Oklahoma Townhall Meetings.....

[The_Kat]

To me, skill level is the big deal. A crossbows skill level is similar to a muzzleloader. All you have to know is how to load and aim.

So your argument is that it's like shooting a gun then, not that there will be more wounded deer as said above right? I can see your point, but the range is far limited of that of a gun. I still don't see how it will result in more wounded deer as some have said above.

[MCH]

Anything that will bring more hunters into the field will increase the amount of wounded deer. Crossbows aren't idiot proof. That being said, extending gun season will result in more wounded deer.

I'm not going to be devastated if crossbows are allowed(which they will eventually like hoosier said). I just don't understand the logic.

Again, if Oklahoma suddenly outlawed compounds, I would be out there with a recurve practicing daily. Its a sort of pride I get from being a "bowhunter". So, yes, part of the reason is selfishness. But to me, if you're going to allow crossbows, you might as well allow single shot pistols.

[The_Kat]

Ah, ok....I do see your point. I just don't worry about it I guess.

[Okbwhtr]

Really

Crossbows aren't a bad thing like your protraying them......No different then when in-line muzzleloaders came out. Now almost everyone is fine with them.....There's a lot worse things to worry about then getting more people involved with hunting via crossbows.

Apparently some of you never attend and see what some call crossbows. The technology to make some weapons with limbs and locking device are unlimited. Most of you wont be satisfiad untell we shoot arrows out of gun barrells. Why not its archery and shooting an arrow.

[Okbwhtr]

Kat

Heres my opinion....on crossbows, I am all for it. It will get more hunters out there hunting, and as other states have shown, it doesn't hurt the deer numbers. I don't understand the arguement that it will equal more wounded deer. It's much easier to shoot a crossbow accurately than a compound bow....thus even newbies would be more accurate. A lousy hunter who doesn't prepare adequately will wound a deer with a crossbow, or a compound.

As for the rifle season.....I think it should be 9 days. If they do add an additional week, I hope it's a week early.

One thing I'd like to see is have Oklahoma follow Ohio and make it a one buck state. That or put a earn a buck and/or antler restrictions on the 2 buck limit unless it was a hunters first buck ever. After they harvest their first, they must learn QDM just like the others.

Lets make Oklahoma a trophy State and then we will have tons of leasing and non residents. Thats would be the future. Already happening.

DB

[The_Kat]

I guess I see it differently dan. I have my own private land, and then I have corp of engineer land near me that I hunt as well. I'd love to see the quality of deer on both go up. I can somewhat control my private land, but I get sick of seeing hunters dragging spikes and fork horns out of the corp land. I have never been a fan of if it's brown it's down.

[ruttinbuc]

Chances are the crossbow industry is bribing their way into archery seasons as they have everywhere else. Don't be fooled into thinking that bow hunters actually want this.

[Gator]

I guess I see it differently dan. I have my own private land, and then I have corp of engineer land near me that I hunt as well. I'd love to see the quality of deer on both go up. I can somewhat control my private land, but I get sick of seeing hunters dragging spikes and fork horns out of the corp land. I have never been a fan of if it's brown it's down.

Why should you impose your ideals on what someone else can/can't kill during hunting season. The trophy is in the eye of the beholder, and if another hunter is happy with what they kill, that's fine by me. The one thing I get sick of is seeing people kill bucks, that won't shoot a doe, that practice right there needs to stop.

[Ohiobucks]

.....but I get sick of seeing hunters dragging spikes and fork horns out of the corp land. I have never been a fan of if it's brown it's down.

Didn't you shoot what you deemed to be a skipper this year? :eat:

-----> :D :clown: :D <-----

[Dawg]

I have no problem with the use of crossbows. They were legalized this year where I live for all hunters to use. I don't have one and have no desire to get one but still I see no problem with them.

As far as the "if it's brown it's down" mentality goes...........well I'll explain my opinion like this......I consider antlers an added bonus to hunting. I do not go out "horn hunting" I go "deer hunting". If the deer walks out and it's a doe.......BANG, she's dead. If the deer walks out and it has spikes on it's head......BANG, he's dead....if it walks out and has a gianormous rack......I'd prolly miss but it's gonna get shot at too. I do however try to harvest mature deer and try to hold off on shooting spikes until the season gets closer to the end. In my opinion I think all of the tv shows have gotten a lot of people in the "I gotta kill a 150"er" mentality. Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely love to kill a 150"er......heck I'd love to kill a 130"er but I don't make it my goal to hunt just that specific deer. I get 4 whitetail deer tags here in TX, two bucks two does and I try to fill all four each year.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Dawg

[The_Kat]

Why should you impose your ideals on what someone else can/can't kill during hunting season. The trophy is in the eye of the beholder, and if another hunter is happy with what they kill, that's fine by me. The one thing I get sick of is seeing people kill bucks, that won't shoot a doe, that practice right there needs to stop.

