Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?

[tonymiller7]

I like that idea, to have a permit draw to allow someone to shoot a 2 pt.   

[Boss .300 winmag]

I like that idea, to have a permit draw to allow someone to shoot a 2 pt.   

And the two point should be regulated to a min size, just don't know how that could be done.

I chased one this year that I just couldn't put a third point on due to light conditions, and the deer finally bugging out. Man he was tall.

[JODakota]

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

I would support this as long as they have out a reasonable number of permits and by that I mean you should be able to have a buck tag every few years.

[tonymiller7]

We saw some this year that were 2x2s on a 4x4 frame!  They were huge. 

[Katmai Guy]

Shoot spikes general season and permit only for any branched antlered buck.  Will cut down on pressure because nobody wants to hunt for spikes but kids, right?  and you could control how many mature bucks were killed each year.  Works for elk, not sure if it would work for deer.

[superdown]

From what I've seen this year and the previous 20 in the chesaw to curlew area is lot's of really small mule deer bucks with doe. The most recent trip over for modern season this year was a tall spike and two doe and then two different 1x2 bucks with two doe respectively and then another 1x2 muley by itself out by dry gulch.During muzzy season my father missed a 83 yard shot on what could only described as the worlds smallest legal 3pt and then this spring while over at my property to do some maintenance a few miles from camp was bachelor group of five two point bucks that weren't going to grow anymore points. I agree with something along the lines of what ghosthunter was taking about with shooting the 2pt and smaller deer and going to permit for 3pt and better.I was fishing beaver lake at the boat launch midday between hunts and there was a 2x2 muley buck someone had given a texas heart shot dead next to the boat launch.

[go4steelhd]

For me I am not at all for making everyone draw a tag. It  is in effect in Oregon  and now  my dad who lives there is able to draw a tag every three years. And this is by no means a great area to hunt.  The deer herds here are in good shape compared to other states I hunt. The difference is age class. In other state I see less deer but you have a chance of seeing big bucks. I feel if we get rid of the three point rule the deer we have will be lost. We have lots and lots of hunters and small public areas to hunt compared to other states. Mule deer are facing lots. Loss of habitat, increased hunting pressure, bows shooting 75 yards, rifles 750+, lots of poaching. The wdfw has there hands tied. Some people want to trophy hunt, most want to hunt every year, then they try to split hunters up with the three weapons. Which this worked  ok until they came up with the multi season tags. I would love to see more and bigger deer, but I think lots has changed since the herds started shrinking.

I'm at a loss for  ideas that would actually help deer numbers, and  not  cause people to give up hunting.

[X-Force]

I think it's slop hunting, and is despicable, but NOT what is hurting the deer population in the Methow. 

[tonymiller7]

Shoot spikes general season and permit only for any branched antlered buck.  Will cut down on pressure because nobody wants to hunt for spikes but kids, right?  and you could control how many mature bucks were killed each year.  Works for elk, not sure if it would work for deer.

I know a lot of adults who meat hunt who would drop a spike mulie at the drop of a hat!  Opening morning would sound like a war if it were spike only.

[mburrows]

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

I like this even though i love hunting them every year. I think it would really help them and make the hunting great. There would probably still be areas you could draw every year.

[Katmai Guy]

Tony, that was meant with sarcasm.  Sorry didn't come across that way.

[tonymiller7]

 

[bobcat]

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

I would support this as long as they have out a reasonable number of permits and by that I mean you should be able to have a buck tag every few years.

I'd say there should be enough tags issued so that people draw at least every other year, on average.

Another option would be OTC tags with a quota per region, or GMU.

[Bucks2Ducks]

Shoot spikes general season and permit only for any branched antlered buck.  Will cut down on pressure because nobody wants to hunt for spikes but kids, right?  and you could control how many mature bucks were killed each year.  Works for elk, not sure if it would work for deer.

I know a lot of adults who meat hunt who would drop a spike mulie at the drop of a hat!  Opening morning would sound like a war if it were spike only.

Really? I don't see that many spike mule deer, generally 2 points. 

[Hilltop123]

Beings we are.throwing ideas out there.
 Everyone has a wild ID #, odds and.evens.for mule deer.