Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

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forgehunter
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Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby forgehunter » Fri Oct 08, 2010 5:14 am

Hi All,
so, on one of the other bowhunting websites I visit occationally ( :shock: I know, I know, I feel like I am cheating) there is quite the discussion going on about the possibility of antler restrictions being put into effect here in a few units in Wisconsin, and the possibility of it going state wide eventually.
Here is the quote that the guy posted that started it all...

"Along with many new hunting legislative actions about to take place very soon.

One that is going to see the light of day is antler restrictions being tried in a few units around the state. Some of the smaller units might be tried as trophy class units to see what the results of such actions would be with the hunters and landowners that reside there."

they are talking about a minimun of 4 points on one side and a 15" spread in order to be able to shoot a buck...
Now I know that the guy that posted this and pushing this is strictly horn porn kind of guy and he also has the ear of a couple of state reps along with another guy that happens to post here ocationally...

What say the Beasties... what do you guys think.... :?:


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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby muddy » Fri Oct 08, 2010 5:20 am

I think antler restrictions are great, look at what it's done for Pennsylvania over the past few years. That being said, it would sort of suck for a kid. My personal opinion is that if you're looking to fill the freezer, shoot a doe. Again, that being said if you pay for a tag you should be able to fill it with what you want.

Two edged sword but antler restrictions are great for trophy potential.
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby Wrinkleneck » Fri Oct 08, 2010 5:24 am

So lets say I have a 17 year old kid likes hunting, now you tell him he can only shoot a buck with 4 points on one side and a 15" spread. It would not take long for kids to loose interest. I feel if you want an antler restriction buy yourself a 1000 acres of land and have whatever you want for restrictions. I don't feel you should have to hunt with such restrictions, you should be able to shoot what makes you happy. Just my own .02
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby solocam88 » Fri Oct 08, 2010 5:38 am

First and foremost I am sick and tired of the Do Nothing Right telling me what I can and cannot do while I am hunting. I killed my fair share of small bucks when I was younger and I believe that each one of them was a stepping stone to becoming a better hunter. Those are some of the best memories I have and I will never forget how excited I was to put my hands on a buck regardless of the size. They need to focus on reviving the deer herd in WI before they try anything else. Quit slaughtering the does in the CWD units. Without does big bucks cannot be born. More deer=more bucks. More bucks= a better chance of them surviving to be trophy status. ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby Dewey » Fri Oct 08, 2010 5:51 am

I like the idea of antler restrictions but think there should be a rule for youth hunters under a certain age(maybe 18 years old) being able to shoot a smaller buck if they want.

As much as we all hated EAB my opinion is that it created some quality bucks on the public lands I hunt just because of the fact that some of the bucks were allowed to grow older. Not saying I want EAB back again but just sharing my observations.
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby solocam88 » Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:09 am

Dewey wrote:I like the idea of antler restrictions but think there should be a rule for youth hunters under a certain age(maybe 18 years old) being able to shoot a smaller buck if they want.

As much as we all hated EAB my opinion is that it created some quality bucks on the public lands I hunt just because of the fact that some of the bucks were allowed to grow older. Not saying I want EAB back again but just sharing my observations.


That is the only good thing that came out of EAB. It made people hold onto their buck tag.
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby ryanm » Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:16 am

Maybe I'm weird, but now that I've been at it 20 years I wish I understood that waiting often means better opportunities. (like 20 years ago). We still live in a "have it now" society.

no antler restrictions during the youth hunt.
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby Hodag Hunter » Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:30 am

In a perfect world it is a good idea as long as the younsters can shoot any size buck.

You think the DNR can get this to work when they can't estimate the deer, wolf or bear population accuratley? These Madison door knobs can't even figure out when to give doe tags out or not....now the possibility of managing the whole state for trophy class animals? :roll:

Our fishing resources are a joke also compared to MN and we could and should have the same quality and quantity.

About the only resource the DNR has a good grasp on and manages well is the sturgeon spearing season.

I'm sorry but this may be a good idea on paper but my opinion is it would never work with our (WI)DNR system. Maybe someone can convince me otherwise.
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby Sam Ubl » Fri Oct 08, 2010 7:28 am

My opinon? Why try to manage the state for trophy class animals when Wisconsin is recognized for leading the way for P&Y and B&C's??

What happens when the spread is 14"? Is one to invent the "Spread finder", similar to the range finder, only it ranges deer then calculates the spread based on the angle the deer is facing, etc?

Buck growth management is better left to the individuals who choose to do it. The resources are as much ours as anyone elses and should not be stolen by any organization.

It's a ridiculous argument and will NEVER make it past conversations - period.

i.e.) "SON! You only got a 14" spread here - you broke the law!!" Dad says as he measures with his ruler in the field.

After feeling ill about having just broken the law and being scared of being caught, son feels hesitant about shooting anything ever again because he never again wants to feel like he's doing something wrong that hasn't been wrong since the evolution of hunting laws!
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby dbl lung » Fri Oct 08, 2010 7:34 am

There is a reason many states started them years ago or are looking into starting to do AR's. To me the excitement had when seeing a big buck is something I never forget. Many hunters never experience that feeling so right off the bat they are against AR's. The WDNR has to make an investment into deer hunting in this state. Someone in the DNR is starting to think finally. Remember you have to spend money to make money. In this case it is going to probably cost some hunters or headaches for the DNR . But in the long run the excitement gained by the hunters who grind out the storm or first three years will show the excitement that will bring the others back.
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby forgehunter » Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:14 am

So dbl, you going to explain to that kid that Sam sites as an example why he just got his gun confiscated and got a hefty fine for shooting at 14" buck???
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby mcmidc » Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:18 am

Antler restrictions are a bad idea in my opinion. Why make more hunting restrictions, we already need lawyers to decipher our deer hunting regs. In real hunting situations things happen fast and a guy doesn't always have the time to stop and count points and estimate spread. I distiguish if a buck is a 'shooter' then concentrate on getting a shot. What about areas where there are no doe tags? Now a guy can't fill his freezer because another want to hunt trophies? :roll:
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby forgehunter » Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:23 am

mcmidc wrote: What about areas where there are no doe tags? Now a guy can't fill his freezer because another want to hunt trophies? :roll:


The opnions on "the other website" are that, then you need to find another unit to hunt then... :roll:
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby headgear » Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:11 am

I am kind of torn on this topic, on one hand I would like to see more mature bucks running around and this is one way to do it. On the other hand I thinks its good for new or less experienced hunters of any age to start small and work their way up to chasing big bucks. Where you kind of run into problems (Minnesota) is when you have generation after generation of brown its down hunters with the mentality to shoot everything. When this happens hunters and the deer herd can kind of get stuck in a rut and the age class of the bucks never gets all that old. Ideally education about deer and deer hunting would be a great way to break this cycle but that could take 20+ years. I think eventually younger generations of hunters will support letting younger bucks go but its not going to be a quick fix and might even be impossible in some areas. No easy answers in this one.
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Re: Antler restrictions...opinions wanted...

Unread postby AC Rider » Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:39 am

solocam88 wrote:First and foremost I am sick and tired of the Do Nothing Right telling me what I can and cannot do while I am hunting.

Huh??? :? Are you talking the Political Right? If so, I'm not making the connection.

Anyway, I think a lot of the problem would be taken care of if they would move the gun season to the last week of November. This would save more bucks and allow them to grow older.


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