collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?  (Read 49315 times)

Offline ghosthunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+19)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 7154
  • Location: Mount Vernon WA
Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« on: October 26, 2016, 11:31:33 AM »
Here is the deal.

While in Twisp area this year a game agent stopped by our camp to check us. Three of us were Hunter Ed Instructors so we had a nice 30 minute conversation with him.

The guy above us had accidently shot a 1x2 and self reported himself to the game agent.

In the agents truck were seven illegal buck heads, spikes,2ts.etc.
In the next two days he got two more I know of.

This was one agent.

How many people are just shooting and counting points later?
How many shoot and walk away?

Maybe we should shoot the 2pt and smaller and permit draw for bigger bucks?

I think this is having a impact on mule deer in the Twisp ,Winthrop area.

What ya think?
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
Proud Parent of A United States Marine

We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Offline LDennis24

  • Bear poker
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 3943
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2016, 11:49:55 AM »
I think they just need to allow more 2-point permit's in area's where there are a lot of 2-point bucks seen. For example unit 139. At my brothers yesterday we saw 8 different 2 points, with a couple of them being VERY big 2 points that we studied for 15 mins to put a 3rd point on but couldn't find it. We ended up going home empty handed after seeing plenty of deer and nothing legal to shoot. As for what your talking about with people shooting them then claiming it was a mistake, they need to pay better attention to their target before pulling the trigger. :dunno:

Offline Jolten

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 843
  • Location: Yakima, WA
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2016, 11:51:31 AM »
I'm all 4 the 2 pt or smaller rule. I passed on several with eye guards I wasn't 100% sure met the 1 inch min
The best equipment in the world is useless to the idiot who doesn't understand it.

Offline bobcat

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 38900
  • Location: Rochester
    • robert68
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2016, 11:54:21 AM »
Mule deer should be by permit only to limit the hunting pressure, and any buck should be legal. IMO

Offline tonymiller7

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2013
  • Posts: 684
  • Location: Lakewood, wa
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #4 on: October 26, 2016, 11:56:26 AM »
There is an awful lot of GIANT 2 points in 101 as well.  They are out competing 3 and 4 points for the does and breeding more large 2 points.  Maybe open it up to 2 point or better for archery and muzzle loader, or just do a drawing.  I also think that a lot of people can't tell their deer species apart and think they are shooting whitetails.  Just my  :twocents:

Offline Skyvalhunter

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 15706
  • Location: Sky valley/Methow
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2016, 11:56:59 AM »
Well compared to what the deer population used to be in the Methow its a disgrace. Give out doe and special permits to every group and you see the destruction of the herd. Then throw in a biologist that doesn't know diddly squat and lets see what the future holds!! When you then throw in illegal animal shooting and poaching what's left a bunch of motherless yearlings running around to feed the wolves.
The only man who never makes a mistake, is the man who never does anything!!
The further one goes into the wilderness, the greater the attraction of its lonely freedom.

Offline Special T

  • Truth the new Hate Speech.
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2009
  • Posts: 24823
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • Make it Rain!
    • Silver Arrow Bowmen
    • Silver Arrow Bowmen
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2016, 11:59:03 AM »
While coyote hunting in the Basin I have seen some very impressive 2 points. Part of the problem has been the selective breeding due to 3 point getting whacked easily. Escapement I belive is the reason for the rule but because so many areas have been under the rule for some time it makes producing 3 points less likely imo.
I'm not sure mule deer can/should be managed in the same way it has been for years.
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

Confucius

Offline ghosthunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+19)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 7154
  • Location: Mount Vernon WA
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2016, 12:01:09 PM »
I think a draw only for Mule deer would be a up hill battle. Twisp and Winthrop would fight it. I would be a huge economic threat to those areas.

