One Buck Rule

[Hall17]

I voted 'indifferent'. I like it when I shoot one late but when I shoot one in early October then I hate it, LOL. Living in PA which has always been a 1 buck state in my life as well as the antler restrictions has made a nice impact from what I am seeing today in the consistent quality of bucks. Two year olds seem much larger these days

 

[Samcirrus]

Minnesota has a very detailed and comprehensive system of areas allowing different amounts of deer to be taken. But only 1 antlered buck....and there are antler restrictions in some zones. I like it and agree that certain spots need those restrictions. I also wish that in the northeast where restrictions are toughest, IE: 1 buck ONLY, they'd think more about limiting the wolf population (which is rapidly expanding and causing the said deer decline.) and not just restrict hunting.

 

[PEEJAY]

I voted in favor of the 1 buck rule because anything is better than the 3 bucks, no antler restriction that WV has. And it used to be 5 bucks, no restrictions....which is bananas.

One thing that might help is letting other hunters know that killing a young buck is probably the easiest kill there is. An older doe is much harder to fool (obviously). A young doe is harder to hunt because she will almost always be with a family group, so they have old does and multiple eyes and noses to fool. Also, a young doe doesn't go into the rut and start taking risks and moving a lot during the day.

A young buck that is in its first rut after being kicked out of the family by his mama is about the saddest and easiest to harvest creature on Earth. But folks would rather shoot a spike than a doe because of reasons.

Absolutely agree. Young bucks are dumber than fawns. I honestly feel bad for em. Kinda like jake turkeys. They are just too stupid to make me feel proud. wind and movement really dont need much consideration to harvest one. I respect anyone's decision to shoot one and I will shoot one for meat if im getting desperate but i wont be braggin about it.

 

[PEEJAY]

Minnesota has a very detailed and comprehensive system of areas allowing different amounts of deer to be taken. But only 1 antlered buck....and there are antler restrictions in some zones. I like it and agree that certain spots need those restrictions. I also wish that in the northeast where restrictions are toughest, IE: 1 buck ONLY, they'd think more about limiting the wolf population (which is rapidly expanding and causing the said deer decline.) and not just restrict hunting.

where in the NE are wolves doin that much damage? maine?

 

[NimbleTimbo]

I agree the antler restrictions in PA have definitely helped the class of bucks I have seen since they were enacted. the hard thing for me is the 1 buck rule. I go back and forth about it. I have had the conundrum early in the season, having multiple chances at 1.5-2.5 year old legal bucks, but passing in hopes of a more mature buck, then kicking myself later in the season because it didn't happen. However, some years I have obliged and taken a younger buck early following the ol' bird-in-hand adage, only to have a stud in front of me later in the season (and I can only take pictures). Still, with our population of hunters, I think the population would suffer if we opened it up more.
I have also hunted VA about every year since college, and I appreciate there regional approach, with more tags available east of the blue ridge, and the ability to "earn another buck" tag(s) by shooting a doe first in high population areas.

 

[DelaWhere_Arrow]

People in OH that I talk to seem to love the one buck rule when they shoot a big one, and hate it when they shoot a forkie or a sixer. I’m of the mindset that a “law of averages” is needed. If you’ve never harvested a buck, you should be allowed to shoot whatever makes you excited. If you harvest a buck every year, or thereabouts, I think you should be allowed to harvest a second buck IF there are antler restrictions placed on IT. That way, if the first buck I shoot is big, I have to make sure the next one is as big or bigger (at least in theory based on minimum measurements and such). If the first one I shoot is small, I have a chance to harvest a trophy later over a certain minimum but I can’t shoot another small one.
Works in my head and keeps the average hunter, especially the average public land hunter who may only see spikes and baskets when they hunt, happy. Gives everyone a chance to harvest at least two rounds of venison regardless of herd population dynamics. Of course there would be town criers no matter what you do.

 

[Jammintree]

where in the NE are wolves doin that much damage? maine?

