Antler Restrictions

Quote:
Good point "Bacs" this is the type of input the division needs to hear.I agree spread should also be one of the criteria. Send your thoughts to the division,this is the time of year they somewhat listen.

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Posted: 13 Feb 2008 10:28 AM
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Just curiuos,how many of you agree with the current antler restrictions and have you seen a increase of larger bucks since it's inception?

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 10:32 AM
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I think it depends on where your hunting and the locals....I know where i hunt zone 3 the locals shoot anything.. if its brown its down is most of their mottos... Hence why we had the poachers in westmilford caught.. they take everything all year long.. __________________ Ima meatatarian.... i only eat meat...it's a personal choice that i have made....

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 10:37 AM
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i like the concept in general though i hunt in zone 13 in an area with way too many deer. i was doing a management hunt and was willing to take anything to get my first deer. i had a 4 pointer and a spike under my stand and couldn't shoot. i don't really understand why zone 13 has antler restrictions since the population needs to be thinned in most parts __________________ "The man who does not like to see, hunt, photograph, or otherwise outwit birds or animals is hardly normal. He is supercivilized, and I for one do not know how to deal with him." -Aldo Leopold

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 10:43 AM
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I've seen an increase in larger bucks but antler restrictions don't decrease the deer numbers. I'm a meat hunter and there would be less deer in zone 9 if there were no restrictions. A dead deer = 1 less deer no matter of the sex. They want the herds to be thinned and then put restrictions on thinning it. Doesn't make sense to me. And the antlers don't either. Granted I've never shot a huge buck, but all that would do is force me into a mount that the $ spent would be better off spent elsewhere. My bragging rights come from the epicurean delight, not from the bone. JMO. __________________ The 4 seasons - Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer and Hunting Season jerseyhunter@NewJerseyHunter.com

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 10:56 AM
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I definitely see bigger bucks than I used to before antler restrictions. Both in NJ and PA.

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 11:10 AM
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There will be bigger and bigger and bigger bucks each year from now on and it won't stop. Its the expantion in building so the more that it continues the more places that we have no access will increase and the deer will have there sanctuarys to hide out in. Now comes the rub is the motor vehicles that hunt 24 x 7 x 12 that will kill these animals that made it past 3.5. The amount of big deer are in the tight areas will increase but access will decrease thus making it harder to take an animal of the true trophy status all dream about. It can be done but it will get harder.

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 11:10 AM
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I think it is a great idea I think it should be state wide.. I hunt up in zone 6 and the antler restrictions were dropped.. __________________ I just want to Hunt...

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 11:22 AM
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I hunt zone 6 and have done so for 30 years now. The numbers of 8 point deer increased during the APR years-but not the size of the rack. The average 8 point was a 2 1/2 year-old deer with a 12" spread and short tines. Public land is hunted hard. The only thing that including a 3 point on one side antler restriction did was change the age of the average buck killed from 1 1/2 YOA to 2 1/2 YOA. In Order for antler restriction to work you need quality ground, 4 points or better with a minimum 14" spread(ear tip to ear tip), and uniformity in application. (lots of guys in 6 shot forks and spikes and checked them in as zone 5 deer during the restricted years). Unless you have all three factors APR isn't worth it. Then again, no one said you cant practice APR voluntarily. Despite all this, and the huge numbers of deer shot every year-there are always a few slammers running arround that are way smarter than us and seem to make it from year to year. __________________ Support the N.J.O.A. and the "Littel Amendment" An amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution that Guarantees the right to hunt, trap, and fish in New JerseyNew Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 11:23 AM
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Thanks for the input guys,i used to hunt 13 till i lost my property to building,i think the restrictions will give you guys some really big deer in the next couple years.Wish i still had somewhere to hunt in 13 but since i don't, good luck guys.

