buck limits

[deadeye 77]

what kind of opinions do the hunters have on this forum regarding the amount of bucks you are allowed to harvest in Tennessee?correct me if am wrong it is the total of 3 bucks and if you are hunting a quota hunt it would be a bonus deer on top of the 3 buck limit.what I am asking would it hurt to lower the limit or is the deer population meaning buck to doe ratio is as good as it has ever been.what do you think?

 

[Shed Hunter]

Use the search function and see the chaos you have just brought back up.

There are several arguments both ways for this proposal. First of all, east TN and west/middle TN are very different. I do not know the first thing about east TN hunting, but almost every member over there is confident they need a 3 buck limit so anything I say after this is excluding them.

We absolutely do NOT need a specific limit change in biological terms. We are not over harvesting/under harvesting bucks. TN isn't at it's natural carrying capacity or social carrying capacity. There also is no shortage of deer. Many people desire a lower buck limit for the idea of more older bucks which I assure you are not lacking in TN. However, we would see more older bucks with the lower limit. It isn't so much about how many people won't kill three bucks, but how people will be more selective. Do I think it will make a big difference if we go to a 2 buck limit? No, we probably would notice anything. A one buck limit is a different story, IMO. You simply can't just shoot a little buck and know you can still have a spare tag. This would really increase how selective people are. Would this make a remarkable difference? Nope,we might see one or two more mature bucks every year, but TN simply will not become a trophy antler state due to a limit change.

 

[Nealmeally]

 

[KPH]

Here go again

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

I havent killed a buck since 2011......ive been passing the 110" bucks 5 to be exact here in west tn all on public grounds.....yea in the back of my mind i knew the next guy is going to kill it BUT maybe not....im a trophy hunter and i kill does for meat...ive hunted 10 years and havent killed more than 1 buck in a given season....would i sure if i see a good P&Y or 3 lol.

 

[TN RDG RNR]

I like the 3 buck limit but feel free to kill less if you want. :grin:

 

[catman529]

basically there is no right answer because everyone has their own idea of what the deer herd should be like, how big the bucks should be, and how many we should be allowed to kill.

I personally like the limit the way it is, but would not throw a fit if it was lowered to 2. I am against a 1 buck limit, as that is what they use in "trophy states" known for big bucks that attrackt a LOT of tourist hunters hoping to get a big one. I hunt a lot of public land, and don't want to see it getting overrun because TN becomes a "big buck state". But that's my opinion

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Never really thought about it. Perhaps a lively debate will ensue arguing both sides until eventually no one changes anybody's mind.

Are there other nearby states with lower limits with which to compare Tennessee? Perhaps someone with an axe to grind will tell us about neighboring land owners without a shred of restraint who kill every buck that crosses their path and thus necessitates a change if we are ever to grow trophy deer in the Volunteer state. Or maybe someone will tell us how one simply cannot eat the "horns" -- as they are always called when discussing their palatability. Interesting topic. Opinions?

 

[Nealmeally]

Certain parts of the state are different than other parts. I believe that's probably why the limit is 3. 3 is a limit that is kinda middle ground due to the variation in regions. I think 3 is fine for most parts of the state. I killed 3 last season but I had a good season. I've never filled all the buck tags allowed in TN until last year. And I've went several seasons and didn't kill a buck in TN. I don't care if it's 1 or 3.. As long as I got 1 tag I'm happy. I know what age class deer I'm after and if I see 1 I'll kill him and if I see 3, I'll kill all 3.

I think TWRA is doing a good job with buck limits. I see bigger and older bucks being killed every season in my area. But rarley anybody kills 3 bucks in my area. Some do but the majority of my neighbors along with myself only shoot mature bucks.

If you want to kill bigger and older deer you need to quit worrying about buck limits and focus on getting all the properties around you on the same page. Keeping doe herds in check and only shooting mature bucks goes a lot farther than how many bucks you kill in my opinion... I know everybody can't and won't do that but that's just the facts..

 

[THEdonkey0515]

Keep it the way it is I like the 3 buck limit. Have I ever used all 3 buck tags?? I think once in all my years hunting. But its nice knowing u can shoot a buck in bow season. And if u see another good buck in muzzloader take him too. And still be able to rifle hunt with the 3 buck limit. And if YOU don't ever wanna shoot 3 bucks then don't shoot 3. Just don't give the people heck that do there doing nothing wrong!

