It sure would simplify the process just to say minimum 4 points on one side and this would also allow for the cull of basket racks. The judging between the ears sure has the possibility to appear like it is setup for hunter failure and monetary gain for TPWD.
After several years of testing this science project its time to review the data and adjust the standards. While I think data will show a growth in antlers and buck maturity for the first few years of this program. I believe now we are seeing the larger bucks only due to the program getting harvested leaving a population of mature 8 points under 13" to dominate the gene pool. Many breeders say the dominate gene is the traditional 8 and is why they specifically target the recessive genes to grow breeders on deer farms. As a sportsman I want to do the right thing for our resources and think we need science with common sense to look at the data. Much like the 70's and 80's in fishing where folks kept bass that could be released education and exposure increased catch and release not a 21" size limit.
Wouldnt this type of regulation lead to there only being the bucks with the worst genetics, tiny racks? Its culling all the good ones out. I dont get it?
IMO, eventually there will only be inside the ear bucks as we are seeing in Liberty county where they grow straight up between the ears. This regulation will eventually kill hunting deer all together except for those on managed land. We have been seeing this for several years now and those deer are maturing and reproducing their own type but remain non-shooters. I would them rather utilize a body size for age than horn size.
Seems like this is just going to cause a bunch of older bucks with antlers less than 13" to breed and spread the gene... seems like this needs to get looked at and talked about. Would love to see some science behind this. Where I hunt, for the past few years I have had to pass up older bucks that don’t meet the 13” criteria and it’s been getting a little frustrating.
@hackamore If a game warden measures the ears and the ears measure 12”, then the hunter would be allowed to keep the deer. The ears are the standard for deciding whether or not to shoot.
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I seriously doubt that all bucks have exactly 13" spread ears. So what happens if a deer has 12" ears and matching 12" antlers and you shoot it and are stopped by a game warden?
I am sure that all deer will stand still so you can take a picture and look at it forever before you shoot. For sure they will look straight at you just like in the video above. So glad that we are managing the deer correctly for the Trophy hunters. I have gotten to hunt on private property all of my life and shot many deer. I do not think that this has changed the size of some of the deer but, we have many deer that are at least 8pt and I do not think they will ever be legal to shoot. That has to be good for this alleged problem that they are resolving. For a hunter who has not ever shot a deer I really feel bad and hunting is nothing like it used to be. All of this is for trophy hunters only.
From the Antler Restriction Regulation: "With so many more "quality" bucks available for harvest, and only 1 buck tag available, few hunters chose to use their only buck tag on a spike. The likely result was high-grading of the buck population. Therefore, the regulation was modified (adding a second buck to the bag, which must be restricted to a buck with at least 1 unbranched antler) to allow more hunting opportunity while minimizing the risk of high-grading."
I haven’t taken a buck since the alter restrictions were created. I have seen bucks but in east texas they don’t give you time to judge them. It also seems that the horns in east texas grow upwards more than outwardly.
I have 12 wild bucks on my 10 acres, and only one has a spread big enough to harvest. I have an eight year old six point who's rack goes straight up, and he is one of the breeding males. I keep hoping he gets hit by a car, or get's taken out by coyotes. my land is a bit over populated, Maybe soon we'll have a nice Bovine Tuberculosis out break, or some nice chronic wasting to take these basket racks out of the mix. I have no fences, so the deer can come and go as they please, but for some reason they like my 10 acres, since I don't mess with them till deer season. I had six fawns this year, so I'm pretty sure the lack of forage will start thinning the herd. Maybe someone down there at TPW will look into Henderson County's deer regulations, before Mother nature decides to take action.
I'm not from Texas but this seems like the dumbest rule on record. This may work for fish, like a slot rule. But fish can be accurately measured and returned alive...you can't unshoot a deer. Then you get fined for self reporting??? Wow. My Dad shot a buck during a doe only extension of the hunting season (He was in his 80's). He reported it to the DNR and they confiscated the deer but No fine. And the warden offered to sell him another confiscated deer. (Check was to DNR so the Warden was not personally profitting). Wisconsin deer hunter.
I shot a buck and it's antlers were past the ears and it ended up being less than 11 inches. I got a hefty fine while I had a major life crisis going on financially.... its unfortunate that I have to cough up so much money for something I was honest and concerned about myself, it was an accident and should have been a warning due to the antlers going past the ears...
@CQNNER Currently a resident hunting license costs $25, with additional stamps available to purchase for hunting migratory and upland game birds. The license is valid from date of sale through August 31, 2011. You can buy online or through licensed agents. For details, call (800) 792-1112 or see the Texas Parks and Wildlife website
A lot of these comments are years old and talking about mature bucks never extending past 13” this season. I’ve seen 3 personally in Wise county. These rules need to be revised or we will won’t be able to hunt due to these ridiculous rules these counties have implemented.
@hackamore If you go to the home page of our website (RU-vid won't allow us to post links), type in Antler Restriction Regulation in the site serach window, on the page that comes up go to “Why add a second buck to the bag? And why make "spikes" legal?”
Another way for government overreach. Way to let trophy hunters to determine what we can and can't shoot. Keep making up whatever rules you want to make it harder and harder to enjoy our god given right to hunt.
Bad examples. All in west or south tx. No where that the antler restrictions apply! It’s bullshit. Show what the hunters will actually be seeing in a case where they could be facing the law
Dumbest rule ever. It’s all about writing tickets and getting money. Most hunters mange their deer. We did before this stupid rule came to be. Leave us alone and let us mange our on deer. What will you do when you’ve driven most of the hunters away and the Population gets out of control.
Unfortunately we all know "those people" who will just shoot. I believe this is for "those people". They don't care, they're just going to take it so they can say they got a deer. It's always the idiots who use poor judgment that cause new rules and regulations to be written for everyone to have to deal with. 🙄
why kill deer’s i just makes no sense i bet if it was made illegal half the people that hunt would eventually murder someone cuz there just wierd like you like hunting an innocent deer that can’t do anything about it
