Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?

[ghosthunter]

Here is the deal.

While in Twisp area this year a game agent stopped by our camp to check us. Three of us were Hunter Ed Instructors so we had a nice 30 minute conversation with him.

The guy above us had accidently shot a 1x2 and self reported himself to the game agent.

In the agents truck were seven illegal buck heads, spikes,2ts.etc.
In the next two days he got two more I know of.

This was one agent.

How many people are just shooting and counting points later?
How many shoot and walk away?

Maybe we should shoot the 2pt and smaller and permit draw for bigger bucks?

I think this is having a impact on mule deer in the Twisp ,Winthrop area.

What ya think?

[LDennis24]

I think they just need to allow more 2-point permit's in area's where there are a lot of 2-point bucks seen. For example unit 139. At my brothers yesterday we saw 8 different 2 points, with a couple of them being VERY big 2 points that we studied for 15 mins to put a 3rd point on but couldn't find it. We ended up going home empty handed after seeing plenty of deer and nothing legal to shoot. As for what your talking about with people shooting them then claiming it was a mistake, they need to pay better attention to their target before pulling the trigger.

[Jolten]

I'm all 4 the 2 pt or smaller rule. I passed on several with eye guards I wasn't 100% sure met the 1 inch min

[bobcat]

Mule deer should be by permit only to limit the hunting pressure, and any buck should be legal. IMO

[tonymiller7]

There is an awful lot of GIANT 2 points in 101 as well.  They are out competing 3 and 4 points for the does and breeding more large 2 points.  Maybe open it up to 2 point or better for archery and muzzle loader, or just do a drawing.  I also think that a lot of people can't tell their deer species apart and think they are shooting whitetails.  Just my 

[Skyvalhunter]

Well compared to what the deer population used to be in the Methow its a disgrace. Give out doe and special permits to every group and you see the destruction of the herd. Then throw in a biologist that doesn't know diddly squat and lets see what the future holds!! When you then throw in illegal animal shooting and poaching what's left a bunch of motherless yearlings running around to feed the wolves.

[Special T]

While coyote hunting in the Basin I have seen some very impressive 2 points. Part of the problem has been the selective breeding due to 3 point getting whacked easily. Escapement I belive is the reason for the rule but because so many areas have been under the rule for some time it makes producing 3 points less likely imo.
I'm not sure mule deer can/should be managed in the same way it has been for years.

[ghosthunter]

I think a draw only for Mule deer would be a up hill battle. Twisp and Winthrop would fight it. I would be a huge economic threat to those areas.

I also think it could kill hunting entirely. Many hunt because they are in a group and they enjoy the group. Permit only would kill the hunting camp traditions. And many hunters would just give it up rather than hunt alone.

[Special T]

I think a draw only for Mule deer would be a up hill battle. Twisp and Winthrop would fight it. I would be a huge economic threat to those areas.

There in lies the rub. Economic activity vs big horned deer potential.

[boneaddict]

I think it's slop hunting, and is despicable, but NOT what is hurting the deer population in the Methow.   If there wasn't three point or better, the herd would be done!  Stick a fork in it. Done!    It's the only thing keeping a few deer alive.   A year like this year with essentially most of the upper age bucks harvested, and nothing but younger deer, and an over abundance of hunters.   There would be nothing to rebuild

[LDennis24]

Maybe find the 10yr average for hunters in the Twisp and Winthrop area and make it permit only with as many tags as the average given out. Then do the same for other area's as well. Then you don't get a sudden increase in hunter's to any one area and the populations will still thrive and if not reduce the number of permit's. Kind of like Idaho's tag's where you can choose a whitetail only tag and you get a few more days to hunt.

[LDennis24]

I guess the best answer is to get someone in the WDFW that actually knows how to manage it and make changes that are for the better.

[Buckblaster]

I think they just need to add a few permit only trophy units like they have done with the Desert Unit.  That might satisfy both sides of this conversation.

[tonymiller7]

I think it's slop hunting, and is despicable,

 

If there is any doubt don't pull the trigger, I've had more than a couple 3+ points get away from me while trying to for sure put on the 3rd point while muzzleloader hunting.  By the time I found the 3rd point, lowered my binos, and raised my rifle they took off.  They know when you find that point, they milled around in front of me for minutes but as soon as you find that 3rd point they're outta there!  Better safe than sorry!  It's not worth the ticket and wasting an animal.

[snowshoes22]

Maybe the super 2 point tag should bounce around each year to other units instead of staying in Harrington and Roosevelt. Even then the purpose is to harvest older age class bucks not just the first dink 2 point a guy comes across. I don't think most hunters have the maturity to only shoot mature bucks.