BHC
Well-Known Member
Would like to hear ideas on buck antler restriction that can accommodate a variety of hunters with diff skill levels but still protect most big2 yr olds...
Ideas on buck restrictions..
- Thread starter BHC
- Start date
to each their own
Bayou Buck
Well-Known Member
You cant protect high end 2 yr olds from unskilled hunters with antler restrictions. You have to teach them how to field judge a deer on the hoof based on body characteristics which very hard for the lower skilled hunters.
Beekeeper
Well-Known Member
Some hunters do not care about age or antler size.
What is the percentage of "BIG" 2 year olds vs. small 2 year olds, and how is that determined?
fourwheeler431
Well-Known Member
X2Beekeeper said:
Football Hunter
Well-Known Member
True,but this is the QDM forum.Oh yeah,I dont think Ars are a good idea.Beekeeper said:
Beekeeper
Well-Known Member
Quality Deer Management is not about Antler Size. Trophy Management is ALL about Antler Size.Football Hunter said:
8 POINTS OR BETTER
Well-Known Member
Beekeeper said:
QDMA is about a balance. Balance the size, sex ratio, and age structure of the herd.
Beekeeper
Well-Known Member
Yep.8 POINTS OR BETTER said:
8 POINTS OR BETTER
Well-Known Member
If you wanted to protect just about all of the 2.5 you could go with 9 points or better or mature. There would still be a few 2.5 that would get killed but that would protect about 90% of the 2.5 from getting killed in our area.
We went with 8 point or better since 1990 and we never killed any 1.5 except for letting kids kill what they want.
We went with 8 point or better since 1990 and we never killed any 1.5 except for letting kids kill what they want.
Football Hunter
Well-Known Member
you said age or size,I think QDM is about ageBeekeeper said:
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
BHC,
I'm not a fan of ARs so don't really have any recommendations on what might be a sound policy to implement. But, if you want to take a look at policies that some states have implemented, take a look at MDWFP (MIssissippi), Missouri Dept. Of Conservation, and Georgia DNR regs. They've all had some sort of AR in place for years.
Maybe you can find something there that suits your needs.
I'm not a fan of ARs so don't really have any recommendations on what might be a sound policy to implement. But, if you want to take a look at policies that some states have implemented, take a look at MDWFP (MIssissippi), Missouri Dept. Of Conservation, and Georgia DNR regs. They've all had some sort of AR in place for years.
Maybe you can find something there that suits your needs.
8 POINTS OR BETTER
Well-Known Member
If you use antler restrictions also use or mature.
Winchester
Well-Known Member
No realistic antler restrictions will protect the the high end 2 yr olds without also limiting many fully mature bucks from being off limits! Field judging their age on the hoof is the best way to protect younger age classes of bucks from harvest. I think this is a very realistic goal on a controlled piece of property with limited #'s of hunters. Now as for the general public it will be much harder imo!Bayou Buck said:
The only way to protect the 2 year olds, regardless of antler size, is to educate the hunters to be able to acurately field age bucks.
BSK
Well-Known Member
BHC,
If you're looking for antler limitations for a club or property, unfortunately, all the advice you've alread received is accurate--there isn't an antler restriction that will work to protect top-end 2 1/2s without eliminating a bunch of 3 1/2 and mature bucks from harvest. You will need to teach hunters how to judge age.
If you're looking for antler limitations for a club or property, unfortunately, all the advice you've alread received is accurate--there isn't an antler restriction that will work to protect top-end 2 1/2s without eliminating a bunch of 3 1/2 and mature bucks from harvest. You will need to teach hunters how to judge age.
Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
I do believe antler restrictions work for protecting most 2.5 year olds. The trick is knowing what size your average 2.5 year old bucks are. We have a 125" minimum which seems to work well for all except maybe the very top end 2.5 year olds we have. To cover all bases we also have an "OR" stipulation in that our bucks have to score a minimum of 125" OR be 4.5 years old or older. Both rack scoring and age field judging take practice.
Shed Hunter
Well-Known Member
Put a 50 point antler restriction and you'll protect any 2.5 year old tn buck.
I think ARs are dumb. The amount of points a deer has means nothing. All an AR will do is stop people from shooting big six points and other low point mature deer. I think as far as big deer go it would have neither a negative or positive effect. The amount of 2.5 year old 8 pointers killed will go up which will likely decrease the amount of high scoring bucks but at the same time more deer will grow mature. Of course they will not have as much potential as a 2.5 8 point. Most 2.5s I see are 8 points and let's face it, 9 points or better will ruin hunting in TN. 4 or 6 point restriction might help a bit but in reallity it is said most spikes and little fork horns never get big anyways. Idk if that's true buy Ive always heard it.
