere i hunt there are so many deer that it makes sense to be selective... also the farm that i hunt on is 2500 acres so we can bepickyabout what we shoot


and i agree that the government shouldnt be able to put restrictions on the size, only you and the people you hunt with should be able to place restrictions on the deer on the land that they hunt

RE: antler restrictions
 

all seriousness our state is talking about not having a hunting season next year for deer....

RE: antler restrictions
 

where i hunt if they were to put AR laws in then i would be screwed and unable to shoot any bucks. because the woods are so thick that you only have a few small shooting lanes...so there is no way i could even ATTEMPT to size the deer up then put the sights on him and take him...just not enough time...plus you get ppl all of a sudden trying to make quick judgment calls as to whats legal and illegal. ppl that really want to practice QDM thats great...i respect that...but the government telling me i cant shoot a deer casue his rack isnt big enough? thats a bunch of BULL! where i hunt we are trying to get a nucience liscense because of all the damage that deer are doing to our property...they are way to thick! not t o mention i know a guy i gave several of our deer to because he lost his job and grinds all his own deer and will use it to get him, his wife, and his three young kids thru the winter! how are you going to tell him he wont have any meet in his freezer because the gov says there wasnt a big enough rack on the deer?

RE: antler restrictions
 

I'm sorry to hear that, as is probably everyone else on this forum. All we can hope for is that common sense prevails and that the Antis don't win that fight.

RE: antler restrictions
 

Its called shooting a doe? I fully support Antler Restrictions and kind of wish they had them in Ohio. I see way to many people shooting button bucks and little basket rack 4 pointers because its a "buck". We really need to let them grow. Also i think ohio should allow the Deer herd to get a little larger than it already is but thats JMO. The whole argument of "it's ridiculous for the government to tell me what i can and can't shoot" is pretty stupid imo. The government tells us what we can and can't do on a daily basis. They tell us how many deer we are allowed to take and how many of a certain sex, why would antler restrictions be any different?

Andy not to sound like a butthole but theres a simple way to solve the shooting lane problem, CREATE THEM! It's private land, clear some brush and trees, we did that last year before we hunted, yeah it can be quite a bit of work but it's worth it. Rory while your pictures prove your point, i'm guessing that they are the exception to the rule. Like i said above AR's are there to try to allow the deer to grow and stop people from shooting those button bucks and 4 point basket racks. But JMO :)

RE: antler restrictions
 

Its not a situation with "Anti's", its because he has a deer density of about 1 deer per mile.

RE: antler restrictions
 

AH, a lot of people don't care about shooting big bucks. They shouldn't need to care either.

RE: antler restrictions
 

thats correct. saved me some time explaining caleb

RE: antler restrictions
 

So you FULLY support them, but you KIND OF wish you had them??

I agree with Rory's last statement. If you want to shoot a big buck, fine, do it. Put in your time and hopefully you will get it done. What is wrong with shooting a little buck though?

RE: antler restrictions
 

AH, i see your points...and now its me trying not to sound like a butthole, but i created all of the shooting lanes i have now...it was alot of work but it was worth it...but the deer come from the neighbors property, to ours...so my ability to make lanes from there is dificult seeing as it isnt our property. as for shoting button bucks...in all honesty...who here has shot a button buck thinking it was a doe? i know i have taken 2...and i didnt even notice the buttons till i went to gut it and say a pair of nuts! as for shooting the 4 pointers, i think that should be the hunters call, it blends in with the gov. statement earlier. you are 100% right the gov. controls alot of what we do already...that is the problem in my opinion! the gov said they would take away assult wepons...and nothing else...now they are trying to take away the .50 and saying this is it...we will leave your guns alone after this...like the said before...California already has banned them! the gov. wants to put chips in our cars and scaners on all roads so if you are speeding the scaners will record the times it takes you to get to each checkpoiint then mail you a ticket...they have WAY to much control over us already! as i said before...i aplaud anyone that wants to pass a 4 pointer or bigger for a better deer...i think thats great...i know i have in years past...but this year it was a "if its brown its down" year. i just think i should be able to take any deer i can take a clean shot on, regardless of size as long as i have a valid permit...after Ar what next? even the does have to be at least 2 years of age? good luck judging that one on the fly as well

as i said my friend...nothing against you...normally i agree with you 100% but this one i just cant. to each his own i guess...the gov puts AR's on then of course i will listen and obey them...just prefer that they dont

