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I hope things don't go like they did about 15 years ago on my Farm in Moniteau County.We killed 5 Mature Bucks and everyone of them had lost their Antlers.I know sounds like BS,but we didn't take a Horn one.

oneshot
The Big Grin was working on them

Like I said on another thread, I'm guessing that the antlerless kill increases.....including the # of antlerless bucks. I think the end result of this rule is going to be bucks being taken at a younger age, rather than allowing them to grow older.

oneshot, what time of year did ya'all kill them bucks?

Sounds to me like they needed killin, if they were mature bucks w/out during season. Cull bucks for sure.

You know though the same Farm I killed my biggest Buck Body Size,but it was only a 6 point 18" spread,very Mature.But it wouldn't be legal.

It would make Drives interesting to.Their telling you to look a Buck over before shooting.If your doing a Deer Drive you don't have that much time.I've seen Guys shoot Bucks say they was Big 10 point,get to the Deer be a Basket 6 is that what you call major Ground Shrinkage?

oneshot
The Big Grin goes by Tail Size on his Mice

OF: They have already moved the January portion of the antlerless season up into December to protect those bucks of which you speak. I cannot remember the numbers, but a significant portion of those deer harvested in the extended season were antlerless bucks, and the MDC made changes to protect them. I hunt a lot, and I will say this. In two of the last 3 years, I have seen a half rack on the first weekend of ML season (when ML season started the first weekend in December). So, some bucks do shed early. But, I saw 16 different bucks with full headgear in early January in one Saturday of bowhunting last bow season. So, my thoughts are that a few will be killed, but not nearly as many as before (i.e., when the extended season was in January). I, for one, am not buying your antlerless buck BS, unless it is you are referring to button bucks. TOS

TOS if you will look at my post this was before they had Extended Season.It was durring regular Firearms Season.

oneshot
The Big Grin knew that.

Yeah Oneshot, explain that to me. I have been rifle season for over 20 years, and I have yet to see a buck that had shed during regular firearms season. You sure you weren't running with that rainbow crew down in southern MO back in those days? I wouldn't be surprised to hear that they extended out of the MTNF into the likes of central MO. If so, I would buy damn near anything you say that you may have seen. Including dancing trees and dragons and such.

Like I really care I know what we did don't really matter.

oneshot
Hey oneshot pass the Big Grin the Popcorn.

TOS - I'm not talking mature bucks that have shed their for the year. I'm talking about people whacking vealison and taking young antlerless bucks. If people can't fill their freezers with 6 pointers and antlerless tags remain so readily available, I think hunters will take 2 or 3 small, antlerless deer. Time will tell, but I say that average age of "antlerless" deer checked in is going to start swinging towards younger deer.

Oneshot, I am not doubting what you say. I have no reason to doubt your word. But, wouldn't you agree that this is against the norm?

Heck OF, folks already are whacking those button bucks. I would like to see what percentage of button bucks comprise the overall antlerless harvest. Now, that would be interesting.

Like I said, sounds to me like those deer needed to be culled anyway.

Ok that I wll agree with TOS.Hey I got one for you I have a neighbor that has two Racks in Velvet that he said he got durring Regular Firearms Season.

Yes I did call the local Agent on it.He said he couldn't do anything,he said he wanted to catch the Guy killing the out of Season.

oneshot
The Big Grin thinks they all eat the same

Oneshot: I have two really good friends that are agents. It takes nearly an act of God for a prosecutor to take the case on something like that. So, I think a lot of agents only pursue those issues of which they are certain that they can get a prosecutor to take on. I know of one buck that a poacher killed that a buddy of mine knows of. He even knows it's exact whereabouts, but he cannot get his hands on it for anything. Anymore, these he said she said things are difficult. Of course, you do have lazy agents as well. They must have really done some butt-busting to get that Iowa-MO scandal broken down. I bet they may have had to go as far as having hidden microphones and cameras and such. Don't know, just speculating. TOS