2 n 3 point minimum

[grundy53]

i guess most people dont get it by leting the 80 pound 2 inch spikes live and the 2 pts it makes 4 great buck hunting in the future look at oregon 2pt minimum 4 black tails we went down there blind folded and killed 3 out of 4 tags only cause 1 guy missed it would have been 4out of 4 two 4x3 bucks and a 3x2 prety good black tail hunting for not knowing the area we seen a total of 8 bucks in 6 days smallest being a 2x2

I guess you don't get it. There are a lot of people that don't care about horns.

[sirmissalot]

3 point minimum for black tails would be ridiculous, many times you don't have time to count points, 2 point minimum is easy, if you see a rack kill it. That said, I'd love to see a 2 point minimum for blacktails in most units, one of the units I hunt a lot already has it and there are a lot of deer there and good success rates. It kills me to see all the little spikes killed on opening weekend every year. If you want meat go to the store and buy it... A lot cheaper in my experience.

[JimmyHoffa]

About the only way I could support point restrictions on blacktails would be by increasing season length for each additional point you add to the restriction.  The blacktails, from what I've seen, are more apt to stay nocturnal than the other deer.  Plus the terrain they typically inhabit requires they move more compared to the other deer (based on brush density).  If you want to keep the hunter harvest numbers (25%) close to what they are now, I would think that the season would need to be extended.  I personally have NO problem with seasons overlapping (i.e. modern elk with modern deer or with muzzy seasons).  I think WDFW doesn't like the hunters mixing because of the few that whine the most. 
For 2010, GMU 568 had--423 bucks ( 156 spikes, 145 2pts, 72 3pts, 38 4pts, 12 5+pts).  Seems to be similar breakdown across the westside.  I'd think with the current season length, especially with a run of dry/warm weather it is wise to shoot first legal animal if you want meat.
Another thing is the predators (mainly cats).  I think the tags should be unlimited.  If you want to add antler point restrictions, then the cats should be reduced to allow those deer to survive another year.  Let people shoot all the cats they can, not just one.  So few people hunt cats anyways, it is not like they will all be cleared out, but maybe enough to allow certain deer herds to have increased survival.

[grundy53]

3 point minimum for black tails would be ridiculous, many times you don't have time to count points, 2 point minimum is easy, if you see a rack kill it. That said, I'd love to see a 2 point minimum for blacktails in most units, one of the units I hunt a lot already has it and there are a lot of deer there and good success rates. It kills me to see all the little spikes killed on opening weekend every year. If you want meat go to the store and buy it... A lot cheaper in my experience.

I agree. I would be fine with a 2 point restriction.

[buckhorn2]

I feel same as Grundy it would work for me. I hunted one year in eastern oregon where they made it a 4 point or better and there were big 3 points shot mistaken for 4 points and the game department changed the law the next yeat because of that reason.

[summit creek]

I feel same as Grundy it would work for me. I hunted one year in eastern oregon where they made it a 4 point or better and there were big 3 points shot mistaken for 4 points and the game department changed the law the next yeat because of that reason.

im sorry guys i like big bucks its not fare for me to want the rest of u guys to want 2 or 3 point minimus on b tails it really dont mater were i hunt i dont see a soul and wont shoot a 2 point but if lots of guys pass up these 90 pound spikes dont u think the buck hunting would be so much greater

[RB]

Yes I understand the biology and get APR's to an extent, but the practical side of most humans is $500 for a rifle (or bow) lord knows how much for mode of transportation and fuel to get there $$$? Food, beverages, and maybe lodging PLUS around $100 or more for a couple pieces of paper to make you legal to harvest an animal. Then throw in a youngster trying to get there first animal it makes it impractical to do. Yes I know it is about the experience and time with friends and family, but what do most want? To be able to say they harvested an animal and have something to show for the hundreds if not thousands of dollars they have put into getting that 90lb spike 

[throttlejocky20]

i guess most people dont get it by leting the 80 pound 2 inch spikes live and the 2 pts it makes 4 great buck hunting in the future look at oregon 2pt minimum 4 black tails we went down there blind folded and killed 3 out of 4 tags only cause 1 guy missed it would have been 4out of 4 two 4x3 bucks and a 3x2 prety good black tail hunting for not knowing the area we seen a total of 8 bucks in 6 days smallest being a 2x2

I guess you don't get it. There are a lot of people that don't care about horns.

Putting a point restriction isnt about shooting bigger deer, it helps but it also improves the the the animals. You would have better quality animals with better geans doing more of the breeding.

[lokidog]

i guess most people dont get it by leting the 80 pound 2 inch spikes live and the 2 pts it makes 4 great buck hunting in the future look at oregon 2pt minimum 4 black tails we went down there blind folded and killed 3 out of 4 tags only cause 1 guy missed it would have been 4out of 4 two 4x3 bucks and a 3x2 prety good black tail hunting for not knowing the area we seen a total of 8 bucks in 6 days smallest being a 2x2

I guess you don't get it. There are a lot of people that don't care about horns.

Putting a point restriction isnt about shooting bigger deer, it helps but it also improves the the the animals. You would have better quality animals with better geans doing more of the breeding.

Not necessarily.

Here on Decatur Island we mostly have bucks that will never develop brow tines or forks in their forks (i.e. they will be forks for their entire lives), we have some that will have brow tines with their forks, and fewer yet that will have branched antlers with or without brow tines (in five years here I have seen maybe five deer with branched antlers).

If you were to implement a three point or better rule for deer here, you would soon remove all of the genes for branched antlers or brow tines because there are few of them to begin with and there is little to no migration of new genetics into this gene pool.

In a population that has a better balance of genetics to begin with, you may not end up with this problem but in some areas you will.  I would still place my choice on a two point over a three point restriction for the westside as a blanket restriction.  I still believe it is a better idea to use management tools like antler restrictions based upon the needs of the population of animals in a certain area, not as a blanket regulation.