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george1 #138319 11/10/08 08:47 PM
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Well, we've had two good weekends of hunting here in North Texas. I've seen alot of does, and passed on several small bucks. The big guys aren't moving yet... maybe next weekend!

I did drop a 100 pound sow... Our area is getting overrun with pigs, so I shoot every one I see.



Safe hunting to everyone.

GaryTexas

GaryTexas #138341 11/10/08 11:04 PM
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We're getting overrun with pigs too, Gary. Nice lookin' corn guzzler you got there!

My dad counted 62 pigs during one evening at his place...time for some of them to take a dirt nap.

My BIL took this buck opening morning at our deer camp (not where the ponds are) northwest of San Antonio. Not very wide, but nice tine length with LOTS of points. This deer had trash EVERYWHERE!




"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
davatsa #138408 11/11/08 06:45 PM
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Davatsa,

That looks like a nice buck... do you think your county will fall under the minimum spread regulations that TPWD has instituted? My ranch will most likely be under the 13" inside spread rule for the 2009 season.

While I like the rule for the most part, it means nice bucks like the one in your picture would not be legal. In fact, that buck might never be legal, as he is obviously mature, but genetically not capable of a wide spread.

Anyway... nice buck!

GaryTexas #138412 11/11/08 07:21 PM
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Good point, Gary. The buck pictured was actually 14" wide inside, so he would technically be legal. BUT, I see your point, and therein lies the problem with antler restrictions.

Without getting into too much of a debate, I generally agree with the restrictions. As I understand it, the majority of the counties with antler restrictions are in East Texas. The average tract of land is generally smaller here than in other areas of the state. In West Texas, for example, ranchers don't even talk about acres...it's how many "sections" you own. To a lesser degree, the same can be said for South Texas. Small tracts of land, plus a lot of hunters, equals not as many deer that can live to maturity.

The purpose of the restrictions is to see more bucks become mature in these areas (and, of course, have more years to breed and thus boost the population). The 13" rule is not fail proof, but limiting harvests to bucks 13" wide or more is a decent rule of thumb when you want more mature bucks. As you indicated, a problem arises when a deer is clearly mature, and may even be labeled a "trophy" by some if it has lots of points, good mass, etc.--but is still not very wide.

To answer your first question:
No, I do not think the county we hunt will fall under the minimum spread regulations. Deer camp (not where the ponds are) is in Sutton County, which is northwest of San Antonio. The deer are not as large as in South Texas, but they are plentiful. If anything, MORE deer could be harvested in that county. Thus, I doubt harvesting will be restricted by antler regulations. The buck pictured is above-average for that area, although we do get some show-stoppers occassionally.


"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
davatsa #138439 11/12/08 02:02 AM
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Sounds like Texas wants to stop any buck from being taken. I bet the number one question there is, How do I measure before shooting?

In Missouri, some nrthern counties have a POINT resrtiction Bucks must have at least 7 points). At least you can count points easier than guess at a foot spread. I bet Texas has the same REAL goal as Missouri's restriction---to kill many more does to REDUCE the population and thereby reduce car crashes with a minimal improvement in quality bucks being acheived as a side benefit.



davatsa #138440 11/12/08 02:05 AM
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Sounds like Texas wants to stop any buck from being taken. I bet the number one question there is, How do I measure before shooting?

In Missouri, some nrthern counties have a POINT resrtiction Bucks must have at least 7 points). At least you can count points easier than guess at a foot spread. I bet Texas has the same REAL goal as Missouri's restriction---to kill many more does to REDUCE the population and thereby reduce car crashes with a minimal improvement in quality bucks being acheived as a side benefit.

FWIW, I prefer the doe meat---those antlers are REAL tough to chew!



Rainman #138443 11/12/08 07:11 AM
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I would have guessed that buck to have a 16 inch spread, but tough to tell from a profile. Our bucks here in Pa generally have that at 2 1/2 years of age. We have a point requirement of 4 point to one antler in my county, hunters are always complaining about it, I would rather have this than to have a minimum spread rule, but generally speaking the width of an adult bucks ears here are around 16 inches, so if he stares at you you can judge that pretty quickly and acurately enough to pass a 13 inch rule. I think our deer have larger bodies though so ear spread may be larger too.

I haven't put the tape to him yet but I shot a 9 point last night that I know is nearly 16 inches wide. Even though I base my trophy tastes on more than spread, that buck pictured is still a dandy.

davatsa #138535 11/13/08 06:42 AM
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We aren't under the 13 inch rule yet. I discussed it with our Biologist and agree that it will allow a lot more bucks to grow to maturity. However, it will permanently protect some inferior bucks that need to be taken out.

As most people know, I will probably manage my way.

My Grandson and I will be hunting Sunday and Monday. So far, we have seen very little.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Hope things pick up for you and your hunters Dave, our rut is heating up daily and the buck are on the move. I had seen 5 buck in the day prior to shooting mine, one was even larger but didn't respond to calling at all. Our archery season ends Saturday and I am off to NY to hunt their slug opener on Saturday.

