Agree or Disagree?

[TheLBLman]

I would like to see antler restrictions on adult hunters, still allowing the taking of does. This would help the quality of bucks and still allow youts to shoot any buck they want.

I'm going to disagree with you.
Antler restrictions mainly just protect yearling bucks, causing more 2 1/2-yr-olds to be available or harvest.

But the worst thing about antler restrictions is the hunter high-grading of antlers that are made far worse by antler restrictions. What happens is the bucks with better antler genetics are actually killed younger and at a higher rate as compared to areas with no antler restrictions.

 

[deerhunter10]

I would rather kill a spike than a doe to keep population up, in unit L I'm sure it doesn't matter but everywhere else it does. You can't eat antlers. I love my mounts but if I never killed one that went on the wall it wouldn't bother me because I'm filling the freezer.

Not counting the rack I'm interested if there is a legitimate reason to shoot does over any buck.

That's the problem we need better regions. I'm in unit L. And all of our properties with an exception of one needs does killed off every year. I have seen ratios as bad is 15 to 17 does to bucks. So yes there is a ton of reasons to kill does but also reasons to kill bucks. It's about balanced herds.

 

[deerhunter10]

I would like to see antler restrictions on adult hunters, still allowing the taking of does. This would help the quality of bucks and still allow youts to shoot any buck they want.

Absolutely against that 100 percent. I have seen some mature bucks that are only 4 or 5 points.

 

[MidTennFisher]

Antler restrictions are a must! 7 points on each side, 22" inside spread, and/or 200". Must have 2 of 3. Or gotta have no more than 3 on one side, under 10" spread, or total gross less than 50". No deer from 2.5 to 8.5 in age. What we need are just more restrictions.

And it has to have at least one drop tine of 3" or greater.

 

[Ski]

I would rather kill a spike than a doe to keep population up, in unit L I'm sure it doesn't matter but everywhere else it does. You can't eat antlers. I love my mounts but if I never killed one that went on the wall it wouldn't bother me because I'm filling the freezer.

Not counting the rack I'm interested if there is a legitimate reason to shoot does over any buck. I also think if times didn't put us where we are and having lots of antler chasers we wouldn't have half the regs we do. It's almost supply and demand, and the demand for big bucks is outrageous so Gw's and law makers keep changing it, imo. Passionate I don't care what someone does to each their own.... trying to learn from others perspectives(not just big antler perspective)

It really depends on herd sex ratio and overall herd health. That's the kind of stuff TWRA is supposed to be factoring in when establishing regulations.

As for "antler chasers", mature bucks make up the tiny pinnacle tip of the pyramid. In terms of bucks, buttons and yearlings make up the base bulk of the number. There are more of them than any other age class. 2yr olds make up the next smaller layer. 3yr olds smaller still yet, and so on. For every one 5yr+ buck there are dozens of younger bucks. It's just how nature designed herd dynamics. So with that mind, what do you reckon happens when an environment is created that allows for higher numbers of mature bucks? A rising tide floats all boats. Not only does it mean exponentially more younger bucks for every one added mature buck, but since nature also prefers a 1:1 sex ratio it also means exponentially more does. It's literally impossible to increase mature buck numbers without also exponentially increasing every other sex and age class. Nature prohibits it.

That's what has me scratching my head with these conversations and some of the comments where hunters demonize the trophy guys. There's an apparent disconnect somewhere because in order for trophy hunters to have a better hunt, all hunters across the board FIRST get a better hunt. It's a ground up build. We're all on the same side. We all want a better hunt. Trophy hunters aren't trying to ruin anyone else's hunt. Exactly opposite. We understand it takes a healthy, robust, well balanced herd in order to have consistent supply of old bucks. And that healthy, robust, well balanced herd makes hunting awesome for everybody. That's why I can't understand the animosity directed at trophy hunters.

 

[Wooden Arrow]

Kentucky seems to be doing well with their "one buck" limit, despite resistance in the beginning. SOME of the places Tennessee has tried it have worked, some not so much. Catoosa is turning out much larger average bucks these days than before. around here, we still have too many obsessed with antlers that look down on lowly doe shooters. they want the benefits of a balanced herd population without having to do anything that might bring that about.

