Should muzzle loaders and bow hunters have the same antlerless regs?

[laker1]

I think the data is the data they received from hunters,and I believe they didn't change anything. Maybe hunters didn't report.

I know one zone this last year had a 25% increase in does killed while buck kill and fawn kill went down 6% each. Same season type as last year.

Rumor is and at least some fact to it, as the areas around it went from hunters choice to very few lottery. People in those zones registered does as shot in a hunters choice vs being illegally shot in a lottery zone where they hunted.

[92python]

laker1 - Normally I would agree but in this case I hunted the Murphy Hanrahan bowhunt and got one. Each deer was examined /aged by a DNR employee onsite. I wasn't the only one that got one on that hunt. That data didn't make its way to the table in the DNR link.

[Jameson]

All hunters should have to apply for antlerless tags, IMO.

The last time (2007/8ish???) the DNR allowed everyone to buy a ML license and shoot does without drawing for a permit the does got slaughtered in some farm portions of the state that are typically lottery. The following couple of years the Youth Only regulations were put in place to rebuild the herd in those areas.

Lcornice was posting on here at the time and I remember discussing with him how I believed it was a big mistake to allow Muzzleloader hunters to shoot does without drawing for a permit. It was the a bad combination of allowing everyone to hunt all the seasons, and allowing all those hunting with a muzzleloader to harvest a doe. Just like LakeVet is doing here, Lcornice was saying how the current numbers don't support the additional regs. It isn't about the current numbers, it is about what the future harvest numbers would be after the regulation change.

So, yeah, we need to have the muzzleloaders apply for a doe permit if we are going to allow everyone to hunt both firearms seasons. Should bowhunters also have to apply for a doe permit? Yes they should, IMO. I believe it would slow some of the illegal tag lending that happens all too often. Bowhunters couldn't just have anybody go buy a tag to use on a doe, they would have to plan way ahead and hope that person wins the doe lottery. It wouldn't eliminate illegal tag borrowing, but I think it would slow it down, and do so on the most important deer, the does.

[Jameson]

laker1 - Normally I would agree but in this case I hunted the Murphy Hanrahan bowhunt and got one. Each deer was examined /aged by a DNR employee onsite. I wasn't the only one that got one on that hunt. That data didn't make its way to the table in the DNR link.

Where did YOU register the deer as being harvested in? Area 601? Or in the park area 926 (or whatever) like we are supposed to. Two of the special hunts I got drawn for this year had orientation meetings where they stressed that we hunters needed to register the deer in the proper area as many, many people weren't doing so. Kinda of wondering if that is what happened here.

[lakevet]

Anyone find the in depth numbers on 2014 season? Curious what the numbers are for license sales per type of season, and the kill per season broken down by antlered and antler less.

Wondering if a tough firearms season resulted in an increase of people muzzleloading and an increased kill in muzzleloading, or things staying the same,or if muzzleloading license sales, and deer kill dropped off even more than archery and regular firearms. If muzzleloading is a last chance season I would expect to see a jump in license sales and harvest. Did this actually happen?

IMO what limits muzzleloader harvest is the time of year the season was intentionally placed. Late season means colder weather, shorter day length, fewer deer, deer remaining are survivors on edge after getting thru regular firearms season, deer activity much lower than earlier in the year due to rut over and deer wanting to conserve energy.

So far increased numbers of muzzle loaders has not resulted in jump in muzzleloader deer kill. In fact the license sales have plateaued to slightly decreasing. Archery sales are increasing, in part I believe because of antler less opportunity. I think if regs stay the same even more will use the strategy of shooting one for the freezer with a bow and hunting reg firearms and possibly muzzleloader for a buck.

Again I believe the logical step is that archery and muzzleloader seasons should return to having the same antler less regulations when impact on the herd by muzzleloading is less than archery.

This may mean archers need to draw permits, or may mean that muzzleloader can shoot either sex.

Simpler rules, makes sense.

[Jameson]

Anyone find the in depth numbers on 2014 season?...

Not yet.

[laker1]

I think allowing muzzleloaders to shoot does would be fine if we could go back before inline muzzle loaders,which will not happen. Also the push with legislation to allow scopes makes the muzzleloader just another single shot rifle.

[lakevet]

Any numbers for 2014 bow and muzzleloader kill yet? Not finding any so far on dnr site. 

[Powerstroke]

 

I'm not sure where to find the particular data you want to see for special hunts and metro hunts, but as someone who participates in metro area bowhunts, there are a significant number of deer taken on bonus tags by bowhunters that would count towards youre success numbers and totally throw off the data. I personally tag several does every year on bonus tags in the metro. They are still state issued bonus tags, but since they are unlimited in the metro there is no way to separate them from regular "hunters" vs those participating in population management. 

Edited June 25, 2015 by Powerstroke