Wildlife agencies in most NE states will say there is no documented population of reproducing wolves. However, what has happened is that long ago the western wolves crossbred with coyotes. Those genes have entered the pool and spread throughout the northeast. As a result of natural selection we are seeing bigger and smarter coyotes every year that are acting more and more like wolves. At least in my region they’ve been given the slang name of “Coywolves.” There are long open seasons on coyotes in many North East states, but they are hard to hunt and few actually do it. It’s definitely a growing concern as their numbers are growing and they have become incredibly syanthropic.

 

[BTaylor]

People in OH that I talk to seem to love the one buck rule when they shoot a big one, and hate it when they shoot a forkie or a sixer. I’m of the mindset that a “law of averages” is needed. If you’ve never harvested a buck, you should be allowed to shoot whatever makes you excited. If you harvest a buck every year, or thereabouts, I think you should be allowed to harvest a second buck IF there are antler restrictions placed on IT. That way, if the first buck I shoot is big, I have to make sure the next one is as big or bigger (at least in theory based on minimum measurements and such). If the first one I shoot is small, I have a chance to harvest a trophy later over a certain minimum but I can’t shoot another small one.
Works in my head and keeps the average hunter, especially the average public land hunter who may only see spikes and baskets when they hunt, happy. Gives everyone a chance to harvest at least two rounds of venison regardless of herd population dynamics. Of course there would be town criers no matter what you do.

It would be easier in your scenario to have different licenses. You declare when you purchase your license either meat hunter or mature buck hunter.

 

[PEEJAY]

People in OH that I talk to seem to love the one buck rule when they shoot a big one, and hate it when they shoot a forkie or a sixer. I’m of the mindset that a “law of averages” is needed. If you’ve never harvested a buck, you should be allowed to shoot whatever makes you excited. If you harvest a buck every year, or thereabouts, I think you should be allowed to harvest a second buck IF there are antler restrictions placed on IT. That way, if the first buck I shoot is big, I have to make sure the next one is as big or bigger (at least in theory based on minimum measurements and such). If the first one I shoot is small, I have a chance to harvest a trophy later over a certain minimum but I can’t shoot another small one.
Works in my head and keeps the average hunter, especially the average public land hunter who may only see spikes and baskets when they hunt, happy. Gives everyone a chance to harvest at least two rounds of venison regardless of herd population dynamics. Of course there would be town criers no matter what you do.

Does Delaware still have that 15" spread trophy buck rule?

 

[Samcirrus]

where in the NE are wolves doin that much damage? maine?

NE of Minnesota. Many lodges and folks that run deer hunting tourism have made it an open secret that if the local government doesn't do something about it that there may be a sudden decline in the wolves population....

 

[Andrew920]

Interesting replies. I’m new to bow hunting and am in the stage of I enjoy eating venison and personally could care less about what I shoot.

The area of Michigan I live and work in has a ridiculously overpopulated deer herd. The area I work has an archery deer cull and a firearms deer cull every year where around 300 deer are harvested. Hasn’t even touched the over population. Residents in that area would vote for taking as many deer as possible regardless of restrictions.

Where I live is only 20 miles away from where I work and I think the people there would be more in favor of a 1 buck rule. It’s a more rural area and people seem to be more in favor of let them grow.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[raisins]

Does Delaware still have that 15" spread trophy buck rule?

i'm ambivalent about spread rules...around 5 small to medium sized WMAs here have 14" outside spread rules

people use the rule of thumb "past the ears" but that is really inaccurate

a DNR guy I know says they find abandoned kills all over these areas that are under the 14" rule....people think it's studly and then measure it and sneak out not to get in trouble

PA's is I think 3 on one side....much easier for folks

 

[Robert loper]

I think it totaly depends on the area. Whats being hel and ratio of sex.

