TN drops antlered deer limit from 3 to 2....

[churly]

SpurHunter - 5/27/2015 4:29 PM

You know Justin, if your members would just reduce their harvest to one buck, scores would shoot through the roof.[/

Lol. There have been big deer in those hollers for years, but there are a lot more of them because we probably average 1 buck every three years per member and 3-4 does per year. Realistically, the only way to positively influence antler score per buck would be to thin the heard dramatically, to spread out the available forage. But what fun is it if you rarely see a deer?

One of the reasons you see some of these mega monsters come out of western ky is due to the fact that in some counties EHD outbreaks in '07,'09, '12 have thinned the herd down drastically. The bucks in those areas have little competition for food, so they are able to reach their potential. My lease in Butler Co. Last year had a VERY low number of deer per acre( preseason camera census showed about even buck to doe ratio and we ID'd 7 shooters). Some of the 1.5 and 2.5 year old bucks had antlers that my TN deer cant grow in 5 years. The difference in antler size has nothing to do with the buck limit, and everything to do with nutriition.

I do hope that TN hunters will try to take more does with the new regs. That in my opinion is the number one way to improve herd health and big buck opportunity.

All this deer talk has me fired up. I put up my first cam saturday, will post pics soon!

 

[Justfishin]

I think that tn biggest problem is to many deer period if we all would kill a crap load of does our buck will get bigger an have a better rut so the monsters will move like they should

 

[gonefishing31]

I agree with two bucks but think they should have open doe for all season to thin population down sum its hard to kill one good buck a year when they don't have to leave their area

 

[WackemandStackem11]

It's a good gesture but with the current deer check in system it doesn't matter at all. A reduction in the fire arms season in my opinion is the only fix. But that's just my opinion. Until then I will just continue to spend my money hunting out of this state.

 

[13point]

It's hard to judge Tennessee deer vs Midwest deer. Im not sure anybody has said it, but their body size is also 2 times bigger. Not only the soil, they have so much to eat year round. I think we have the opportunity to have 170 class deer, but not at 2 1/2 years old. Age is still the biggest factor here because we cant really do anything about the soil and amount of food they have. I've been lucky enough to see 1 150 class and 3 170 class deer in Tennessee. As far as 2 vs 3, won't change a thing. Guy told me today, him wife and 2 kids = 8 buck tags. The only way we can keep members on our lease is let them take every 50 pound button buck that walks by.

 

[screwball]

if you want better rack deer put a restriction on antler size.

 

[SpurHunter]

screwball - 5/28/2015 8:08 AM

if you want better rack deer put a restriction on antler size.

This was a disaster in MS, it resulted in a huge reduction in antler size. Its called high grading and a huge portion of deer killed are the youngest deer, with the most potential.

 

[churly]

Spur is right. Point restrictritons result in your top end youngsters going down. Catoosa wma is a great example.

The way it works is if you put in say, "4 on one side rule" the first 7 or 8 pointer that comes by gets shot.. Lots of 1.5 and 2.5 year old 8 points will go down, which arw the deer that need to walk. Where as a 5 year old 6 point is not a legal kill. As time goes on, your top-end youngsters get weeded out of the herd and your left with sub- par genetics.

I'm at the point in my hunting where I would rather kill a 300lb. 5 year old than a 150" 3 year old. Old mature bucks, no matter antler size are very hard to kill and when you do get a mature buck you have done something.

I wont shame anyone for shooting a 1.5 year old buck, but lets be honest, thats the easiest deer to kill in the woods. Maybe the new regs will result in more 1.5s walking, but only time will tell....

 

[Jmax]

I will say this restriction of going to two bucks only to help the buck deer get bigger is like pissing on a forest fire to say it will help put it out. emoTskTsk I saw where there were about 1% of the deer hunters in TN kill three bucks each year. That is something like 2,400 out of 240,000 bucks killed. The powers to be keep saying that a lot of areas in TN have too many doe. The comment I saw was them saying they hope this move will encourage more hunters to take a doe. Not sure if that will happen but it might cause the 2,400 that killed three bucks to shoot a doe. So with that said we will have an increase of 1%. emoBooHoo I have never shot three bucks in a year in TN either.