I also think it could kill hunting entirely. Many hunt because they are in a group and they enjoy the group. Permit only would kill the hunting camp traditions. And many hunters would just give it up rather than hunt alone.
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
Proud Parent of A United States Marine

We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Offline Special T

  • Truth the new Hate Speech.
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2009
  • Posts: 24823
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • Make it Rain!
    • Silver Arrow Bowmen
    • Silver Arrow Bowmen
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #8 on: October 26, 2016, 12:03:57 PM »
I think a draw only for Mule deer would be a up hill battle. Twisp and Winthrop would fight it. I would be a huge economic threat to those areas.
There in lies the rub. Economic activity vs big horned deer potential.
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

Confucius

Offline boneaddict

  • Site Sponsor
  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 49687
  • Location: Selah, Washington
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #9 on: October 26, 2016, 12:05:32 PM »
I think it's slop hunting, and is despicable, but NOT what is hurting the deer population in the Methow.   If there wasn't three point or better, the herd would be done!  Stick a fork in it. Done!    It's the only thing keeping a few deer alive.   A year like this year with essentially most of the upper age bucks harvested, and nothing but younger deer, and an over abundance of hunters.   There would be nothing to rebuild

Offline LDennis24

  • Bear poker
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 3943
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2016, 12:05:44 PM »
Maybe find the 10yr average for hunters in the Twisp and Winthrop area and make it permit only with as many tags as the average given out. :dunno: Then do the same for other area's as well. Then you don't get a sudden increase in hunter's to any one area and the populations will still thrive and if not reduce the number of permit's. Kind of like Idaho's tag's where you can choose a whitetail only tag and you get a few more days to hunt.

Offline LDennis24

  • Bear poker
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 3943
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #11 on: October 26, 2016, 12:08:30 PM »
I guess the best answer is to get someone in the WDFW that actually knows how to manage it and make changes that are for the better.

Offline Buckblaster

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 491
  • Location: NE WA
  • 2015 Wyoming Moose
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2016, 12:11:08 PM »
I think they just need to add a few permit only trophy units like they have done with the Desert Unit.  That might satisfy both sides of this conversation.
NRA Life Member

"The people will not understand the importance of the Second Amendment until it is too late."
Thomas Jefferson

Offline tonymiller7

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2013
  • Posts: 684
  • Location: Lakewood, wa
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2016, 12:14:01 PM »
I think it's slop hunting, and is despicable,

 :yeah:

If there is any doubt don't pull the trigger, I've had more than a couple 3+ points get away from me while trying to for sure put on the 3rd point while muzzleloader hunting.  By the time I found the 3rd point, lowered my binos, and raised my rifle they took off.  They know when you find that point, they milled around in front of me for minutes but as soon as you find that 3rd point they're outta there!  Better safe than sorry!  It's not worth the ticket and wasting an animal.

Offline snowshoes22

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2012
  • Posts: 698
  • Location: Grant County
Re: Is 3 pt RULE HURTING MULE DEER POPULATIONS?
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2016, 12:15:23 PM »
Maybe the super 2 point tag should bounce around each year to other units instead of staying in Harrington and Roosevelt. Even then the purpose is to harvest older age class bucks not just the first dink 2 point a guy comes across. I don't think most hunters have the maturity to only shoot mature bucks.
 
"I'd rather have a slow hit than a fast miss"

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Let’s see your best Washington buck by high_hunter
[Yesterday at 10:31:08 PM]


Bearpaw Season - Spring 2024 by actionshooter
[Yesterday at 09:43:51 PM]


Walked a cougar down by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 08:31:53 PM]


Which 12” boat trailer tires? by timberhunter
[Yesterday at 08:22:18 PM]


Lowest power 22 round? by JakeLand
[Yesterday at 08:06:13 PM]


1x scopes vs open sights by JakeLand
[Yesterday at 07:29:35 PM]


Long Beach Clamming Tides by Encore 280
[Yesterday at 05:16:00 PM]


WTS Suppressors I Can Get by dreadi
[Yesterday at 03:30:33 PM]


SB 5444 signed by Inslee on 03/26 Takes Effect on 06/06/24 by Longfield1
[Yesterday at 03:27:51 PM]


Straight on by kentrek
[Yesterday at 03:04:53 PM]


2024-2026 Hunting Season Proposals by trophyhunt
[Yesterday at 01:51:40 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal