State Game Laws you'd like to see altered or removed

GCook · November 30, 2022, 08:37:06 AM

Yeah I don't understand wasting good meat like that. Texas has a wanton waste lawnas well and I'm glad they do.
You don't want to eat deer, or at least have somebody to donate them to, don't hunt. Take up golf.

supernaut · November 30, 2022, 08:58:24 AM

PA hunter and here are the 2 things I would change and they've already been mentioned in this thread:

1. Sunday hunting. EVERY Sunday, not just the couple days a year they begrudgingly gave us. It's 2022 not 1932. You can go to the Casino, buy beer and booze on Sunday here in PA but not hunt. Ridiculous in my opinion and really limits the time working folks and kids can hunt.

2. One set of antler restrictions state wide. I like the antler restriction rules but it would be nice to have on set of rules statewide.

Maclean · November 30, 2022, 09:06:00 AM

I would like to see a traditional only season in my state, and in fact, the traditional bowhunters organization I belong to is working to make that happen.

fisherick · November 30, 2022, 09:27:06 AM

Allow Sunday hunting or at least bowhunting in MA.

Change dwelling safety setbacks from 500' to 200' for bowhunting MA.

Allow CC of handguns while bowhunting.

David Smith · November 30, 2022, 09:48:01 AM

Reduce the harvest limit here in Ga. Go back to using actual tags and not this online crap the dnr has instituted. Cross bows for elderly and disabled only. just my opinion.

Trenton G. · November 30, 2022, 10:12:39 AM

In Michigan I'd like to see a stiffer penalty for baiting. Right now if someone gets caught it's essentially a slap on the wrist and a small fine which isn't really much of a deterrent for most people. At least around here.

I'd like to see crossbows limited to those who need them. I have no problem whatsoever with someone using one if they need it or if they've passed a certain age, but not everyone should be able to use one.

Currently in the Upper Peninsula crossbows are not allowed during the late archery season. I would like to see this enforced in the lower Peninsula as well. It won't happen and would be almost impossible to enforce, but it would still be better than having essentially a 3 month long gun season.

Finally I would like to see antler point restrictions across the entire state. I know that is a touchy subject with some, and when they were first implemented in our area I was very opposed to them as many were. However it is the BEST thing that had happened to deer hunting in our area. The deer herd, aside from the outrageous amount of doe tags given out, is doing very well and the quality of deer has greatly increased. It hasn't limited my opportunity to harvest deer in the least.

KentuckyWolf · November 30, 2022, 10:42:26 AM

Going back to physically checking in a deer/turkey.

Yeah...I missing going to check station, interacting with other hunters, and getting to write my name on the board. Apparently, I'm old now????

But seriously, Tele-check and online tag reporting has encouraged dishonesty. People not reporting harvest, reporting it in different day, season or tag. People using their kids for tags.

I get the convenience of it...but I think it does more harm than good.

Stringwacker · November 30, 2022, 10:56:01 AM

In the context of hunting here in my home state of Mississippi. No baiting, no crossbows, elimination of the doe only gun season that runs for over two weeks in the archery season. Eliminate the abomination of a primitive weapon season that allows the 'weapon of choice' on private land ......as long as you buy the primitive weapon license (otherwise known as a muzzleloader license)

Jack Whitmire Jr · December 01, 2022, 05:08:29 AM

Here in WV we can take 3 deer with archery equipment , but with a gun can take 3 antlerless deer later in the year. I wish they would allow us to use those antlerless tags during archery also.

BAK · December 01, 2022, 11:40:18 AM

Of all the things I may not like, it all boils down to feeling the deer herds are managed for the benefit of the animals, and not the farmers and the insurance companies.

Plus so many game laws appear to be built on the backs of previous regulations, for example the concept of "party" hunting seems based on old subsistence hunting practices. Why should you get to "tag" an animal you didn't kill, just because you were in the woods that day chasing them around? Ridiculous.

KentuckyWolf · December 01, 2022, 12:10:11 PM

Quote from: BAK on December 01, 2022, 11:40:18 AM
Of all the things I may not like, it all boils down to feeling the deer herds are managed for the benefit of the animals, and not the farmers and the insurance companies.

Plus so many game laws appear to be built on the backs of previous regulations, for example the concept of "party" hunting seems based on old subsistence hunting practices. Why should you get to "tag" an animal you didn't kill, just because you were in the woods that day chasing them around? Ridiculous.

Go to a Game Commission meeting sometime. Laws, regulations, seasons are changed for even more ridiculous and arbitrary reasons than even not statistically or biologically justified wants of insurance companies.

I've seen seasons and bag limits changed based on the opinion of one commissioner....against the advice/recommendations of state biologists. I witnessed crossbows let in after the manufactures wined and dined the commissioners (there was no grassroots push for them to come in). I've seen how that "sausage" is made....and it is not pretty.