I think ARs are dumb. The amount of points a deer has means nothing. All an AR will do is stop people from shooting big six points and other low point mature deer. I think as far as big deer go it would have neither a negative or positive effect. The amount of 2.5 year old 8 pointers killed will go up which will likely decrease the amount of high scoring bucks but at the same time more deer will grow mature. Of course they will not have as much potential as a 2.5 8 point. Most 2.5s I see are 8 points and let's face it, 9 points or better will ruin hunting in TN. 4 or 6 point restriction might help a bit but in reallity it is said most spikes and little fork horns never get big anyways. Idk if that's true buy Ive always heard it.
8 POINTS OR BETTER
Well-Known Member
Master Chief said:
Thats why you put the "OR" stipulation in with the AR's.
Shed Hunter
Well-Known Member
8 POINTS OR BETTER said:
I don't really know what your saying but I meant if it's 8 points OR better the amount of 2.5 year old 8 points killed will increase. I know your name probably comes from a private land group which would probably benefit from a point limit but most hunters in TN are going to shoot the first buck they can and if they can't shoot lower potential young deer, the next most likely to be killed deer is a young 8 point.
8 POINTS OR BETTER
Well-Known Member
Master Chief said:
He is wanting to protect 2.5 and younger. A 9 point or better will protect just about all 2.5 and younger in our area. And the "OR" stipulation is used in conjunction with the AR so that the hunters that know how to age on the hoof can kill any buck over the age you are trying to protect.
BSK
Well-Known Member
8 POINTS OR BETTER said:
Why use an antler restriction at all in that situation? Just say a buck has to be 3 1/2.
BSK
Well-Known Member
BHC,
Again, I don't know the situation you're asking about, but if you are looking at restrictions for a private property, teaching the hunters field age-judging techniques is very helpful, but the most helpful tool of all is the trail-camera. Having pictures of "target" bucks using the property can be exceptionally helpful to hunters. If they have a mental list of known shooters, they can identify these bucks at first glance. No need to field judge. Now most are not going to be able to produce a full inventory of "shooter" bucks using their property, but getting as many as possible on film to see and remember can't hurt.
Again, I don't know the situation you're asking about, but if you are looking at restrictions for a private property, teaching the hunters field age-judging techniques is very helpful, but the most helpful tool of all is the trail-camera. Having pictures of "target" bucks using the property can be exceptionally helpful to hunters. If they have a mental list of known shooters, they can identify these bucks at first glance. No need to field judge. Now most are not going to be able to produce a full inventory of "shooter" bucks using their property, but getting as many as possible on film to see and remember can't hurt.
Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
The 9 point restriction will protect most 2.5 year olds....and 3.5's, 4.5's, 5.5's, and 6.5's. Learn to field judge age of deer on the hoof and add it to your realistic rack expectations. It may not be the very best method of protecting bucks but it's probably the best you can do.
Truedouble
Well-Known Member
If you want to go above and beyond state limits why not make a rule that you have to mount the deer you kill unless tooth wear or game cam. pics shows that the buck is 4+?
Taking a photo census, late summer/ early fall and determining which bucks are not to be shot is even a better idea.
Taking a photo census, late summer/ early fall and determining which bucks are not to be shot is even a better idea.
Truedouble
Well-Known Member
Mike Belt said:
yea, but judging antler score in the field is almost as hard as judging age in the field. Not sure where you hunt but where I hunt we rarely get more than 5 seconds to make a decision and part of that time has to be spent putting cross hairs or pen on the buck's vitals.
Game camera pics are IMO the best aid in protecting 2 year olds.
8 POINTS OR BETTER
Well-Known Member
BSK said:
Because he said
BHC said:
Not every hunter knows how to field judge a buck. But for the ones who can, the "or" stipulation is used.
BHC
Well-Known Member
Well I'm in a QDM club and we have members of various ages with various experience in the deer woods. So I would be talking about a scenario as such. I was just curious as to what others use, or think would work well. We currently have a 7pt minimum with a 15" spread. Our main goal I believe is to protect as many of the younger age class as possible. Jus somethin I thought of while bored at work but what do y'all think about this AR. 4pts on one side with a 16" spread or a 9" g2.
