If it was up to me I would want them to leave rule the same for youth. Everyone else raise the minimum to at least 8 antlers

 

I agree!

 

I would prefer the game commission, however flawed they may be, to make the decision, rather than politicians. It won’t matter to me if they change it. If it’s not a decent (for me) buck, I not gonna shoot.

 

I see absolutely no good reason to change the current antler restrictions here in Pa.
Just want meat, shoot a damn doe!!!

The size of bucks here have greatly increased since the restrictions were implemented. Be a shame to change it.

 

I also would hate to see it change. Multiple doe tags are available in many/most/all? zones if you want venison or just to shoot a deer. I wasn’t in pA before the increase in antler size, but it seems I can see the result. These are the size bucks I appreciate seeing, but even more anticipate seeing 1-4 years down the road.There’s little doubt about the outcome of a 10-15 yard shot and for me it’s every bit exciting just watch as it is dropping a junior.

 

I could care less what anybody shoots. If a y buck floats your boat, have it at. I remember when I shot a three point and felt like I just won the lottery. Hunting is about personal satisfaction, not what others think your experience should be about.

With that said, politicians should stay out of the game management business. My only concern with changing the antler restrictions is whether the goals of the restrictions would be compromised if this change occurred.

 

Right now PA has what I call “trophy” rules for bucks for most hunters. It basically requires 3 or 2 times, not counting brow times on at least one side. I like that rule. I’m not educated enough about CWD to know if this proposed change would help deer or help votes for those pushing. So, I don’t think I would be in favor or this change, just wondering how others feel

“PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) – One Pennsylvania lawmaker is trying to change rules for seniors who are hunting deer in the commonwealth.

Representative David Maloney Sr. (R- Berks County) is proposing the removal of antler restrictions for senior hunters. In a memo to the House members, Maloney says that these restrictions should be removed to align with junior hunters, mentored youth, active-duty armed service members and disabled hunters.

Those 65 and older are currently only legally able to kill a deer with at least 3 legal points (on at least one side). This includes the brow tine.”

Hell,All us old farts are stone cold killers. At 65 years old myself,Ill hunt just as well as the flat bellies. Don't do me any favors...

 

I hope they change the rule .Shoot whatever you think is a trophy . If the PGC would listen to their customers politicians would not have to get involved . Stocking Pine Martens is just the latest example .

 

I like Ga rules, one buck any size and one buck with restrictions. Works for us.

 

And it works quite well as we see our antlers getting larger by the year. Where I hunt i have watched the average size on a 3 year old go from 90" to 115" since the rule was changed. A friend of mine killed a 147" buck last year on land I used to hunt and never saw a deer over 110" on and an almost 160" buck was killed just a few miles away. Letting them walk and grow does work. We used to think we just had bad genetics in our herds but it turns out that we had itchy trigger fingers and a "the neighbor will just shoot it" and "if brown it is down" mentality. So we have the best of both now as a hunter can kill any buck he wants to shoot for the freezer but the 2nd must have at least 4 points on a side and you get 10 does allowed if you need more meat for the freezer.

 

Does the state have any studies or research or guesstimates on how many deer are shot and left because of basically shoot first and look later. I would assume a qualifying point would have to be a certain length? Such as Wisconsin, a point has to be 1" to be counted as a point. I wonder how easy it would be to misjudge because of broken points, Etc.?
A apparent over growing issue here in Wisconsin during firearm season, is if the shooter doesn't see the deer drop, they won't bother tracking. I know there is no way to come up with accurate numbers, but I'll bet you would be shocked how many dead deer lay on the landscape after season.

 

None that I am aware of but they don't publish much of what they know either. I do know when hunting quota hunts with antler restrictions I have seen several just about made it bucks being left to rot. A buddy of mine shot a nice 8 pt. and took it into the check station on a 15" spread with 4 points to a side WMA hunt and got a ticket when his buck only measured 14 7/8" spread and they confiscated the buck. I killed a nice 9 point the following day out of the same tree that was the 2nd largest buck killed on the hunt.

 

Our law only stipulates a buck must have 4 pts on one side. It doesnt say how wide the rack has to be (other than the few trophy counties). Not being a horn hunter I'm not really in favor of the state telling me how big a deer's rack has to be before shooting it. I prefer to shoot 2 & 1/2 yr olds (and older) because they usually have alot more meat than their smaller brothers. And usually they do meet the antler restrictions in Ga. The one tag with restrictions says the buck has to have 4 pts on one side but usually I dont shoot bucks that arent atleast 8 pters anyway. I mean....if you gonna saw off a rack and hang it in your barn it ought to atleast be something you can be somewhat proud of. With 10 doe tags a year your freezer shouldnt go empty between seasons.

