Four point minimum 117&121

[thatdamguy]

Hello all this is a response I received from our friends at the DFW the email I sent them is at the bottom of the column. It looks like we will be stuck with this law until 2015 thanks to some special interest groups. Also this is the first time I have ever posted anything on a forum so forgive me if I did it wrong. Just posting to see what else you folks think. 

P.S. If anyone know any of the organized groups that were for this I would like to contact them to ask why they wanted to see this implemented.


Thank You for contacting the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Please forgive our delayed response.
 
The Fish and Wildlife Commission supported a request from several

organized northeast Washington hunting groups and county commissioners

to implement a four-point antler restriction for white-tailed deer in

Game Management Units 117 and 121.

 

Between 2008 and 2011, we have received a lot of input from hunters on

this issue.  Opinion has always been divided and the split depends on

the group and location.  Both sides have been very passionate.  The

bottom line is that several organized hunting groups in the northeast

asked for antler point restrictions for many years and the Commission

supported their local request.

 

We don't expect the antler point restrictions to have any negative

consequences for white-tailed deer conservation and management.  We do

anticipate increased yearling buck survival.  We have also restricted

antlerless hunting opportunity significantly to allow the population

to rebound more quickly from the winters of 2007-08 and 2008-09.

 

Just as with all game species - the Department will be assessing the

status of the northeast white-tailed deer population in making future

recommendations on hunting seasons.  However, as a newly adopted

change for 2011, the Department does not plan to revisit the antler

point restriction issue this summer during the development of the

2012-14 season setting process.

 

Sincerely,

 

Customer Service Section

Wildlife Program

360-902-2515

 

 
 
 
My email to DFW.......

Hello, I just wanted to give you my 2 cents about the new antler minimum for the 117 and 121 game units. I have lived in Stevens County for most of my life and hunted our family farm and surrounding areas in southwest end of the county. I did notice the deer population was down from years past but I do not feel that it was down far enough for the state to implement a four point minimum. Starting with a three point minimum is in my opinion far more realistic but I feel that it is still not necessary.  As a general rule for my family and friends we only allow people to shoot 3 points or higher on our farm unless they are a young hunter. Ultimately I feel that this will hurt some of the sates revenue and small towns around the 117 and 121 game units because they are known to be some of the highest producers of deer in the State of Washington. Also you can see from your 2010 harvest report that 4 points and 3 point were the most commonly harvested animals in the 117 and 121 units. I think I speak for most hunters when I say that we want to shoot mature deer and not one year old bucks. With any luck the state will see the population is not in any danger and will also see that a lot of hunters did not buy tags and hunt the 117 and 121 game units.

 
Respectfully

[GEARHEAD]

I all for it. wish they would do the same thing down south of there. just my 2 pennies.

[blindpig]

I like it myself.  For trophy hunters this will be great.  Love to see big bucks.

[BULLBLASTER]

if you are that against it were you at the commission meetings stating your opinion? i was there with my views and opinion (for the minimum).

[thatdamguy]

Had to work but would have been if i could

[high country]

We need to up the deer numbers to feed the wolves.

[dscubame]

Have hunted 121 for over 20 years.  Love the 4 point minimum and have been asking for it (just in my mind and at camp around the fire) for at least 6 years now.  Love it!

[colockumelk]

They did it because deer and buck numbers were down. Also mature deer numbers were down. A more restrictive set of rules allows for the herd to rebuild faster. Maybe around your farm things are fine, but the wdfw feels the overall unit is down. 

[vandeman17]

I like it for a while but have a feeling that it will be like the 3 point minimum for mule deer that was only supposed to be for a few years but has been around for longer than that. I say give it time and the overall herd will be stronger.

[thatdamguy]

I see know that it was pretty much all the guide services who pushed for the law. It is going to help the trophy hunters in a few years but those being the highest yielding game units in the state is going to prevent a lot of people from even buying tags while there is a 4 point minimum.

[BULLBLASTER]

I see know that it was pretty much all the guide services who pushed for the law. It is going to help the trophy hunters in a few years but those being the highest yielding game units in the state is going to prevent a lot of people from even buying tags while there is a 4 point minimum.

The trophy hunters most likely won't see much difference. The guys who have been killing mature bucks will continue to. It will help buck to does ratio and help get some more does bred each year. There are way too many does without fawns.

[BOWHUNTER45]

you guys all have good points ...some love it and some hate it ...it is hard to make everyone happy when you have a group of trophy hunters and another group who does not care because they hunt to put meat in the freezer ....But by having this restriction for a couple years you will definately start seeing bigger bucks ...So as long as they are only doing it for a couple years then I am fine with it ....they done this in my home state of Pennsylvania and my Dad & Brother hated it at first but when they started bagging 130 to 140 average bucks they are all for it now ...Hell a 140 buck in P.a in the 80s was a freaken monster and I had to move to Washington to kill my biggest whitetail ...I can remember seeing between 50 to 100 deer opening morning in northern P.a and never see one with a horn ...NO SHEET ! now they have a 3 or 4 doe limit and 4 pt. restriction and it has really put the herd into check ...so it does work 

[thatdamguy]

Yeah Ill be ok with it if its only for 2-4 years. Good to hear that somebody has seen this work before and not just be total speculation. I am not sure if it will help as much as everyone hopes. The reason the population as a whole has been declining is there is less and less farms growing grain or cereal type crops in Stevens county.

[jackmaster]

i wish this would go statewide except for youth , disabled, and the seniors.. and of course this is my opinion,

[WAcoyotehunter]

I see know that it was pretty much all the guide services who pushed for the law. It is going to help the trophy hunters in a few years but those being the highest yielding game units in the state is going to prevent a lot of people from even buying tags while there is a 4 point minimum.

there were a host of folks supporting the new regulation.  The Stevens Co. Sportsmans group was the big push, with Pend Oreille county's group supporting also.  County commissioners, hunting groups, and a lot of locals were in support and were involved in the process.  We met in Clayton at the fairgrounds several times.
 
The only groups that were opposed was a Sportsmans group from spokane and one from Bellingham. 
 
I am interested to see how it goes, I would love it if it were a 3 pt, but nonetheless, the deer there are going to be going crazy pretty quick.