Just another policy they can't enforce or control and wont get an honest response except fron the honest hunters. Look at Chass WMA full time checker sitting at the exit and people refuse to check out game they have taken. The checker is not allowed to check vehicles for game taken. So what is the point.
I agree there, but they need to have something. The fact that the number of deer harvested every year is much lower than what FWC estimates is a big driver. I'd much rather them give us 96 hours or so to file a report ONLINE or by phone if it means that they may open up longer doe seasons. Heck, I'd even go for a 4pt statewide minimum. That would give us a much better chance at a bigger buck, because folks would be more inclined to take a doe or 2 if they don't see a qualifying buck. Look what it did to PA's deer. Potter County went to a 3 pt min on one side, and the number of bigger bucks seen and taken has increased exponentially. And the number of doe taken has also increased, which is a first step to maintaining a quality deer herd.
The 4pt rule would have to be paired with a NO button bucks policy. We should also stop anterless deer hunts and have doe management hunts with fines imposed for shooting button bucks. Also a late season doe hunt would be great as one is less likely to confuse a yearling buck and doe in january or february than bow season. Although the does are bred at this time I still think it would be beneficial.
Just another policy they can't enforce or control and wont get an honest response except fron the honest hunters. Look at Chass WMA full time checker sitting at the exit and people refuse to check out game they have taken. The checker is not allowed to check vehicles for game taken. So what is the point.
The point is to gain some kind of knowledge about our deer harvest. As of right now we have zilch. Let a few people start getting tickets for not calling it in and I bet the odds of call-ins goes up dramatically
I agree there, but they need to have something. The fact that the number of deer harvested every year is much lower than what FWC estimates is a big driver. I'd much rather them give us 96 hours or so to file a report ONLINE or by phone if it means that they may open up longer doe seasons. Heck, I'd even go for a 4pt statewide minimum. That would give us a much better chance at a bigger buck, because folks would be more inclined to take a doe or 2 if they don't see a qualifying buck. Look what it did to PA's deer. Potter County went to a 3 pt min on one side, and the number of bigger bucks seen and taken has increased exponentially. And the number of doe taken has also increased, which is a first step to maintaining a quality deer herd.
I think that a 4 point minimum would be a great idea if coupled with a longer doe season. As for the reporting system I believe that with a longer lead time on reporting, it would work well and provide hunters/fwc with valuable information. I think that the processor/taxidermist reporting is a little over kill though.