 

[PEEJAY]

NE of Minnesota. Many lodges and folks that run deer hunting tourism have made it an open secret that if the local government doesn't do something about it that there may be a sudden decline in the wolves population....

ohhhh ok. that makes more sense haha. I heard they might be creepin into maine and upstate NY but didnt think it was a problem yet.
Yea i dont care if the wolves experience a sudden decline. keep em isolated up there. We got enough coyotes over here already. would love to watch em hunt though. THey would apparently chase the moose around on the frozen lake where we used to stay in Quebec while skiing and i would always look out the window hoping to see it go down. Pretty amazing animals

 

[PEEJAY]

i'm ambivalent about spread rules...around 5 small to medium sized WMAs here have 14" outside spread rules

people use the rule of thumb "past the ears" but that is really inaccurate

a DNR guy I know says they find abandoned kills all over these areas that are under the 14" rule....people think it's studly and then measure it and sneak out not to get in trouble

PA's is I think 3 on one side....much easier for folks

Yea i believe the outside the ears advice was literally in the rule book when i lived there. Thats a tough one cuz ears....move

 

[raisins]

Yea i believe the outside the ears advice was literally in the rule book when i lived there. Thats a tough one cuz ears....move

yep....and little bucks got smaller everything (skull, ears, pride...)

 

[Nutterbuster]

i'm ambivalent about spread rules...around 5 small to medium sized WMAs here have 14" outside spread rules

people use the rule of thumb "past the ears" but that is really inaccurate

a DNR guy I know says they find abandoned kills all over these areas that are under the 14" rule....people think it's studly and then measure it and sneak out not to get in trouble

PA's is I think 3 on one side....much easier for folks

Yeah, danged if you do, right? I've seen a lot of yearlings that had "x on one side" in Alabama.

Main beam length and inside spread are better determines for age, but then you have what you're describing happen.

Although, MS has had main beam and inside spread restrictions for a long time and their age class is much better than bama's in my limited experience

 

[kyler1945]

Yeah, danged if you do, right? I've seen a lot of yearlings that had "x on one side" in Alabama.

Main beam length and inside spread are better determines for age, but then you have what you're describing happen.

Although, MS has had main beam and inside spread restrictions for a long time and their age class is much better than bama's in my limited experience

The either/or beam length/spread is the answer for “shoot older bucks” effort. If you can’t get one right after three minute basic lesson on deer anatomy and guidelines they offer, it’s a you problem. The combo is the key. Trying to judge one alone quickly is difficult.

Also, people need to understand you’re not going to get shot or your truck taken if you shoot a buck .25” too small on spread or beam length. You might get a fine. If something more than that happens, it’s because you’ve broken 5 other rules, or you just got really really unlucky on your choice of LEO to run into. Bring your buck home. Deal with the consequences. 100-300 is not too much to pay for a day of poor decision making and 50lbs of venison…

 

[Nutterbuster]

The either/or beam length/spread is the answer for “shoot older bucks” effort. If you can’t get one right after three minute basic lesson on deer anatomy and guidelines they offer, it’s a you problem. The combo is the key. Trying to judge one alone quickly is difficult.

Also, people need to understand you’re going to get shot or your truck taken if you shoot a buck .25” too small on spread or beam length. You might get a fine. If something more than that happens, it’s because you’ve broken 5 other rules, or you just got really really unlucky on your choice of LEO to run into. Bring your buck home. Deal with the consequences. 100-300 is not too much to pay for a day of poor decision making and 50lbs of venison…

I agree on 2 points. It's a fact that beam length and spread is the answer for the effort. And it's a fact that if you do the math, a mistake isn't that costly.

Trouble is getting rednecks to agree with you. I can hear Bubba Joe beeyotching and moaning over a $200 fine over the sound of his aftermarket muffler on his lifted Chevy.

Me personally, I've joked with my local CO about the possibility of opening a tab for the $50 doe-out-of-season tickets I'd be fine with racking up.

 

[raisins]

I agree on 2 points. It's a fact that beam length and spread is the answer for the effort. And it's a fact that if you do the math, a mistake isn't that costly.

Trouble is getting rednecks to agree with you. I can hear Bubba Joe beeyotching and moaning over a $200 fine over the sound of his aftermarket muffler on his lifted Chevy.

Me personally, I've joked with my local CO about the possibility of opening a tab for the $50 doe-out-of-season tickets I'd be fine with racking up.

yeah, we have to remember we are in the real world and not let perfect be the enemy of the good

there's a clear tradeoff (in most cases really) between usefulness of the information and the ease of getting it accurately (simpler more likely to be done and be accurate but less likely to be useful)