 

[gasman]

It hasn't been too long ago we could kill 4 bucks. Bring that back.

 

[themanpcl]

Kentucky seems to be doing well with their "one buck" limit, despite resistance in the beginning. SOME of the places Tennessee has tried it have worked, some not so much. Catoosa is turning out much larger average bucks these days than before. around here, we still have too many obsessed with antlers that look down on lowly doe shooters. they want the benefits of a balanced herd population without having to do anything that might bring that about.

lol, "1" buck.... KY would be another great place to do a study on the number of deer not checked in....

 

[themanpcl]

It hasn't been too long ago we could kill 4 bucks. Bring that back.

I remember those days. Never got 4...

 

[Lost Lake]

I remember those days. Never got 4...

Me too.

If we hadn't killed any bucks by Thanksgiving, it was a desolate time in the deer woods after that. We got one apiece if we were lucky.

 

[themanpcl]

Me too.

If we hadn't killed any bucks by Thanksgiving, it was a desolate time in the deer woods after that. We got one apiece if we were lucky.

I rarely got to hunt so for me, bag limits never came into play...lol.. I had 1 year in the late 90's where I killed 3 bucks and a few does... closest to tagging out I ever got

 

[Rackseeker]

I like the 2 buck limit. What would help TN if everyone was on board with the 2 buck limit. Instead of killing 4-5 bucks a year just to prove how good of a hunter you are.

 

[dhpro]

Disagree with 1 buck don't particularly like although I can live with it . I did not harvest anything this season in tenn and only 1 last season. You can not compare tenn to Illinois either I have hunted Illinois since 1988 and here since early 70 . Totally different deer and deer herds. It's like this if I don't want shoot it I don't but if I want to shoot 2 spikes it none of your concern as long as it's legal. Im probably pickier than 90 % in American as far as mature deer go . That said it's none my business what a guy in Knoxville wants to do nor is it his what I shoot .to much control in government now I feel we need less meddling on our own lands . You give these idiots in control a in they take your entire yard. To sum it up if you want 1 buck shoot it go to house and watch cnn don't shoot it and pray your neighbors and friends don't kill the one you let walk .

 

[Madbowh]

It really depends on herd sex ratio and overall herd health. That's the kind of stuff TWRA is supposed to be factoring in when establishing regulations.

As for "antler chasers", mature bucks make up the tiny pinnacle tip of the pyramid. In terms of bucks, buttons and yearlings make up the base bulk of the number. There are more of them than any other age class. 2yr olds make up the next smaller layer. 3yr olds smaller still yet, and so on. For every one 5yr+ buck there are dozens of younger bucks. It's just how nature designed herd dynamics. So with that mind, what do you reckon happens when an environment is created that allows for higher numbers of mature bucks? A rising tide floats all boats. Not only does it mean exponentially more younger bucks for every one added mature buck, but since nature also prefers a 1:1 sex ratio it also means exponentially more does. It's literally impossible to increase mature buck numbers without also exponentially increasing every other sex and age class. Nature prohibits it.

That's what has me scratching my head with these conversations and some of the comments where hunters demonize the trophy guys. There's an apparent disconnect somewhere because in order for trophy hunters to have a better hunt, all hunters across the board FIRST get a better hunt. It's a ground up build. We're all on the same side. We all want a better hunt. Trophy hunters aren't trying to ruin anyone else's hunt. Exactly opposite. We understand it takes a healthy, robust, well balanced herd in order to have consistent supply of old bucks. And that healthy, robust, well balanced herd makes hunting awesome for everybody. That's why I can't understand the animosity directed at trophy hunters.

Very well put and articulated. Love input like that. Hope no one takes my comments as having animosity towards trophy hunters, and that goes the other way as well. If I had a spike or a big Ole 10 in front of me I couldn't decide. I once shot a3pt in front of an 4.5yr 8 because they weren't fully committed to passing by me. I started to step towards only bigger mature deer, killing wasn't getting easy but easier with experience. I thought for a while and back peddled, now I try to only bow hunt whitetail and any buck that passes gets stuck. I will shoot a doe towards the end of the season if I can't connect on a buck. Who wouldn't want a nice mature big racked deer, it's just not a priority for me. I'm always scouting and setting up on the bigger ones but I can't help it with a bow I've got to let them fly. I've also started extremely enjoying watching the does seem 1 lick inside another's ear for a good 5 minutes once... just interesting. I also mainly hunt public across the country. December I picked up 2 separate private totaling 30 acres I can see both from my house, I'm no different their than public

 

[deerhunter10]

You can not compare tenn to Illinois either I have hunted Illinois since 1988 and here since early 70 . Totally different deer and deer herds.