 

[deadeye 77]

sorry don't mean to stir up the pot just wanted to hear some opinions.i quess when it comes down to it qdma falls into play when people do their part on how to manage the properties they hunt and how they feed the deer food plots or supplemental feeding.also those that are adjacent to the properties doing the same thing.

 

[MUP]

I like the 3 buck limit but feel free to kill less if you want. :grin:

I'm of the same opinion TRR. Once in my entire hunting life have I killed 3 bucks in a season, and one was a button buck, accidentally mistaken for a doe during archery. And yes, I've passed many smaller bucks over the years, but, when I was younger, I didn't, simple as that.

 

[BHC]

I think it was said best, s one buck limit is more to create more conservative hunters than to actually protect more deer.. A one buck limit actually benefits my. Style of hunting, but I'm not for it... It takes a lot of choice out of it.. What about the man that owns 500 acres and just he and his son hunt it? I don't think anyone has the right to restrict him to one buck.. Only justification would be if it were a biological necessity.. I'd be more for only one buck per weapon style... And most of y'all's response will be in regard to regulating that, but rules are for honest ppl.. There hundreds of illegal deer killed every yr.. And even more legal deer that just aren't reported

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

I think it was said best, s one buck limit is more to create more conservative hunters than to actually protect more deer.. A one buck limit actually benefits my. Style of hunting, but I'm not for it... It takes a lot of choice out of it.. What about the man that owns 500 acres and just he and his son hunt it? I don't think anyone has the right to restrict him to one buck..

Great point when i read this i thought of gun control laws i guess i feel they are similar

 

[gator-n-buck]

Don't hit the eject button.... He only has 50 post. We only cut the fingers off of members that have at least a 1000 post or more that mention buck limits.....

 

[Beekeeper]

One question. How many hunters only kill one or two bucks because that is all they have the opportunity to not because they are passing on deer?

 

[volunteer1]

This topic has been flat worn out! I might not have many post but Ive been viewing this site for many, many years. If you take a look at some of the so called � trophy states� rules and regulations some obviously manage buck: doe limitations more than others. However and more importantly, in my opinion, they manage what type of weapons are utilized by hunters during the respected parts of the season and how long that season is open. e.g. shorter gun seasons, archery during the rut, etc. We truly live in a state that produces good deer and offers bag limits that give hunters of all walks of live the best opportunity to take a trophy buck , whatever that might be in there eyes. Honestly I wouldn�t change but maybe a few regulations. Twra has done a good job! With that said I can�t tell you the last time I killed 3 bucks in a season and they were not for the meat, I leave my doe tags for that. As I have gotten older I definitely have become more particular about what buck deer I will shoot . As long as the rules and regulations are set in place then it�s our right to exercise them how we please. This is my view on the popcorn discussion that never ends!

 

[BMan]

I like the 3 buck limit but feel free to kill less if you want. :grin:

Exactly.

 

[deadeye 77]

i'll make sure I don't bring up this subject again it seems to stick peoples ears on this matter.

 

[MUP]

 

[bowriter]

One buck only including buttons is all you should get and then, only every other year in counties that end in a consonant.

Counties that start with a W, get unlimited bucks while those that start with C get none. Counties that start with a vowel get a four-year closed season on all deer.

That, I promise, will make everyone happy.

In other werds..."Haysus Christo! not this crap again. Ban this sucker now!

 

[KPH]

i'll make sure I don't bring up this subject again it seems to stick peoples ears on this matter.

Aw come on it is a lot of fun. And I can bet it will come up at least three times befor the end of the year.

 

[BSK]

2 or 3, doesn't matter to me. I don't think switching from 3 down to 2 would make much biological difference, as the number of bucks killed as 3rd bucks is small. But if a 2 buck limit makes the majority of hunters happy, that's fine with me.

 

[oldmanelrod]

i'll make sure I don't bring up this subject again it seems to stick peoples ears on this matter.

Aw come on it is a lot of fun. And I can bet it will come up at least three times befor the end of the year.

X multiple times for sure.

 

[TheLBLman]

Good answers, wrong questions?

I think the whole issue of buck limits has been focused on the wrong issues, particularly the tired argument, "How many kill that 3rd buck anyway? If we changed it to only two, wouldn't make much difference."

