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I tried to shorten it for an easier read....but its not that short.
CHANGES IN BUCK TAGS:
3 buck tags per hunting year.
ONE "any-buck", and TWO "quality buck" tags, issued per hunter/year.
The "any-buck" tag--------------------consists of any legal buck. (3" or better)
The "3pt quality buck" tag---------consists of any buck with 3 legal points on one side or better.
The "4pt quality buck" tag----------consists of any buck with 4 legal points on one side or better.
These tags may be used in any order.
Hunters would only receive those three buck tags per hunting year, regardless of licenses purchased and weapons used.
Once the hunter fills all three of his/her buck tags, their buck hunting is over. This will cause most hunters to be more selective in their buck harvests. Causing the average age and quality of bucks to rise.
BUTTON BUCKS:
73% of hunters would like to see button bucks (any buck with 3" of antler or less) to be counted as a buck harvest. Accidental harvests of button bucks would cause the hunter to surrender a buck tag. If the hunter has no buck tag left to surrender, he/she forfeits any further tags from being issued to him/her for that year.
This should significantly cut down on accidental and purposeful harvesting of button bucks as "antlerless" deer. This includes military license holders. *Youth hunters are excluded from this.
DOE HARVEST CHANGES:
We would like to see doe harvest limits remain zone specific.
However, we would like to introduce a limit of four does per hunter/year. 67% of hunters wanted a limit set on antlerless deer, 60.5% of those hunters agreed that limiting the doe harvest to four deer per hunter, per year was best.
However, we realize some zones are so overpopulated that we must further try to reduce the numbers.
This is where the doe harvest incentive plan comes into play;
Upon checking in ANY one of their four does, ALL hunters have the opportunity to purchase "antlerless raffle tags" over the counter. The fee to purchase these tags should be small, such as ($3.00-$5.00). The incentive to purchase these tags, comes from the fact that every "raffle tag" you purchase, puts you in the drawing for a hunting related prize. The money collected from these tags should be divided equally; ($1.50-$2.50) goes towards each of the following; (NJDFW), and the raffle prize. The raffle prize could be quite expensive depending upon number of raffle entries. Also getting a local shop to provide the prize(s) at a discount could make buying and harvesting deer with these tags, VERY enticing.
Hunters are limited to ONE raffle tag purchase at a time. In other words, you may only purchase another one, AFTER you have successfully filled the previous one.
All hunters purchasing a tag are entered into the raffle. However, hunters who fill this tag will double their chance of winning, by receiving an extra raffle number from the check in station when tagging in their deer. (the tag number and the possession seal number will be entered for that hunter)
These doe tags would be zone specific, and can only be used in the zones designated on the tag. The States Wildlife Biologists can decide which zones need more doe harvests, offering the extra antlerless tags to successful hunters for these specific zones.
EARN-A-BUCK:
Due to the above changes, and new incentive to manage the doe herd, we feel it is best to do away with the Earn-a-Buck program. While it was successful, it has its downfalls. It increases the likely-hood that hunters may take a buck before harvesting a doe and not tag it in. Where as, the above program separates the motives of buck and doe hunting. Allowing the hunter to harvest bucks, while still motivating him/her to harvest does. I dont believe we will see a significant increase in buck harvest totals, because hunters will be limited not only by number of bucks, but by the quality. Doe harvests should not decline either due to the incentive program. Also the earn-a-buck program has taught many hunters the importance of managing the deer herd through antlerless harvests. I doubt they will forget the significance of harvesting the does.
LICENSE, PERMIT, and FUNDING CHANGES:
The current license structure has nothing wrong with it, it has worked flawlessly for many years. However, due to the above changes, some alterations to the license structure would have to be made to prevent problems. The upside is it may very well be cheaper for the division to produce the new licenses. Allowing the division to put money towards other more important things.
The license itself would no longer be weapon specific. Instead, a "Hunting License" would be issued to all hunters who can present a previous years license or other proof of completing "hunter ed". This "hunting license" would cost $2.50*, but is invalid without at least one of the following weapon stamps.
*($1 of which would go to the purchasers choice of charity, such as the Division, Conservation officers, Helping the Hungry, etc.
The stamps are weapon specific and would cost;
Shotgun-$26.00
Bow-$29.00
Small game-should be included as it always has.
Senior Shotgun-$14.00
Senior Bow-$15.00
Junior-Free
All Around Sport.-$71.00
The stamps would be affixed to the front or back, just like trout and pheasant stamps.
The "hunting license" would come with your three buck tags and one doe tag. Each subsequent doe tag would be given to you upon checking in your antlerless deer. (limit of four)
This is to prevent hunters from receiving extra buck and doe tags by purchasing different licenses.
Permits would remain the same in cost, except they would no longer come with tags.
As you can tell, all the license costs remain the same, only the structure in which they are based has changed. The $1.00 fee is included.
These changes basically make hunters more aware, and selective of what deer they are harvesting. Yet doesnt force hunters to abide by strict, antler restrictions. Enabling them to fill their freezer.