I wonder how many comparing tennessee to the midwest has even hunted the Midwest. Completely different deer. It surprised me how different they were when we went to Illinois and North Missouri.

 

[TheLBLman]

Some of this is simply worth repeating and elaborating!

. . . . . has me scratching my head with these conversations and some of the comments where hunters demonize the trophy guys. There's an apparent disconnect somewhere because in order for trophy hunters to have a better hunt, all hunters across the board FIRST get a better hunt.
It's a ground up build. We're all on the same side. We all want a better hunt.

Trophy hunters aren't trying to ruin anyone else's hunt. Exactly opposite. We understand it takes a healthy, robust, well balanced herd in order to have consistent supply of old bucks. And that healthy, robust, well balanced herd makes hunting awesome for everybody. That's why I can't understand the animosity directed at trophy hunters.

I consider myself a "hunter-manager", but I am also a "trophy" hunter.
I simply have no desire to shoot anything less than a mature buck or a mature doe.
I do shoot some younger does as a part of that "hunter managing".

Over the past 3 years, in TN, I've specifically "trophy" hunted for several specific mature bucks. Along this journey, I've given a pass to many bucks most hunters would quickly see as a "trophy" and shoot. In fact, about half the bucks I give pass, are killed by other hunters. Often, with me sitting them up to kill one of those particular bucks. But always available to another hunter because I gave that buck a pass while pursuing a different specific buck.

Over these past 3 years in TN, it's been my choice not to take a shot on any buck, simply because I haven't had a high-probability shot at one of the bucks being targeted. Nonetheless, I've greatly enjoyed these past 3 "buck-less" years of hunting.

Most of us are at a different stage in our deer hunting sagas. I'm near the end of mine, and don't feel any need to kill a buck to prove anything to myself or anyone else. I'm enjoying the pursuit more than needing to kill any "trophy".

But the word "trophy" is exactly what most hunters consider ANY buck over a doe. While some deny this reality, truth is, most deer hunters are "trophy" hunters, in that anything with antlers is what they're considering a trophy buck.

When a "trophy" buck hunter passes up most bucks he sees, he's actually making the hunting opportunities better for most his fellow hunters?

 

[themanpcl]

I wonder how many comparing tennessee to the midwest has even hunted the Midwest. Completely different deer. It surprised me how different they were when we went to Illinois and North Missouri.

Agree! The first year I hunted IL....WOW... That's when I realized that there is a BIG difference between deer a state that is one giant food plot and here...

 

[Deer Assassin]

I dont care about Oklahoma

TN should go back 3 or at least stay at 2

 

[TheLBLman]

A bit of irony:

Most of the mature bucks I specifically target have lower scoring antlers than many the younger bucks I give pass.

What makes a "trophy" buck a "trophy" buck varies greatly from hunter to hunter. To many, it's simply a deer with antlers. To others, it's more about a deer with age. I'm more about a certain balance. I want a mature buck with at least some unique antlers, even if they're not high-scoring. This works for me, since most of the high-scoring antlered bucks never make it to maturity. Most are killed by the time they're 3 1/2.

This was my one and only "target" buck in 2023.
In his pursuit, I gave pass to at least 2 higher scoring younger bucks.
This buck wouldn't even make the TN Deer Registry because his antlers don't score high enough.
As some would say, "Just an 8-pointer".
Last week, I almost got him, but didn't.
No regrets.

This was one of the overall "healthiest" mature bucks I've run across in years. I really wanted to see what he weighed and to put a tape measure around his neck. He just didn't have much in the way of antler genetics, which is probably the only reason he survived past 3 1/2.

 

[Wooden Arrow]

I want a mature buck with at least some unique antlers,

i'm still waiting to see a buck outside of a fence with a drop tine. my favorite rack i've gotten, the limb tips almost touch.