Similar argument was made against reducing our 11-buck limit a few years ago. Not that many people kill 11 bucks, so what difference would it make?

But if a 2 buck limit makes the majority of hunters happy, that's fine with me.

Of course, the majority of hunters are simply happy just in clearing knowing whatever IS the buck limit, with that same majority not really caring much just "whatever" is the number, just so long as they clearly know it, they are happy regardless. They have much more concern about accidently breaking some rule than in whatever may be the buck limits?

In terms of the argument of "not many people" kill a 3rd buck, just as valid an argument can be made as to why have a buck limit more than one a year, since "not that many" even kill one?

That "majority" of hunters doesn't kill "a" buck even as often as once every 3 years?

So to the majority of hunters, what difference do buck limits make? Not much.

 

[stik]

my main concern with a 2 buck limit, and i'll admit it's purely selfish, is that if i would be fortunate enough to kill a good buck with bow and one with muzzleloaer, i couldn't hunt the majority of rifle season. and the times i could hunt would be doe only which would be when the biggest buck i have ever seen would hang around for an hour.

 

[MUP]

The 3 buck limit just seems to make good sense all around I believe. Allows a possible buck in each segment, bow, ml, or gun, if someone was so fortunate, and does not adversely affect the deer on the whole, plus I do believe the majority of deer hunters are in favor of it, or not against (neutral) the regulation at this time.

 

[TheLBLman]

my main concern with a 2 buck limit, and i'll admit it's purely selfish, is that if i would be fortunate enough to kill a good buck with bow and one with muzzleloaer, i couldn't hunt the majority of rifle season. and the times i could hunt would be doe only which would be when the biggest buck i have ever seen would hang around for an hour.

I actually totally understand and relate to this. You can consider me somewhat in the same boat. But my hunting club has a 2-buck limit and I see the benefits of it over a 3-buck limit. One of the biggest things I see is that most hunters (including myself) will self-impose higher standards on our 1st buck when the buck limit is 2 vs. 3. We still have that freedom of choice, but by simply having a little higher standard on the 1st buck, we're less likely to have need for a 3rd buck tag.

The result becomes our average bucks taken are larger. I know some prefer quantity over quality, but can't help but believe most hunters would rather take two large antlered bucks than three small antlered bucks? Many go so far (including the entire State of KY) as to believe a 1-buck limit is better for these same reasons. Personally, I believe a simple 2-buck limit is the best compromise between quantity and quality.

The 3 buck limit just seems to make good sense all around I believe. Allows a possible buck in each segment, bow, ml, or gun . . . . . .

I'll tell you why I believe a 2 buck limit makes even more sense:
MOST deer hunters do not bow hunt.
And maybe, MOST bowhunters (during the early archery season) have a lower "shooter" buck standard? I say this because during the early archery season, that same minority of hunters who hunt bow, muzzleloader, gun, will typically kills his smallest bucks during the early archery season.

A 2-buck limit would simply voluntarily produce a little higher shooter-buck standard on the most avid of hunters, while not imposing much anything on the majority of hunters who seldom kill even 1 buck annually (average is less than 1 buck every 3 years).

 

[TheLBLman]

I've been called a hypocrite for having killed 3 bucks in one year in TN. Perhaps I am. But in each case, my 1st buck was the smallest antlered of the three, and I later regretted having taken that 1st one, as could have enjoyed letting walk. I do understand how a higher or lower limit effects one's personal shooter buck standards.

It's kinda like my being opposed to the state lottery, but since we have it, I would not find fault with anyone accepting the state "hope" tuition scholarship. But if we didn't have a state lottery, college tuition would cost much less for everyone. And if our buck limits were lower, we'd collectively be taking more quality than quantity of bucks, not to mention, those novice and young hunters would have more opportunity to take "a" buck.

 

[redblood]

The 3 buck limit just seems to make good sense all around I believe. Allows a possible buck in each segment, bow, ml, or gun, if someone was so fortunate, and does not adversely affect the deer on the whole, plus I do believe the majority of deer hunters are in favor of it, or not against (neutral) the regulation at this time.

I have noticed that the buck for each segment is an idea that is always brought up here, but I really don't understand it. If I had to the opportunity to kill 2 fully mature bucks in a year, I would be happy. I have never felt an obligation to harvest a buck with each weapon within the same season. It really don't matter to me anyway as I rarely kill 2 bucks in a season and usually just shoot one