CHANGES IN BUCK TAGS:
3 buck tags per hunting year.
ONE "any-buck", and TWO "quality buck" tags, issued per hunter/year.
The "any-buck" tag--------------------consists of any legal buck. (3" or better)
The "3pt quality buck" tag---------consists of any buck with 3 legal points on one side or better.
The "4pt quality buck" tag----------consists of any buck with 4 legal points on one side or better.
These tags may be used in any order.
Hunters would only receive those three buck tags per hunting year, regardless of licenses purchased and weapons used.
Once the hunter fills all three of his/her buck tags, their buck hunting is over. This will cause most hunters to be more selective in their buck harvests. Causing the average age and quality of bucks to rise.
BUTTON BUCKS:
73% of hunters would like to see button bucks (any buck with 3" of antler or less) to be counted as a buck harvest. Accidental harvests of button bucks would cause the hunter to surrender a buck tag. If the hunter has no buck tag left to surrender, he/she forfeits any further tags from being issued to him/her for that year.
This should significantly cut down on accidental and purposeful harvesting of button bucks as "antlerless" deer. This includes military license holders. *Youth hunters are excluded from this.
DOE HARVEST CHANGES:
We would like to see doe harvest limits remain zone specific.
However, we would like to introduce a limit of four does per hunter/year. 67% of hunters wanted a limit set on antlerless deer, 60.5% of those hunters agreed that limiting the doe harvest to four deer per hunter, per year was best.
However, we realize some zones are so overpopulated that we must further try to reduce the numbers.
This is where the doe harvest incentive plan comes into play;
Upon checking in ANY one of their four does, ALL hunters have the opportunity to purchase "antlerless raffle tags" over the counter. The fee to purchase these tags should be small, such as ($3.00-$5.00). The incentive to purchase these tags, comes from the fact that every "raffle tag" you purchase, puts you in the drawing for a hunting related prize. The money collected from these tags should be divided equally; ($1.50-$2.50) goes towards each of the following; (NJDFW), and the raffle prize. The raffle prize could be quite expensive depending upon number of raffle entries. Also getting a local shop to provide the prize(s) at a discount could make buying and harvesting deer with these tags, VERY enticing.
Hunters are limited to ONE raffle tag purchase at a time. In other words, you may only purchase another one, AFTER you have successfully filled the previous one.
All hunters purchasing a tag are entered into the raffle. However, hunters who fill this tag will double their chance of winning, by receiving an extra raffle number from the check in station when tagging in their deer. (the tag number and the possession seal number will be entered for that hunter)
These doe tags would be zone specific, and can only be used in the zones designated on the tag. The States Wildlife Biologists can decide which zones need more doe harvests, offering the extra antlerless tags to successful hunters for these specific zones.
EARN-A-BUCK:
Due to the above changes, and new incentive to manage the doe herd, we feel it is best to do away with the Earn-a-Buck program. While it was successful, it has its downfalls. It increases the likely-hood that hunters may take a buck before harvesting a doe and not tag it in. Where as, the above program separates the motives of buck and doe hunting. Allowing the hunter to harvest bucks, while still motivating him/her to harvest does. I dont believe we will see a significant increase in buck harvest totals, because hunters will be limited not only by number of bucks, but by the quality. Doe harvests should not decline either due to the incentive program. Also the earn-a-buck program has taught many hunters the importance of managing the deer herd through antlerless harvests. I doubt they will forget the significance of harvesting the does.
LICENSE, PERMIT, and FUNDING CHANGES:
The current license structure has nothing wrong with it, it has worked flawlessly for many years. However, due to the above changes, some alterations to the license structure would have to be made to prevent problems. The upside is it may very well be cheaper for the division to produce the new licenses. Allowing the division to put money towards other more important things.
The license itself would no longer be weapon specific. Instead, a "Hunting License" would be issued to all hunters who can present a previous years license or other proof of completing "hunter ed". This "hunting license" would cost $2.50*, but is invalid without at least one of the following weapon stamps.
*($1 of which would go to the purchasers choice of charity, such as the Division, Conservation officers, Helping the Hungry, etc.
The stamps are weapon specific and would cost;
Shotgun-$26.00
Bow-$29.00
Small game-should be included as it always has.
Senior Shotgun-$14.00
Senior Bow-$15.00
Junior-Free
All Around Sport.-$71.00
The stamps would be affixed to the front or back, just like trout and pheasant stamps.
The "hunting license" would come with your three buck tags and one doe tag. Each subsequent doe tag would be given to you upon checking in your antlerless deer. (limit of four)
This is to prevent hunters from receiving extra buck and doe tags by purchasing different licenses.
Permits would remain the same in cost, except they would no longer come with tags.
As you can tell, all the license costs remain the same, only the structure in which they are based has changed. The $1.00 fee is included.
These changes basically make hunters more aware, and selective of what deer they are harvesting. Yet doesnt force hunters to abide by strict, antler restrictions. Enabling them to fill their freezer.