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 11:27 AM Last Edited By: Bacs
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Antler restrictions don't do anything but target the bucks that you are trying to protect...ie: 1.5 - 2.5 year old deer. In areas with good soil & nutrition these deer are 6's & 8's & that makes them tragets. Antler restrictions as well as a minimum spread requirement of say 16" is a different story. JMHO __________________ SEMPER FIDELIS (\ (\ (=' x')----<<< (,('')('') Dead Rabbit

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 11:31 AM
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I would like to see 4 points on one side state wide. From what I have seen in zone 9 is far more 2.5 year old deer with 14-16 inch spreads, nice but why not try to increase the number of 3.5 year old deer by setting the standards even higher.

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 11:50 AM
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Good point "Bacs" this is the type of input the division needs to hear.I agree spread should also be one of the criteria. Send your thoughts to the division,this is the time of year they somewhat listen.

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 11:53 AM
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Quote: Good point "Bacs" this is the type of input the division needs to hear.I agree spread should also be one of the criteria. Send your thoughts to the division,this is the time of year they somewhat listen. All ideas/suggestions for the 2009-10 Game Code needed to be in by 2.5.08. __________________ SEMPER FIDELIS (\ (\ (=' x')----<<< (,('')('') Dead Rabbit

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 12:38 PM
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to what jerseyhunter said the herd can be thinned by taking does not bucks thats why so many doe days were implemented i could go for antlers past the ears wit a 6 point rule __________________ i pay to hunt here....do you "pay to hike here" CROSSBOWS are divisive....look whats happening to hunter unity 8 out of 10 posts on crossbows are negative..."how was it a scientific survey"

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 1:19 PM
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Quote: to what jerseyhunter said the herd can be thinned by taking does not bucks thats why so many doe days were implemented i could go for antlers past the ears wit a 6 point rule I only say this because I've only seen 2 does from the start of Bow throught the last of Permit shotgun Fortunately after seeing these 2 on 3 different occasios I finally got them But in the interim I had to let many bucks walk by, which I don't really mind . But I had to let a 6 go because I couldn't be quite certain on the number of point given the 1" rule. (he was rubbing a tree at 10' and couldn't take the chance of spooking him) Otherwise he would have been in my larder. __________________ The 4 seasons - Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer and Hunting Season jerseyhunter@NewJerseyHunter.com

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 3:41 PM
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I'll hold my comments. __________________ PSE X Force Baby! UBNJ Ocean County Rep. AC Super Slim 340/Blazers G5 Tekan 11 extra cut blades There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness" Ah Bowhunting!

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 3:50 PM
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Yes along with alot of other hunters who care about conservation and not if it's brown it's down. __________________ PSE X Force Baby! UBNJ Ocean County Rep. AC Super Slim 340/Blazers G5 Tekan 11 extra cut blades There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness" Ah Bowhunting!

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 4:33 PM
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I listen to all sides but feel many factors have contributed to a decline in the quality of hunting in NJ. For example I have property in zone 51, the last 2 sat of the gun season 2 different groups drove land all around my land that was not posted. I did not hear a shot. I left to get a bite to eat with my buddy. I turned around becuase I left my cell phone on a log next to my truck. Coming down the road I see a pick up pull up to the property and 4 guys bail out. I catch up to them and they were going to push our woods out to the non posted woods across the street. Heres the kicker they were from zone 22, the only reason they were up here is becuase they wanted to keep hunting and knew zone 51 was open. They started in manasquan wma and then rode around looking for any unposted land to hunt. The following weekend another group from lakehurst and lakewood was doing the same thing but they did not enter our land because I stopped and warned them first and took their plate #s. So I have a reason to feel why I do. __________________ PSE X Force Baby! UBNJ Ocean County Rep. AC Super Slim 340/Blazers G5 Tekan 11 extra cut blades There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness" Ah Bowhunting!