Blaino · December 01, 2022, 12:10:39 PM

Things I'd change for South Carolina hunting:

1) Sunday hunting on public land
2) being able to hunt hogs with a bow during small game season on public land (just like in GA)
3) hunters' orange is stupid

Blaine

Cyclic-Rivers · December 01, 2022, 01:32:58 PM

In Wisconsin:

If you are born and breathing you can buy a license and legally hunt. I love seeing pictures of the 1 year old who shot their buck of a lifetime. Ok if you haven't picked up on the sarcasm, you should have, it's pretty thick. I think kids should be old enough to take a class and be responsible before carrying any weapons in a legal hunting capacity.

Like Kentucky wolf, I'd love to see check stations again but I think that's unrealistic.

Also, itcwould be nice to have more game wardens. All the money should not be pocketed by paper pushing elected politicians. Right now hunting season is the wild west. At this rate they may as well get rid of wardens and throw away rule books and do away with laws.

KentuckyWolf · December 01, 2022, 02:14:26 PM

Kid propped up for the "hero" pic with a trophy animal ...and a 300 win mag (you know would kick them into the next county) or a compound (taller than the kid is even at 32 inches axial to axial, with arrows that would spine out correctly if the bow had a 70 lbs draw weight).

I've see way to many pics like that on Facebook each fall.

Kyle85 · December 01, 2022, 02:50:28 PM

Unless there's a problem with herd numbers, get rid of buck-only days. There are two counties here in Virginia that added an early and late antlerless only season to manage CWD, but they retained the buck-only rule for most of the rest of the season. If they want me to kill more does, why can't I do it in October and November when I'm already making time to get out and hunt? I'm happy to kill does whenever, so don't tie my hands.

woodchucker · December 01, 2022, 04:35:21 PM

Toss the "antler restrictions" in the Catskill Mountains....
Mother Nature, grows big bucks. Not people, nor the Department of Environmental Conservation.

There are 2 reasons why this law was enacted....
The amount of state land in the Catskills, and the fact that it is 2 hours from New York City.
Years ago, Opening Day, was on a Monday. There would be a mass migration of hunters coming north, for Opening Day. They would hit town, raise hell Sat & Sun, hunt Monday and shoot the first legal thing they could.
Then, they were headed back to NYC, Monday night. Never to be seen, for the rest of the season....

Now, between the Saturday Opener, and the "antler restrictions" you gave them a reason, to HANG AROUND!!!

Might piss a few off, but QDM is a farce!!! It only works on private land, where you can control the hunting, so you only shoot age class bucks. AND, only if you can convince your hunting neighbors, to do the same!!
Letting a spike walk, so you can shoot him at 2 1/2yrs, is not going to grow older and bigger bucks.

A spike in the freezer, means a filled tag, and a chance for another buck, to get a year older...

KentuckyWolf · December 01, 2022, 04:50:23 PM

Quote from: woodchucker on December 01, 2022, 04:35:21 PM
Toss the "antler restrictions" in the Catskill Mountains....
Mother Nature, grows big bucks. Not people, nor the Department of Environmental Conservation.

There are 2 reasons why this law was enacted....
The amount of state land in the Catskills, and the fact that it is 2 hours from New York City.
Years ago, Opening Day, was on a Monday. There would be a mass migration of hunters coming north, for Opening Day. They would hit town, raise hell Sat & Sun, hunt Monday and shoot the first legal thing they could.
Then, they were headed back to NYC, Monday night. Never to be seen, for the rest of the season....

Now, between the Saturday Opener, and the "antler restrictions" you gave them a reason, to HANG AROUND!!!

Might piss a few off, but QDM is a farce!!! It only works on private land, where you can control the hunting, so you only shoot age class bucks. AND, only if you can convince your hunting neighbors, to do the same!!
Letting a spike walk, so you can shoot him at 2 1/2yrs, is not going to grow older and bigger bucks.

A spike in the freezer, means a filled tag, and a chance for another buck, to get a year older...

QDM is biologically and ecologically sound. It would work even on public land; and it has in other places. The problem likely lies in other aspects of the regulations. I bet NY has a lot of bucks wearing doe tags ( legally and illegally), a lot of public land deer being tagged as private, etc.

Terry Lightle · December 01, 2022, 06:18:05 PM

Have check stations again and do away with crossbows and baiting

woodchucker · December 01, 2022, 06:46:33 PM

Sorry, Wolf... I have to disagree

This has been in place, for the last 20 years. Bucks aren't any bigger.

As for bucks wearing doe tags... wrong again. On a preference point system.
You have to be turned down once, to get a point. Get a doe tag about every other year.

GCook · December 01, 2022, 07:14:17 PM

QDM isn't just about big bucks. It's about maturity in the herd, a healthier herd. The science is proven. You can talk all you want about money and politics. If you allow bucks to get some age and you get better breeding percentages. You allow doe to mature and you have more successful fawn crops.