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Post by osprey on Jan 30, 2012 8:57:46 GMT -5
Don't know if you've heard or not, but next week DNR starts the process of new reg changes for the next 2 year cycle with the stakeholders meeting. These are still just concepts at this point, but soon will be - in some form - proposals put out to the public for comment.
For sika the big idea is to require all stags be a minimum of a branched antler. No more spikes or short buttons allowed.
I've got a lot to say on this one, but would like to hear your thoughts first...
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Post by BIG FOX on Jan 30, 2012 12:34:50 GMT -5
I think that is tough.. Sika are so hard to get in the first place that making people wait for a sika to come out of the phrag in a clearing to validate if it has a branched antelr may be impossible. I see a lot of room for mistaken shots on deer because people thought the spike was a hind.. I see alot of deer being wasted or shot and left because people do not want to get in trouble. I think you should just make it 1 sika per implement (hind or buck) if they want to give them a chance. People that choose to break the law will do it no matter what so mind as well give the deer a chance.
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Post by hunter on Jan 30, 2012 15:08:31 GMT -5
I agree with Big Fox on this one. Its hard enough to get a shot at any Sika and one per season either hind or stag would be the way to go.
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Post by marshghost on Jan 31, 2012 7:57:52 GMT -5
i agree , in a perfect world they have a great idea , but i think big fox is on to something here .
however , i glass all my deer and do not rush the shot , not everyone else is the same. and no, i do not hunt on private land over a bait pile. i hunt strictly state land where the sikas are on the move .
it wouldn't bother me a bit if they made it so no one could take a total of no more then two per season , only one being a stag, when i say stag i mean if it has stones, its a stag . Maryland has a very unique thing here , we should be very careful with it !
jay
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Post by no1sikahunter on Jan 31, 2012 8:52:31 GMT -5
I also think Fox has it right ! Also if you mess up and shoot a button that would be a fine ? I like the way it is now .I do hunt for a nice stag but I also hunt for meat . I like to hunt an early seson hind then stag hunt .
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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Jan 31, 2012 9:01:49 GMT -5
I agree that it could be difficult to tell what is what when trying to get a shot off very quickly. I also agree that not everyone gets to spend as much time in the marsh, so thay may not care as much about what it is that they shoot. Also agree with fox that there may be a few deer left in the field.
Finally, What sense did it make to extend the season this year, then attempt to put in laws such as these?
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Post by osprey on Jan 31, 2012 12:00:36 GMT -5
Problems I have with it are many.
First, they've never had support, neither statewide or even in Kent County, for QDM/antler restrictions on whitetails, so now they're trying to force it on us for sika? BS
Second, a large % of sika hunters hunt them for the meat, not the antlers, and don't care how big the rack is.
Third, the regs say any sika with antler visible above the hairline is a stag, even as little as 1/8 inch of antler. With the thick cover and the way they like to move the first and last ten minutes of shooting light it's just asking for trouble. Jumping them in grass or phrag with buckshot, how are you supposed to see that? Last light, 200 yard shot with a rifle down a firelane or over the marsh? Really? Yeah, I know if you kill a stag first you have to watch for that now, but for hunters that just want to kill a sika, any sika, it's asking an awful lot to base thier season on that.
On that same issue, these deer are still expanding thier range. What about hunters on the edges of sika habitat that aren't expecting to see them, shoot what they think is a WT doe at last light and then find out it's a small spike sika when they get to it? There has to be some consideration for what actually happens in the field.
Funny thing is, they still want to keep or increase the hind harvest. If this goes through I know I won't be shooting any hinds unless they're directly under me, it just won't be worth the risk.
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Post by BIG FOX on Jan 31, 2012 13:02:55 GMT -5
I agree with almost everything you say above Osprey. I could not agree with 100% on principle alone It is just asking for trouble. I am all for antler restrictions on whitetails for ADULT hunters but there shoudl be some lieniency for youths.. This has disaster written all over it.
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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Jan 31, 2012 14:10:30 GMT -5
I will agree with you as well osprey....
On the already gotten a stag part.:
If I've already gotten my stag, I am already reluctant to shoot a "hind" at last light. Not as big of a deal though because I ALREADY have some sika meet in the cooler/freezer.
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Post by nalley1952 on Jan 31, 2012 17:31:06 GMT -5
Antler restrictions will never happen. They want to reduce the herds so they will leave them as is.
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Post by osprey on Jan 31, 2012 19:38:45 GMT -5
Nalley this is a DNR sponsored concept for a reg change, so you better not bet on that...
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Post by davep on Jan 31, 2012 20:20:11 GMT -5
Assateague had the "visible antler above the hairline= stag" for a year or two.
I'm SO against it, for all the above reasons and more!
Another thing, and maybe Osprey can clear something up for me: Two of the BIGGEST stags I've ever seen (and one was weighed at Mason's Market in Church Creek in the '70s) were spikes. Other was taken by a DNR employee, late '80s I believe.
Could it be that some stags NEVER develop anything but spikes? Obviously they had a few years on them to get that size.
Some folks consider ANY deer a trophy. We don't need the Gov deciding for us.
LOL, I remember hunting Dorchester in the '70s when there were 3 extra Friday/Sat combos for JUST sika, AFTER firearms season, as the state seemed to be trying to eliminate them at that time.
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Post by osprey on Feb 1, 2012 7:43:41 GMT -5
Dave I would think some spikes are always spikes, just like it can happen with whitetails. That's always been one of the arguments against antler restrictions.
The impression I've gotten so far is that this is being pushed by a few bigger clubs/outfitters that are already doing their own management and don't like smaller stags being shot by neighbors and on public land. I'll find out more next week at the stakeholders meeting.
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Post by nalley1952 on Feb 1, 2012 8:32:14 GMT -5
Nalley this is a DNR sponsored concept for a reg change, so you better not bet on that... I don't think they are sponsored by DNR it's just topics of discussion for stake holders. I'm not sure on this.
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Post by davep on Feb 1, 2012 16:19:27 GMT -5
I will give Peditto & Co credit for giving folks a chance to holler at them. ;D
I, and many others, wrote letters for YEARS begging for the squirrel season to be extended past Jan 31, as it is an underutilized resource, and folks are looking for something to hunt after deer ends. It eventually happened.
Of course my recent plea for a limited and/or draw bobcat season was QUICKLY shot down, despite increasing range and numbers.
Oh well, I hope everyone at least takes advantage of being able to give 'em your two cents worth.
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