Thoughts on antler restrictions
- Thread starter birddog 68
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The poor hunting in central PA has absolutely nothing to do with antler restrictions. It has to do with the lack of killing does that negatively affected the habitat to the point it no longer supports the high number of deer people were used to. The deer ate themselves out of house and home to the point it permanently altered the forest make up which resulting in a much lower carrying capacity once the forests matured.
That is what caused the decline in deer hunting in the central part of the state. Those 100 year old mature forests don't have the capacity to support many deer compared to the new regeneration periods in the 60's, 70's and 80's after the logging boom of the early 1900's. Those were the heydays of the camp culture but now the ag areas in the south central and eastern parts of the state have far more deer and more hunters as a result.
I was going to type something to that tune. That is what I had been told by several from that area. Browse lines as high as deer could reach. A friend of mine from out in PA wanted to know how we protected small trees in MO so the deer didn't eat them. He knew we had a lot of deer 25 years ago. I explained that we were no where near carrying capacity. There were no browse lines here in MO. I also told him I spend all my time trying to kill trees because they would take over everything in no time, and in fact,I am losing the battle.
hesse
Well-Known Member
I now live in Pa . I am originally from Mi. Here is what I have seen so far the anter restrictions don't allow you to shoot them and ground check the size of there head gear. The biggest issue I see is the areas that have way to many deer and no way to remove them with out allowing people onto private property(mandated by the state). The issue is that if anyone gets hurt they can sue the property owners. I know if 2 of these going on right now they are both over $20000 in lawyer fees.(so 600acres is now unhuntable )That needs to be fixed or they should have crop tags that can be used during September and October doe only tags to bring down the deer numbers.
Yes state law needs rewritten to protect landowners and give hunters access.
I don't understand this line of thinking. We have been going on 24 years of a 4 point on one side rule. If you don't have time to see the rack you don't shoot. Simple.
I'm against any kind of hunting that involves chasing/driving the animal. The worst hunters and some of the worst people I've ever encountered in my life, ALL do it.
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The deer herd in bedford county is as low as I ever seen it in 46 years of hunting. Deer living where they can be hunted are shot. If they are lucky enough not to get shot, there smashed by a car. 5 coworkers the first 2 days daylight to dark seen 3 deer between them on public land. Area 2c and 4a sold more doe tags than there are deer. The point restriction will never work in my area it's been 24 YEARS . Every area is different for sure and needs to be managed that way. There were more shots the first hour the first day in 80s and 90s when it was buck only than You'll hear all year now. there are places restriction will help it's just too bad pgc can't get it. If fewer deer was the answer to bigger bucks they would look like elk in my area.
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So as for the antler restrictions I was going back through some of my photos and found a video of a buck I took that was pushed out on a drive and ran past my stand.
This was in 2021 so the buck would be about 1.5 years old. Fast forward to 2023 and I killed a buck on the same trail that one took but going the opposite direction. Best I can tell it's the same deer as all the facial markings match and it was killed in the same place.
Additionally we had another buck last year with a very similar rack shape that we aged at 4.5 or older. He is what I imagine this buck would have been with another year or two on him as they are probably related.
This was in 2021 so the buck would be about 1.5 years old. Fast forward to 2023 and I killed a buck on the same trail that one took but going the opposite direction. Best I can tell it's the same deer as all the facial markings match and it was killed in the same place.
Additionally we had another buck last year with a very similar rack shape that we aged at 4.5 or older. He is what I imagine this buck would have been with another year or two on him as they are probably related.
That buck in the last picture is actually starting to get mature.
... but only starting. Maybe 4.5... but no older. In 2 years, he'd really be something if he makes it.
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... but only starting. Maybe 4.5... but no older. In 2 years, he'd really be something if he makes it.
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birddog 68
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I'm not sure how antler restrictions are to blame for the lack of deer in your area? I would think that a large coyote and bear population and the lack of adequate fawning habitat is more to blame.
61000 doe license in one small area. button bucks are shot and only thing left to do breading are the 2.5 year old spikes if they survive kids who can shoot them. 2 coyotes on 28 cameras in 3 months on 800 acres. a hunter can get 7 tags and when there gone you can get more. getting rid of all the doe is how you get big bucks. just ask anybody. NOT I live by what i see and experience and that's what's up in 2a and 4c. I hope it works out in some areas, but it destroyed hunting in a lot of areas.
