What do you think about a 3 pt whitetail reg?

[GoldTip]

I personally feel it should be any deer for either species for anyone under 18 years of age, there's plenty of Mulie does and spike/forked horns to allow for anyone under 18 to shoot'em, same goes for Whitetails, which I think it is that way part of the season on Whitey's anyway.  Otherwise 3 point or better for Whitey's for adults is fine with me, there are plenty of good whitetail bucks around as it is and I have yet to shoot one smaller than that since I moved to WA anyway, but I've seen plenty of spikes riding around in the backs of trucks as well.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I know this is unpopular for lots of hunters, but what about getting rid of the rifle season during the rut?   That's when most of the bucks get smacked.  For trophy management that would make lots of sense. 
Let people bow hunt during the rut.

[Coasthunterjay]

I like the rut........

I think the overall structure has been thought out much farther than any of us can think of it....It is doing very well, lots of anuimals every year....

if it aint broke why fix it?

[billythekidrock]

For trophy management that would make lots of sense.  

WDFW is not for trophy management, but manages for opportunity.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I like the rut........
I think the overall structure has been thought out much farther than any of us can think of it....It is doing very well, lots of anuimals every year....
if it aint broke why fix it?

I see a roadkill deer everyday on my 12 mile commute.  Something appears to be broke.  Everyone likes the rut, the problem is (IMO) too many small deer being killed and a low percentage of mature bucks.  The reason Mid-west states have booners killed every year, is that they let them breed and hunt general season after the rut....and they kill LOTS of BIG animals every year.

[Wea300mag]

I like to hunt both and want the best shot a getting a bigger buck so 3pt is OK with me. I also think that the traditional mule deer areas like Chelan and the Methow should have a season to exterminate the whiteys.

[PolarBear]

I'm all for a 3pt reg on whities as well as a 3 pt reg on blacktails and a 4 pt reg on mulies in certain areas.  With that said, I think that the youth tags should be spike whitetail only and reduce the number of doe permits.  Many studies have shown that whitetail bucks that grow spikes as their first set of antlers will almost never have the potential to become of trophy quality.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I think the spike to trophy studies are primarily for Mule deer, Wt can be a spike on the first year (18 mo old) and grow to be a trophy.

[Coasthunterjay]

I havent had any problems finding mature animals, i have seen alot. usually they arent anywhere near me or in a private property area. but they are there. Yes i have shot a few smaller animals. But maybe instead of putting more limitations on what we arent allowed to shoot. Why not open up a spike tag with the skin head tag? If you want to stop the reproduction of the smaller animals then cap off the solution right there. Ultimately i believe by shooting alot of the smaller deer that you are allowing the Larger populations of larger deer that hide at night or in other area that you arent finding them, the ones that you rarely see to stay alive and reproduce for further years...

And by saying you want to change the rut hunt to a bow hunt versus a rifle hunt? If they change it the rifle hunters are just going to charge it back at us all and say the same thing about the bow hunters that you all are saying about us rifle hunters now....Blah, blah, blah, wah, wah , wah.....someone always has a problem with who gets to hunt what....atleast we get to hunt.....!


I dont hunt the rut for purpose of getting a huge deer. I have been lucky, but I happen to actually hunt when every one else does and have never needed to put in for any type of special hunt or tag so i see no need in changing this. If you want a big animal then you need to invest more time in your area you hunt and find the big boys....there out there....for years i didnt think so, and you know what...hard work pays off!

Whitetails till i die! Show me differently and i will change but otherwise no one has been able to yet!

Im not against making changes but we need to be careful how we word changes because a simple word can change something to something else that we didnt want in the first place....

But then maybe i am not understanding what you are posting by saying you want a 3 point cap put on everything....Isnt there already a 3 point minimum? I am speaking for the south eastern areas?

And Road kill is an everyday occurance.......Maybe you can call me insensative but roadkill is something that i have seen since i was a little kid and think nothing of it.....Maybe the deer should learn how to jump faster or get the hell out of the road........ LOL ....... 

Did i mention WT for life!........

[Coasthunterjay]

I am ok with making it 3 point or above accross the bord though for all of Wshington..........

[PolarBear]

I think the spike to trophy studies are primarily for Mule deer, Wt can be a spike on the first year (18 mo old) and grow to be a trophy.

The studies that I read were specifically on whitetails.  They were done by several whitetail only ranches in Texas, Ohio, Montana and Wisconsin.  All of these ranches found the same result after a 15 or so year study.  I havent seen any studies done on mulies or blacktails.

I would also support a closure of all hunting during the rut, that includes elk as well.  I hunt late archery for deer and elk, well after the rut for either.  I would like to see more mature animals get the chance to breed without being chased around by hunters when they are at their dumbest and most vulnerable. 

[Coasthunterjay]

Why hunt the rut for a big deer when i can get a big deer in the general season....I hunt october opener and get a good deer every year! Yes a small deer in my past but i have always been a first legal deer meat on the table im shooting type of person.....But the last 4 years i have shot 4 points and above, with my biggest being the last couple of years.....
 
And the deer i shot last year being the biggest was in a really early rut in middle of october....

But then again im not a horn hunter and am only speaking from my opinions and from what i have seen in the area that i hunt.

thats all i was trying to say........................

[Ihookum]

Anyone want to know how to shoot a big buck?

You let the little ones walk.

[PolarBear]

Anyone want to know how to shoot a big buck?

You let the little ones walk.

Amen!
Actually, I like it when folks fill their tag with spikes during the opener, it means more big bucks for me and fewer people in the woods during the late season.

[Gobble]

I don't want to see a 3 pt season. too many of them anyway, they are displacing the mule deer and I just like hunting muleys more. WT deer are like parasites.l Plus I like venison and the late hunt usually pans out for me to take a meat buck that is usually a small buck. I was lucky this year and shot a nice 120 class 5 yr old 5 x 5.