Good news for Missouri deer hunters

[Old Buck]

There is an interesting article in the Missouri Conservationist, October 2004 issue, by Lonnie Hansen and Bill Heatherly. Following considerable consultation with the public the Missouri Conservation Commission approved a pilot program to test antler-point restrictions in 29 counties. Antlered deer in those counties must have a minimum of four points on at least one side to be legal. A continued heavy doe harvest is anticipated. This should lead to controlled deer numbers and an increase in the percentage of mature bucks in the deer population. I think they are on the right track and hopefully this type of management will spread throughout Missouri and the rest of the midwest. It is not just Iowa that can grow big bucks. Bucks just need age and more and more hunters are figuring that out.

Good hunting!

 

[Shredder]

The nice thing about it is if they do start producing numbers of big bucks with the quality they have, it could pull some of the pressure off Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas. They are on the right track and hope they change it for the better for their sake and ours. After living in MO for 9 years, I got to see the quality they can produce by just getting the age structure in the herd.

 

[alaskanwhtail]

That is awesome, wish every state would do somthing like this. Thanks for sharing Old Buck.

 

[Old Buck]

Shredder,

Like usual I think you are right on, only I think it is even bigger than that. With what Gary Alt is accomplishing in Pennsylvania I think hunters all across the whitetail range are going to want their state herd managed for a balanced deer herd with older bucks. Imagine not only Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Kansas with quality bucks but also Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Missouri, PA, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas and on and on.

Gee, no one will need to come to Iowa for big bucks any more and those that do travel out of state will have lots more choices, LIKE MISSOURI!

Old Buck

 

[Shredder]

I saw a photo on the web (awesome antlers) this week of a PA buck taken that is well into the B+C range with a bow and last year was great for them as well. It will catch on sooner or later with most states and hopefully, our pressure (IA and IL) will go down.

 

[Rackaddict]

Amen! I hope we see some good results in the near future. I'm still in favor of changing the rifle season to the first weekend in December and hopefully that will happen someday soon.

Reeducating the old timers is an uphill battle. At the MDC meeting I went to last year I heard several people comment that they thought things were fine just the way they were. They complained terribly about the possibility of the earn a buck pilot program being used and said they wouldn't hunt if they had to shoot a doe before they could take a buck.

The MDC is understandably cautious of doing anything to upset public opinion. It will take some time but eventually we'll get there.

 

[Old Buck]

Rackaddict,

I think you are exactly right. The article gave the % supporters for each management option. 51% supported antler-point restrictions, 26% supported moving the season out of rut, 24% supported earn-a-buck, 8% shortening the buck season and only 5% supported a buck permit quota.

Most deer biologists would probably tell you that deer management is easy. It is people management that is challenging.

Sometimes it is hard to be patient when you know how much potential is being missed.

 

[straitshot]

Only one problem with that: poaching is a huge issue. I will be hunting Schuyler County this year. My father-in-law wants his herd thinned out. Schuyler is one of the counties that have the antler restriction (4 points on a side) to be valid to kill. The problem is: there are too many hunters and not enough game wardens. Already, I know of three deer that have been rifle shot on the neighbor’s farm. Gun season does not begin until next month.

There is also no reason out of state hunters can’t help in reducing the overpopulation. You receive as an out of state hunter 2 deer (one antlered) and two turkey tags for the $$$.

The only way this program will work is if the local population makes it work by turning in the poachers, and stop shooting every deer in sight.

 

[MO-Antlertips]

Living in Missouri, and hunting in some of the effected northern counties, I couldn't help but jump in on this one.

I, too, am hopeful that the new 4 point rule will increase the number of more mature bucks to be hunted in future years. I've passed on countless 1.5 to 2.5 year old bucks, hoping for a chance at them later. However, most gun hunters in the areas I hunt are likely shooting them and NOT taking does. The buck-doe ratio continues to be slanted and deer harvested with little six point racks don't get to grow up and become Pope and Young candidates! I'm all for letting them grow a few more years to give us all a better crack at a trophy deer.

That being said, I have a couple of concerns: 1) This CAN work, and in two or three years, anyone want to guess which counties will receive the most hunting pressure? We know where the mature bucks will be. I know this is a pilot program, I really would like to see it go statewide. 2) Prior to this year, a legal buck was a deer with at least 1 three inch antler. Many hunters see antlers (no matter the size) and shoot and count points later. I'm afraid many 6-7 pointers will be shot out of haste and left to waste on the timber floor only AFTER a careless hunter realizes there are not 4 points on one side. So, now the young buck is taken out of the herd and left to waste because someone got excited and didn't count the required 4 points of at least one inch on one side.

Lastly, I'm glad the MDC did not require the 4 point count on the annual youth hunt. I think ANY deer harvested by a youngter is a genuine trophy. Many reading this will agree once you shoot that first deer, regardless of it's size, is a very rewarding experience that may likely be a memory that will stay with you for a lifetime. Mine sure did, a six pointer killed with a .243 on 11-15-1980 at 10:30 am. Sure made my dad smile, too.

MO