DOES with BOWS

[alpo]

One resolution that I believe would please many Bowhunters, but unfortunately annoy Gunners, would be to allow Bowhunters to be able to harvest either sex, for archery tackle only of course.
Given our low success rate & the fact that many of our more proficient Bowhunters would still choose to use their 1 deer tag per year on a buck, we would not have an adverse affect on the herd anytime soon. (It may even draw some others to the sport of bowhunting.)

It could also be applied by zone as well, thus allowing bowhunters to hunt for DOE or Buck in zones such as 2A, without applying for draw in that area.

While I am talking I should also mention that I believe the Doe tags should be DOE ONLY, to discourage the trophy hunters from using the draw as last day gimme option, or "Bucks only, ever" guys from applying to reduce others chances.


there i said, now let me have it! lol

[huntwisely]

Great start, Alpo !

[noluck]

I agree with the antlerless only on antlerless tags Alpo. But I have to wonder, the suggestion of does only for archery tackle (I sure wouldn't) but some would consider a crossbow to just be a bow turned on it side. Would you suggest putting in the stipulation of bows and only bows to close that possibility?

[alpo]

I guess i have multiple thoughts in my resoloution, but i was thinking of the separately.
1- bowhunters should be allowed to harvest either sex, with only their basic deer license. possibly only within the zones that have the more stable or growing deer populations.

2- Doe tags, as they are distributed now, should be DOE ONLY, for the reasons i mentioned as well as to help the DNR biologist better control the herds growth.
In a previous thread it was mentioned that hunters had not done their part in filling their Doe tags and had often opted to shoot the spikes or button heads instead.... so take away that option & get the results they seek i say.

[noluck]

Alpo, after a few years of applying for a doe tag and not getting one I called DNR to ask some questions. I brought up a suggestion like yours about bowhunters being able to take either sex. The answer was "If we (DNR) make the exception for bowhunters, other interest groups will ask for the same priviledge, next it will be the veterans".

[POINTY STICKS]

yes noluck that is the way things are. However I can not see any reason DNR could not make DOE only tag available for selected zones.

If there are 2500 doe tags available in Zone 4, why couldn't the take 1000 of those and make them doe only. Leave the other 1500 for the draw for those who want to play with the system.

Myself I would rather harvest a doe as I find the meat to be better tasting. I'd buy a doe tag ever year (my preference) and sitting on a stand bow in hand your going to see way more does than bucks. I myself don't agree with the either or way of thinking. If nothing else DNR would know that doe tag WILL be used if the hunter takes a deer and not MAYBE it'll get used.

Last year there were 2000 tags for zone 4. 11475 people applied for those tags and 521 does were harvested. 3266 bucks were taken total harvest 3790.

Would there have been more does if the hunter had no choice YES. It's not a money issue for DNR as they do not receive any money from the draw. The call center on the other end of the phone gets it all at this time.

[noluck]

Do you think that if it was doe only there wouldn't be enough applicants for the draw to justify the call center? What if instead of a draw, a doe only license is available at a higher cost through DNR offices with a first come first served policy, that way the doe tags for a zone are still controlled and the money can go to DNR and hopefully wildlife management. It is obviously a very small contract for whatever call centre gets it and will not affect any jobs that way.

[alpo47]

that brings me to another resolution then, I suggest we have the doe draw & the moose draw hosted by the DNR somehow, so that they make the money created by the lottery can be used for DNR projects or funding...... maybe to fund that same mini call center so that they can call hunters for their hunter report card information.

[litekpr]

"Doe tags should be DOE ONLY,"

I agree 100%

[ARROW SLINGER]

Finally ! something we all seem to agree on.
Doe tasty, Buck pretty- one tag no choice. K.I.S.S

[barryonly]

I'm also for doe tags being used for does only. The "trophy" hunters would then not be in the doe draws raising the odds for those of us who would be satisfied with a freezer full of doe meat, as well as helping lower the number of does in problem areas.