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 4:45 PM
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Guys, I feel there are plenty of others who would like the quality of bucks and hunting in general to improve. Unfortunately the acts like you described kills the attitudes of many of us. I have a small piece of property about 10 acres surrounded by some bigger pieces with VERY LIMITED access. Last year I was monitoring 3 P&Y bucks. Opening day of bow (EAB) zone I hear a rifle shot. Decide to get down and check it out. Got there in time to catch only the type and color of the pickup. Found the body minus the head in the field. Now when I called F&G I did NOT get any response or visit for a full month. This happened numerous times(the poaching) over the hunting season. So I ask how do you keep a good attitude with that

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 1:31 PM
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So how would you mesure a 14-16" spread? Is the deer going to stand there while you take out a tape? And what happends to you if you take a buck that's only 13"? Will you be fined? How can a rule like that be fairly enforced? I got anti's telling me I can't shoot any deer, Now I have other hunters telling me I can't shoot certain deer cause they want to see how big his antlers will get? Why do I have to pass it up if I don't care about racks? Just playing devil's advocate here. __________________ Hunt with a Vizsla, Cause life's to short to hunt with an ugly dog! Deer-A-Thon Pro Staffer

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 1:53 PM
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Antler restrictions are a tough call in this state. Hunter numbers are falling. Land access is falling. Towns need to control deer populations and they don't care what type of deer they are. Same with the farmers. They don't care if it is a Booner or scrub eating their crops. On top of that deer need to age to get larger. They have to dodge cars, coyotes, poachers. Not enough COs to enforce even more regulations. Tell the weekend hunter in regular bow who can only hunt saturdays he can't shoot the only deer he may see. Lost interest, lost hunter, lost dollars. Besides antler restrictions can be used against the Division by antis who use the "TROPHY" phrase. Just a tough issue in New Jersey. How do you determmine that the restrictions work?? Maybe you are seeing more and bigger bucks because hunter numbers are dropping so more bucks are surviving. Factor in the safe zones created by new development. Are we creating bigger bucks but they are soon to be inaccessable? OK my fingers are tired

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 1:58 PM
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I hunt in Pa, and we have noticed quite an improvement in antler size, wasn't to sure in the beginning but now think he has really paid off, probably better for the deer as well.

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 2:20 PM
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If you hunt public land there are very few giant bucks.

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 3:24 PM
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What will work more than antler restrictions is totally reducing the # of bucks any one hunter can harvest. If they only allowed 1 with a bow and 1 with a gun. That would do more than apr becuase it puts the numbers for survival on the bucks side. Then if we could change the thinking of Nj hunters to show some self restraint and not have to kill a buck because it is manly or because they pasi extra for that tag. You would see more mature bucks around. NJ can produce quality bucks that rival any other state in the nation. In the past 5 year there have been several pushing the 200 inch limit in the classic and just think how many monsters get killed and never entered. It can be done but it has to come from "we the hunter" __________________ PSE X Force Baby! UBNJ Ocean County Rep. AC Super Slim 340/Blazers G5 Tekan 11 extra cut blades There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness" Ah Bowhunting!

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 3:37 PM
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but the federation turns down a reduction to 2 bucks __________________ i pay to hunt here....do you "pay to hike here" CROSSBOWS are divisive....look whats happening to hunter unity 8 out of 10 posts on crossbows are negative..."how was it a scientific survey"

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 3:48 PM
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at least we are on the same page __________________ i pay to hunt here....do you "pay to hike here" CROSSBOWS are divisive....look whats happening to hunter unity 8 out of 10 posts on crossbows are negative..."how was it a scientific survey"

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 4:03 PM
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cant preach hunters united when you cant listen to the other side __________________ i pay to hunt here....do you "pay to hike here" CROSSBOWS are divisive....look whats happening to hunter unity 8 out of 10 posts on crossbows are negative..."how was it a scientific survey"

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 4:50 PM
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Understood. If you ever have a piece of property where you think MGMT will work and need others willing to go along, give me a shout

Posted: 13 Feb 2008 4:59 PM
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Understood now. I'm a little slow today __________________ PSE X Force Baby! UBNJ Ocean County Rep. AC Super Slim 340/Blazers G5 Tekan 11 extra cut blades There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness" Ah Bowhunting!