MDC Deer season changes

[Two Tall the Neanderthal]

Video

[CuppedAndCommitted]

This looks like the same dog and pony show they had for waterfowl. Enjoy the Kool-Aid boys.

[Two Tall the Neanderthal]

Being a waterfowler as much as anything, I can tell you it's nothing even close to similar. Our state has resident deer and can manage them... Waterfowl is something they can only harbor and give refuge. Albiet they have that all sorts of jacked, I see real and tangible benifits to the deer plan. I hope that it is enacted.

[Rafe Hollister]

I'm not a waterfowler so I can't comment on the similarities/differences between the plans. All I can say is this new direction may be an inconvenience for the If-It's-Brown-It's-Down crowd, but after a couple years there will be a lot more mature bucks. This can't do anything but help the bow hunters, while not seriously impacting the firearms hunters. I'm not a horn hunter but always welcome the prospect of seeing big bucks.

Besides that, I like Lonnie Hansen and would consider him as much an authority on deer as Charles Alsheimer, Chuck Adams, and MOCraig.

[lonepine]

I agree with ya Rafe, that's a first!

[PoisonSnake]

Cupped&Committed said:
This looks like the same dog and pony show they had for waterfowl. Enjoy the Kool-Aid boys.

This coming from one of the resident MO waterfowl eperts.

Truth is C&C, this isn't even close to the same type of ordeal. In fact, the MDC would like to change the seasons even more. But, there is some concern by the MDC that there is going to be some degree of outcry from the public. They are right. So, these changes aren't terribly radical.

Most serious deer hunters are hoping these changes will happen. In fact, most serious deer hunters would love to see something far more radical in terms of season changes. For the MDC to even come up with such ideas to be implemented is a positive. You can bet there will be some people bitching though.

[Warmouth]

I'd like to see the season pushed back after Thanksgiving. I can tell you that much.

[Tigerhaze]

I only watched the short version so I can only give my opinion on that. While I don't have a problem with <u>some</u> aspects of the proposed changes, I can see why C&C calls it a "dog and pony" show. For instance, they claim one of the main goals of the antler restrictions is to shift pressure from bucks to does. Their data showed that goal was not accomplished in northern MO and only minimally accomplished in central MO; yet the conclusion is to make it statewide? I would get skewered for jumping to a conclusion like that with my job!



Also, the impact of another goal (shifting the doe-only season) would undoubtedly shift most hunters in the November season to <u>bucks, not does</u> as hunters would likely would have gotten all the does they want in October; MDC didn't evaluate that impact on the antler restrictions. So where's the logic to the change for antler restrictions statewide based on a primary goal of shifting hunting pressure <u>from bucks to does</u>?



I can tell you it is probably as much economic and political as scientific and they just don't want to say it. I am not against antler restrictions, but I wish they would just tell it for how it is and not try to hide the reasons.



I also like how they start and end with "Your opinion matters". Makes you wonder why they have to emphasize that one, doesn't it?



I don't know that I am a fan of moving the doe season to October for a number of reasons- I see some real problems with that. I am actually suprised at the number of bow hunters on here are for it. I also don't like the idea of the buck season shifted to over Thanksgiving- I'm think the MO divorce rate may increase because of that one!



My $0.02.

[RB]

In the old days when the season start was as proposed we caught heck for trying to hunt at least a half day on Thanksgiving. The wives and moms beeched like crazy. If I'm off turkey day and the day after hunting will be done and the boss will get pizzed. I know all the ladies in our family were glad when they changed the season out of thanksgiving time. I'll bet they get a lot of feedback from the gals on this one.

[PoisonSnake]

TH: In Boone County we already have a 4 day urban antlerless season in October. If they are going to have it in my county, they may as well have it in all other counties of which the antlerless season will be open. I don't like the antlerless season in December, I'm not going to like it in November, and if they proposed it in June I wouldn't like it then either. That is the way I see it.

[Tigerhaze]

We have the urban season here in KC as well, but there's very little public land open to firearm doe hunting around here so you don't get a lot of pressure then. It definitely would be different if it was statewide.



I guess I saw the antlerless season in October being problematic for these reasons:



1) October can be a warm month (like this year) so some hunters would skip to avoid spoilage

2) You might have to move the youth hunt dates and may get reduced success for the youth hunt if the doe season preceeds it. If the youth hunt is first, it would be VERY early

3) Would likely have to adjust the fall turkey season dates as well

4) You would likely reduce bowhunting sucess during October and early November due to deer already under gun pressure



I could maybe see why MDC wants to move it to October though. I would imagine a lot of casual "hunters" have complained to them about having to hunt in cold or nasty weather that occurs in December. Maybe they explained how they would handle those issues in the long presentation.

[CuppedAndCommitted]

PoisonSnake said:

Cupped&Committed said:
This looks like the same dog and pony show they had for waterfowl. Enjoy the Kool-Aid boys.

This coming from one of the resident MO waterfowl eperts.

Truth is C&C, this isn't even close to the same type of ordeal. In fact, the MDC would like to change the seasons even more. But, there is some concern by the MDC that there is going to be some degree of outcry from the public. They are right. So, these changes aren't terribly radical.

Most serious deer hunters are hoping these changes will happen. In fact, most serious deer hunters would love to see something far more radical in terms of season changes. For the MDC to even come up with such ideas to be implemented is a positive. You can bet there will be some people bitching though.

Good doctor....

I never stated I was a waterfowl expert. The funny thing is, it doesn't take an expert to see how the MDC has forked up duck hunting. I am like alot of people here, a student of the outdoors, and enjoy huntin' ducks the most. I was merely expressing my point on the MDC.

You state how the John Q Public deer hunter will cry about the changes they want, and that the serious deer hunter will embrace these changes. What makes you think that the MDC ain't gonna cave to the pressure they get from the public and leave you "serious" deer hunters swingin in the wind.

Personally, I don't give a rat fart. I'm happy killin a doe for the freezer and being done with it.

In retrospect, I should have clarified my point. The MDC doesn't really care about what "you" think. They have thier plans and will adjust them in a fashion that they feel best protects thier 1/8 cent tax. If that means rat forking the "serious" deer hunter to appease the masses, then so be it.

MDC speak with forked tongue.

[PoisonSnake]

C&C: That is what I believe may happen. In this case, they may appeal to the masses and cave to them. I could be wrong though. I believe I posted that over on Cafe Outdoors a few weeks back. With the duck hunters, it seems to me that they didn't appeal to what most folks wanted and now you guys are suffering because of it. That is why I once again to feel this to be different than the duck situation.

Oh, and I do agree with the 1/8 of 1% sales tax statement.

[hobiecat]

I'm thinking C&C is right in that MDC already knows what it's going to do... good or bad. They really aren't looking for opinions in these "forums", they're just using them to try and sway the masses to their way of thinking... then they'll tell everybody that they went with "public opinion".

[Great White Hunter]

Repeal the 1/8 cent sales tax.

They'd pay attention to the "public" after that.