JoeG #139533 11/26/08 03:28 AM
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Just put the finishing touches on 130 pounds of vinison ground into summer and breakfast sausages, snack sticks, and ground meat. Smoked, portioned, sealed, and froze it tonight. YUM!!

Wonder what we will be eating NEXT week! I love processing our own deer.



Rainman #139549 11/26/08 08:45 AM
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Getting ready for Ohio Gun Season to start Monday has reminded me I love hunting as much as ever, even if not quite as often as I used to.


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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Theo Gallus #140135 12/03/08 02:35 PM
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Got a nice doe this morning.
I debated posting this in the "Furry Thanksgiving" thread - 2 out of 3 thankful ain't bad.



"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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Theo Gallus #140148 12/03/08 05:06 PM
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Congrats! Nice looking doe. The dogs look happy as well...lots of scraps, I'm sure.

And after you finish those scraps, maybe they'll let you have some of the good stuff.


"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
davatsa #140153 12/03/08 06:42 PM
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Here's the first buck I've taken in 20 yrs.


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Ric Swaim #140158 12/03/08 07:23 PM
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Very nice Ric!

Did you take him, or just finish the job, with the pistol?



Rainman #140162 12/03/08 08:21 PM
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I don't hunt with long guns anymore so yes I took him with my 45 Win. mag Grizzly pistol. I either hunt with that (my favorite) or a 50 AE Desert Eagle. Just needed to add a little more challenge to my hunting.
I usually just hunt does.
He weighed 243# on the hoof.

Last edited by Ric Swaim; 12/03/08 08:22 PM.

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Ric Swaim #140169 12/03/08 08:48 PM
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Ric, that is a whopper. I just keep looking and looking and.....


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Dave envy will not help you stop looking. Nice deer Ric!
















ewest #140189 12/03/08 10:28 PM
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Where I hunt a legal buck has to have an inside spread that is 13" or bigger. I saw one Saturday morning that was probably legal. He was young though so I let him go. He came out of the clearcut about 15 yards from my stand chasing a doe. The doe stayed within 50 yards of my stand for about an hour and a half. She would eat for awhile then went and bedded down out in front of me. The buck stood about 15 yards back in the woods and followed here back and forth the entire time she was feeding.

That was pretty cool to see.

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I am a bit confused on how the spread rule is/can be enforced. What would happen to someone who shot a buck with only a 12.5" spread, for instance? I mean, we all know how accurate we are when mentioning the length of a fish that got away, I couldn't imagine being accurate from 20 yards or more.


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FHM, GSH, GSF, BG, PS, RES, LES, YP, SMB, LMB, HSB, RBT, WE, CC, FHC, and Grass Shrimp
bbjr #140196 12/03/08 11:07 PM
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Does Texas require deer to be physically checked at a station? Missouri has a "7-point" requirement in part of the state but did away with "check stations and now uses a "Tele-Check" system. Half the deer you see people hauling now have the heads cut off so no one can say how many points there were.



Ric Swaim #140198 12/03/08 11:13 PM
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 Originally Posted By: Ric Swaim
I don't hunt with long guns anymore so yes I took him with my 45 Win. mag Grizzly pistol. I either hunt with that (my favorite) or a 50 AE Desert Eagle. Just needed to add a little more challenge to my hunting.
I usually just hunt does.
He weighed 243# on the hoof.


I would love to use a pistol, but on my property, the average shot is 250+ yards. I can hit an armadillo at 50 yards, but 250+ is not gonna have much punch left!



Rainman #140199 12/03/08 11:35 PM
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bbjr,

The guidebook says that when the deer's ears are at attention, meaning he is looking at you, the tips of his ears are 13" apart. The first year that the rule was in place the game wardens were giving people a one inch grace period. Now it is a $1000 fine. Last year I saw a Buck that there is no doubt I would have shot if the restrictions were not in place. He never looked at me so I wasn't going to risk it.

Rainman,

Texas doesn't require deer to be checked.

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Dave,
I've been suggesting @ our public hearings for years that they close "buck season" for 3 yrs. In that short time the woods would be full of nice bucks with several true trophies to boot. Young bucks would be safe to grow up because no one would waste a tag on a young buck with so many mature bucks walking around.
 Quote:
I would love to use a pistol, but on my property, the average shot is 250+ yards. I can hit an armadillo at 50 yards, but 250+ is not gonna have much punch left!
Rainman, I understand. I had to restrain myself 2 yrs ago when a buck quite a bit larger than this one came by @ around 100 yds. I can take that shot with a rest but was caught between trees & just had to crouch down & watch.
As I said I hunt does. I let several 8 pt & smaller bucks walk every year.


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Ric Swaim #140216 12/04/08 07:56 AM
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Check out the picture of this buck that my friend Blake shot last saturday with a Bow and Arrow! Biggest I have ever seen dead.
Blakes Monster Deer


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