In AR they have gone to a 3 point rule on one side. Been in place for several years now. I do see a lot more spikes and small racked fours. I now see less big deer do to the increased pressure that has occurred on the bigger racked bucks. I am not sure the results have been what they wanted but they keep saying it is working state wide. emoScratch Maybe it is and I have just not seen it. Until there is a over all push by hunters to try and manage the herd for bigger bucks I am not sure anything the Game and Fish says or does will have that big of an effect. I am a meat hunter and really don't look much at rack size. After my first one I will usually be more selective unless I see the season coming down to a close and want the second still for the freezer. If I have two in the freezer already, at that time I am just trophy hunting or crappie fishing. emoBigsmile Jmax

 

[hookset]

A few of the WMA's have bonus bucks that are not included in the statewide bag limit. Some of the folks that are greedy, by the click of their mouse will have their county harvested buck checked out in a WMA so they can stay in the woods longer. I truly hope that doesn't happen but, the reality of it is that a few people have done this and will continue to do so.

 

[SpurHunter]

Cheaters will ALWAYS cheat, this law wont stop that.

 

[Cisco]

I myself have not harvested 3 bucks in a season, BUT, that's only because I choose not too. How many small (legal) bucks have you let walk because of their size? Now when I was that young age, if I didn't tag out that season, I was upset. I didn't care how big they were as long as they had horns! Now that I've matured, I myself only hunt mature deer. Hey, I'm lucky to even harvest one buck in a season. That's my choice. My other question is. . . . Is Tennessee able to produce trophy deer, ( my guess on a trophy is 150 class and larger)? the answer is YES! Who wouldn't want to harvest a 150 class deer? Now that said. . . . I also hunt Illinois. Whole different ballgame up there. yes the soil is awesome with all the food they can eat to grow those huge bodies (which they have to for the super cold winters they have) and large antlers. But what I love about hunting the rut in Illinois, if you see a doe, you better get ready for what's coming behind her! I've seen as many as 4 bucks chasing 1 doe! I believe we could have the same in TN if we lower the buck tags and raise the doe! Why not let the Juveniles have a week long hunt with a doe a day?

 

[wjhfish]

I have hunted for quite some time now and have never harvested 3 bucks. Have had the opportunity but why? One issue I see is the checking system. This rule WILL NOT STOP those that choose not to check the deer in. Poachers will always be poachers regardless of any rule put in place. In my opinion, the TROPHY HUNTER mentality has both positive and negative affects on deer hunting. I hunt for the meat, the scenery, the family and friendship, and maybe have the chance to harvest a mature buck.

 

[Mikie]

They would been better off staying with a 3 buck limit, and say if it has balls it's a buck. They are some people that shoot alot more than 3 bucks a year. This would eliminate shooting 5,6,or 7 bucks a year!!! Just say'in

 

[decaturbullet]

Not all but majority of 3 year old and older bucks are really nice so if this helps get older class bucks I am for it all the way!! I hear the soil this and that but have seen some really nice. 3 1/2 year olds and older!!

 

[Mikie]

The thing I hate the most is lets say you get one during Muzzle loader or archery season, then You kill one opening day, then You are through for thee year!!!!!

 

[frazier2209]

Mikie - 6/6/2015 9:19 PM

The thing I hate the most is lets say you get one during Muzzle loader or archery season, then You kill one opening day, then You are through for thee year!!!!!

Still plenty of does left for you to feed your family and improve your herd at the same time.

 

[fish4thepeck]

It doesn't matter if it's 1 or 10 bucks a year nothing will change untill the hunters themself change. Do you actually think some of these good ole boys care about what the TWRA says. I wonder what the numbers are for deer that don't get checked in? Also word around the woods is some of these people digging our mountains up year round for the rock ain't going hungry. They say it's getting where you can't even sale a chicken at the Flea Market anymore I quess some perfer venison.

 

[Liveliner]

NOT HAPPY. I generally shoot Two Eight to Ten Pointers early in the season by the end of the Primitive hunts, and continue to hunt the entire Gun season for the enjoyment of just being out there in the woods. If I have no more Buck opportunities then I must stop going.... I absolutely need Three big Deer per Year for Food...100 Pound Does would require me to shoot more animals...Two Bucks and Two does would work but Not Hunting would really suck since I spent the Big Bucks for the lifetime Sportsman License so I could Hunt..

 

[Liveliner]

frazier2209 - 6/7/2015 11:08 AM

Mikie - 6/6/2015 9:19 PM The thing I hate the most is lets say you get one during Muzzle loader or archery season, then You kill one opening day, then You are through for thee year!!!!!

Still plenty of does left for you to feed your family and improve your herd at the same time.

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However... I have two bucks harvested by the Black powder hunt. How many times can you get to go hunting when there are NO scheduled Doe days? My concern is Not so much the Harvest but just being able to go sit in a tree..</p>

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