RE: antler restrictions
 

I think most of you guys that don't like them just don't like it because you don't want the government to have power over what you can do. I think the bucks would be bigger, and there would be more older bucks

RE: antler restrictions
 

now keep inmind when i say this i say it as respectfully as i can and that i got nothing against you BUT.....DUH!!!!! of course they would be...thats the point of it...and for everyone that practices tight AR on there properties they have that situation. but not everyone has the luxury to hunt everyday, and pass several deer before seeing that big brouser...and still put meet on the table! if you can afford to and see deer and pass knowing a bigger will show up then i dont think you realize how lucky you are...just ask sky...let him tell ya!

RE: antler restrictions
 

Well i don't know what would happen cuz WV doesn't have them, that's why i said "I think"
But they don't have to shoot the small bucks, does still put meat on the table.

RE: antler restrictions
 

Just to stir the pot ;),

Who is to say what is right or wrong?

What if shooting any deer you see is the wrong thing,

And passing on small bucks is the right thing?

Its all a matter of opinions....

For ME, the "brown its down" mentality doesnt sit well. Now an exeption would be a first time hunter who has never harvested a deer or somebody who NEEDS to feed thier family. I truthfully believe that passing small bucks and harvesting does is the key to great hunting and larger deer. In the last 2 years, since i have implemented a standard to hunt by, i have passed around 30 bucks. And you all know the caliber of bucks that i have running around because of it (plus genetics and food sources).

RE: antler restrictions
 

We have done the same thing and we have been seeing larger bucks, but our neighbors still shoot anything they see.
So if teh restrictions were in place i believe that we would be seeing great bucks.

RE: antler restrictions
 

Are you really going to argue with me about semantics? Ok fine just to clarify i would FULLY support AR's in Ohio.... :eek:

RE: antler restrictions
 

Dude, not everyone follows them. Even when they are the "law";)

RE: antler restrictions
 

I know what you mean Caleb. To me, a hunter should take anything that is a "trophy" to them. If that is a small buck, a fat doe, a world record, whatever. As long as it makes them happy and they are proud of it. That is what it's all about.

This is not considering people who are hunting to feed their families of course.

RE: antler restrictions
 

EXACTLY! If a spike (or any little buck) makes a guy happy, he should be able to shoot it, without worrying about the law.

RE: antler restrictions
 

Well if i didn't like what they were doin i'd turn them in

RE: antler restrictions
 

Then why don't you just turn them in now for shooting little bucks:eek:

RE: antler restrictions
 

hhahaha let me just say this, right or wrong if i was to be turned in, the person who did it would not ever want me to find out it was them if they value they health and well being. i cant stand a tatletail. now a man shooting deer from a vehicle, after dark out of season, he deserves to be reported......thought ide throw that out there before we went on a tagent about that subject

RE: antler restrictions
 

No AR's in WV

RE: antler restrictions
 

Yea, but they prob wouldn't mess with me.
I don't like tattletales, but if it comes to it, i will do what i have to.

RE: antler restrictions
 

You said you'd turn them in if you didn't like what they were doing. Sounds like a double standard to me.

RE: antler restrictions
 

Ah...what a lively debate. May I join? :)

RE: antler restrictions
 

Come on in Kyle:D.
But no more trying to buy my damn Vulcan

RE: antler restrictions
 

ohhh...your just so BA no one would mess with you...no one would rat on you for breaking the law, or mess with you if they found out you ratted on them...man i really think its time you take a deep breath of reality...