Jimimac

The concurrent buck and doe season is the tool the game commisionis using to reduce the overall deer numbers statewide. Not the AR's.In the past we used to have a three day doe season starting the Monday after the close of buck season. Now it's either sex for two weeks.

StrutNtom

Right now South Carolina hunters are torn in two on AR's or a buck limit.

Its pretty much turned hunters against hunters.

SC is another state that has awesome potential, if the deer just get to grow. There have been some really big bucks killed in SC this year. More people are catching on, but it still needs to be a state wide "law" on either AR's or a buck limit.

From what I've read and read about AR's is that they are a great "band aid" for bigger bucks, but in the long run it messes up the age structure b/c all of the older bucks are killed out and theres nothing, but young bucks left to breed. I don't buy this b/c even without AR's, most people aren't going to pass up a nice buck, so I don't see where the AR's will effect the age of the bucks that much. At least with AR's some of our young bucks will get to show their genetic potential. If I am not mistaken our avg. buck gets killed at 1.5yrs old.

Germ

The biggest stat is this IMO

PA uese to Shoot 20% 2.5 year old bucks or older.
Now it's over 50%. As Nodog pointed out the total harvest numbers has dropped.

The goal was to balance theage of bucks and reduce the herd.

[align=left]2001 – antlerless harvest – 301,379
antlered harvest – 203,221
20% of antlered bucks were 2.5 years or older[/align]

[align=left]2002 – antlerless harvest – 352,113
antlered harvest – 165,416[/align]

[align=left]2003 – antlerless harvest – 322,620
antlered harvest – 142,270[/align]

[align=left]2004 – antlerless harvest – 284,910
antlered harvest – 124,410[/align]

[align=left]2005 – antlerless harvest – 233,890
antlered harvest – 120,500
50% of antlered bucks were 2.5 years or older[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]I would like to see 2006 and 2007 numbers. I bet the antlered harvest is going to be higher[/align]

ijimmy

Ive been hunting SW Pa for over 10 years , in the last 3 the bucks have been getting bigger , but Ive been seeing less deer , and allot less does , I attribute that to the early muzzle season they have recently put into place

Just look at the posts on this board , many quality PA bucks killed by board members here , this year .

nodog

Maybe. Should be. Maybe not.

Just look at the total for 2001 (rounded) 504,000 and the 2005, 354,000. 83,000 less bucks. 67,000 less antlerless. Just mind blowing to me. Any way you slice it that is one heck of a big reduction in just 4 years. The whole state of Ohio is generally around 210,000. Been getting higher every year and I expect this year to be a new record around 250,000, but still... Pa should be the poster state for anti hunters if it wasn't for the fact that the most hated, trophy hunters, weren't so happy.

I can see my origanal posted calculations were off for total harvested animals. Just go with Germs. Look them over. Antlerless numbers rose the first year but look at the decline. After 2002 down 30,000, down 38,000 more,down 50,000 more. That's 10's of thousands. Not my idea of a deer hunters paradise.

Maybe I am wrong and you guys are reducing your herd by that much. If you have, your not going to see an increase in bucks at all. They wont be born. I have hunted and seen no deer. It aint pleasant.

I think your just loosing hunters. Only state I've ever heard where residents don't want to hunt their own. That just aint right. Any idea on those numbers Germ?

For the record I am very happy for you guys that have taken nice deer. Congrats! Hope you get a bigger one next time.

Germ

Nodog wait until you see MI numbers for 2007

I think a lot of reasons.

Not enough youth hunters
Baby Boomers are getting old
Access to land
1 and done guys
Guys going to other states.

It's happing in MI right now.

I think 2006 and 2007 antlered harvest will be up, but will see.

ijimmy

I dont know how Pa would determin the age of bucks being shot or percentage's . even a guess would be a joke .

Germ

Same way MI does(I thought), check station data. Believe or not the way MIdoes it is very reaible. I can tell you I did not at one time. After talking to guys in Ohio where it is mandentory you check every deer.

ijimmy

Pa has no check stations

Germ

All else fails call

They have DMAP program, if you are in you have to send in your harvest data. They also send out harvest reports.

So I guess I agree with you now, how they heck to they know[&:]