 

I'm not in Georgia, but this is a copy of part of the antler restrictions:
"One of the antlered bucks must have at least 4 points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers or a minimum outside antler spread of fifteen (15) inches."

I'm personally in favor of a point count system. In Georgia it appears you can get 10 doe, one buck and one buck of size. In PA, if you want venison, get up to 6 doe tags. That said, it seems hilarious that while posts on CBN talk about the challenges of accurately ranging deer at 30+ yards, this rule demands you be accurate to the sub-inch level in the heat of the battle at that distance? Really? Whether you agree with antler restrictions, counting points is a lot more objective and easier than estimating inches on a deer head that's moving. Again, I'm personally in favor of antler restrictions. In PA, if you want venison, get up to 6 doe tags. I enjoy eating venison and can get what I need. I'm also in favor of letting these guys walk as I also get excited looking at horns. Best of both worlds in my mind.

 

I am a huge fan of antler restrictions in PA. It has gotten to the point; I will only hunt out of state for whitetails in the very best states because I need the chance at an upper-end buck to justify the trip. I don't kill a buck every year, but I have shot 5 bucks in the last 10 years, plus had at least 5 chances on similar or better bucks that I dicked up in one way or other another. Hunting in PA has drastically changed in the last two decades for the better IMO. If a senior wants to shoot a small buck, I am not going to come unglued about it, but if I was retired and had the time, I sure wouldn't want to plug a dink. That is what doe tags are for. My 14-year-old holds out for a big one until the last week now, before shooting a small buck.

 

You guys crack me up. How many of you are "seniors"? When we think about seniors, we think everyone is 65. Well, there are a lot of 75-85 year olds that can't hunt all the days younger people can for various reasons. Doctor appointments for self, Dr appt for Wife. Watch Grandchildren, not feeling well. Too cold and more. People are selfish. Think about themselves. We have special rules for youth. Why not seniors? I bet that 65+ hunters are a small percent of the hunting population. It's too bad you think they will undermine trophy hunters' desires. Pretty pitiful to think we would deprive our senior citizens of this privilege.
This is about ALL I have on this matter anymore. Coming from a 68 year old. LOL

 

You guys crack me up. How many of you are "seniors"? When we think about seniors, we think everyone is 65. Well, there are a lot of 75-85 year olds that can't hunt all the days younger people can for various reasons. Doctor appointments for self, Dr appt for Wife. Watch Grandchildren, not feeling well. Too cold and more. People are selfish. Think about themselves. We have special rules for youth. Why not seniors? I bet that 65+ hunters are a small percent of the hunting population. It's too bad you think they will undermine trophy hunters' desires. Pretty pitiful to think we would deprive our senior citizens of this privilege.
This is about ALL I have on this matter anymore. Coming from a 68 year old. LOL

AMEN !!!!!

 

I am 73 and was the first person in my club years back to suggest that we go to a 4 points on the side rule on out deer with the exception that anyone hunting can take spikes if they want a young buck to eat. That rule was passed and is still in effect today. I see no reason to change the restrictions just because I am getting older as that is just life. I simply schedule my doctor's appts. around my deer hunting when the season is in. I only missed 2 days last season because of any type of appointments. If you prefer morning hunts get afternoon appts. and vice versa. I will not any longer shoot a buck under 3 years old and prefer 4 and up and they are hard to find around here I assure you. If I do not see one and the season is getting late or I am running short on venison I will hit the food plots and shoot a doe or 2. I have only shot 1 buck out of a food plot in over 50 years of hunting as I greatly prefer hunting them fair and square with no baiting at all involved. That is how I was taught to hunt when I was a teenager and I still go with what I know. I might well have to change over as I get older though. Time will tell.

 

Interesting morning coffee session. I assume many bucks are/have shed by now. It's common to see up to a half dozen does every morning. A group of 5 younger bucks neither my wife or I had seen before came trotting thru. Two 6 pt surprisingly reached out beyond their ears with a pair of forks and one spike. None were shooters under the PA standards that require 3-up NOT counting brow tines. They all appeared very healthy in part due to this mild SW PA winter. They browsed on some cedars but as soon as I quietly dropped a buck grunt they took off.

There are some large bucks in this urban area and I suspect they wanted no part of them. Picture isn't great as it was enlarged after taking it from the car window. We have had fawns drop as late as August/September but I'm assuming all breeding is wrapped up.

 

I am getting pics of bucks with antlers still on and a few that have dropped already. The first I noticed that dropped early was a buck I call Limpy as he has a broken right front leg apparently and limps so bad it appears he is going to fall over at times. I think the stress made him drop early.