2-pt skulls, poached or natural?

[Button Nubbs]

Thanks guys! Always been curious about that

[WonkyWapiti]

I took my daughter out on her first hunt this past rifle season and she didn't tag out.  One day we came across a nice big two by that had been shot cleanly and left behind to rot.  I kept getting pissed off that I had to keep explaining to a bright eyed little girl that not everyone has the same respect for the deer that we do.  The two by incident was one of many illegal and or unethical situations she had to experience during her first hunt.

[WonkyWapiti]

I agree, there is a two point that we call "swords" where I hunt that we've been watching the last four years.  He has gotten HUGE and refuses to grow a third point. 

[hoyt2002]

I've seen several like your "swords". One that I seen several years was pushing that 30 inch mark and tall. Never did grow that 3rd point. He was found dead on my uncle's land on the last day of muzzle loader season the year before last.

[alecvg]

I saw one a couple years ago during late archery that we could have put the stalk on, he was in a great spot, easy stalk.  Had to be at least 26" wide, heavy, carried his mass all the way up.  Watched him for 30 minutes, not a third point on him, no eye guards, nothing.

[d-rock]

So given the amount of left for dead 2 pts and Big boy forkies that will never get to 3 pts, Should something change in your opinions?  Either way Poached or Natural, then they could have been harvested right?   Or would this just lead to less fully mature bucks?  I too have seen many over the years that are found this way.

[h20hunter]

In my uneducated opinion there has to be something with genetics. I have heard arguments both ways saying it is age/habitat and food/genetic and this or that won't fix it. I would suppose you could go to "any buck" to resolve the issue but you would have to have it a "any buck" draw instead of general season. Then, more complaints but you would weed out some of those big wide two points. I'd take big 2x before eating tag soup any day.

[Button Nubbs]

3 point max for a couple years?

[NWWABOWHNTR]

In quality deer management they kill off the bucks with bad genetics so that those with good genetics will breed.  In our State, with a 3 point minimum for a long period, those bucks with the good genetics to grow decent racks are killed off, and those with the Forky genes live to become big, strong breeders spreading the 2 point genes.  Just my philosphy of why we are seeing so many huge forkies running around. 

[h20hunter]

How about some 2pt max youth/disable/vet permits?

[Alchase]

I have found that allot of the cougar kills I see are also two points? Could be first winter makes for easy kills for the cats.

[blacktailcrzy]

ya i found a two point elk in a spike are and also a two mule deer in dayton a bad yeas for ethics 

[Shed Stud]

By the number of 2 point sheds that are being found, young and mature, we need a two point only season very bad. If the 3's,4's and 5's get shot then the 2 point's will breed. It doesn't take a educated man to see that soon the two point bucks could be the majority of breeding stock. Yes, the buck to doe ratio is real good right now. But are the bucks quality? I'm not saying there are no more good bucks left by any means, but I would of gladly put my tag on one of the thirty something two pointers I was forced to pass on last year. Two point only draw permits, youth and dissabled two point hunts, something, please!

[heavy hauler]

cougar kills?

[Pathfinder101]

cougar kills?

Could be.  I once came across a mountain lion that had accidentally killed a 2x2.  He knew he was busted.  I came around the corner, and there he was, staring at it and looking guilty.  We looked at each other for a second, he mumbled something about "..could'a sworn it had a 3rd point..", and off he went like a shot...

...wierd...