I'm not trying to impose a dang thing. I simply stated my opinion and what I think would help increase the quality of the Oklahoma deer herd along with buck quality. I don't care who you are, your lying if you say you wouldn't like to harvest a big buck. In order to get a chance at bigger bucks you need to let the lil guys walk. I'm not trying to say that everyone should only shoot wall hangers, I'm saying I'd like to see the young deer left alone to grow. Granted just because a buck has 8 points doesn't mean he isn't 1.5 year old buck...but the majority of young bucks are gonna be spikes and forkies. If they are protected by an antler restriction you will see an increased number of bucks and bigger bucks. Whats the big deal that everyones so afraid of here??? Yall can bash me all ya want and call me a trophy hunter, and say I'm in it for the wrong reasons, etc. etc., but then you need to bash Michael Waddell, Jordan, Blanton, Realtree, Mossy Oak, the Drurys, Lakoskys, and all the other hunters in the industry because they practice the very same ideas that I have in their hunting. Most of you take antler restrictions the wrong way. It would still allow for basket racked bucks to be harvested, it would just save the majority of 1.5 year olds who are spikes and forkies. However I can clearly see that most in here just don't get it and therefore I throw in the towel on the antler restriction arguement.

As for Jason's statement about not being able to stand hunters who refuse to harvest does....I couldn't agree more. That issue is simply fixed by making Oklahoma an earn a buck state. Wanna shoot a buck ( even a spike ) then shoot a doe first. Otherwise I guess ya won't be filling that buck tag this year legally.....

And Tom, I shot a decent deer....wasn't quite what I had in mind this season, but I pulled the trigger and can't wait to get him home the taxidermist!:yes:

P.S. For all you that think I'm some trophy nut, I have yet to kill a trophy buck. I've killed a few decent deer, but nothing super. I've been tempted to pull the trigger on some spikers and forkies...even this very season. Ask Kevin about the spiker that came into me when he and I hunted this year. Took all I had to let him walk. But if the antler restrictions in place then I never even consider it and that buck walks and grows to be a bigger buck next year. I hope Kevin sees him next season and maybe just maybe he'll be a good sized buck.

[Tony]

if they allow crossbows, it will not be the end of Oklahoma deer hunting. my guess is just like Ohio when they first started it is you wont hardly see anyone using one. you still have to estimate yardage with them and when they go off there not the quietest thing in the world.

as for the "brown its down". you have to remember that some guys dont have 20 or 30 days to hunt. some guys love to deer hunt, but only get a week or maybe just a few days a year to hunt. there not going to pass a deer if they have so little time to hunt.

for me im very lucky, i get to hunt every morning if i want. i hunted close to 45 days during the first part fo the Iowa bow season. during laste season im planning to get in another 10 or so. with that many days to hunt i can be picky onwhat i shoot. i shoot a doe early and then wait for what i consider to be a trophy buck.

Tony

[Dawg]

P.S. For all you that think I'm some nut.

Yes Kyle.....yes I do.... :yes:

Antler restrictions can vary. Here we are only allowed one buck with a 13" or greater spread. If/After that 13" or greater is harvested, then we can only shoot either a spike or a buck that has just one unbranched antler. I think in about 5 years we will see an improvement here on buck quality. The earn-a-buck isn't a bad idea either. I would love to see that in place here also because I know people who will not shoot a doe at all.

[Okbwhtr]

Really

I guess I see it differently dan. I have my own private land, and then I have corp of engineer land near me that I hunt as well. I'd love to see the quality of deer on both go up. I can somewhat control my private land, but I get sick of seeing hunters dragging spikes and fork horns out of the corp land. I have never been a fan of if it's brown it's down.

So you think one buck going to do that. Might because many might stop hunting. There nothing wrong with spikes or fork horns. My first deer was spike and I was darn proud of it. Trophy hunt if you want but certianly isnt what hunting all about for me. Kid shot this deer thinking it was doe (Button buck) No big deal he had the time of his life. Hunting not about large horns for eveyone. Trophy Deer run land values through the roof and lease hunting. Thats a fact.

[Okbwhtr]

Tony

if they allow crossbows, it will not be the end of Oklahoma deer hunting. my guess is just like Ohio when they first started it is you wont hardly see anyone using one. you still have to estimate yardage with them and when they go off there not the quietest thing in the world.

as for the "brown its down". you have to remember that some guys dont have 20 or 30 days to hunt. some guys love to deer hunt, but only get a week or maybe just a few days a year to hunt. there not going to pass a deer if they have so little time to hunt.

for me im very lucky, i get to hunt every morning if i want. i hunted close to 45 days during the first part fo the Iowa bow season. during laste season im planning to get in another 10 or so. with that many days to hunt i can be picky onwhat i shoot. i shoot a doe early and then wait for what i consider to be a trophy buck.

Tony

Promblem with crossbows is the technology to make weapons that are nothing like archery will happen and is happening right now. You folks in Iowa should open up more to out of staters and crossbows and rifles. There good reasons why Iowa has lots of deer. Oklahoma doing fine without crossbows and we got plenty of days in the field.

DB

DB

[Gator]

I'm not trying to impose a dang thing. I simply stated my opinion and what I think would help increase the quality of the Oklahoma deer herd along with buck quality. I don't care who you are, your lying if you say you wouldn't like to harvest a big buck. In order to get a chance at bigger bucks you need to let the lil guys walk. I'm not trying to say that everyone should only shoot wall hangers, I'm saying I'd like to see the young deer left alone to grow. Granted just because a buck has 8 points doesn't mean he isn't 1.5 year old buck...but the majority of young bucks are gonna be spikes and forkies. If they are protected by an antler restriction you will see an increased number of bucks and bigger bucks. Whats the big deal that everyones so afraid of here??? Yall can bash me all ya want and call me a trophy hunter, and say I'm in it for the wrong reasons, etc. etc., but then you need to bash Michael Waddell, Jordan, Blanton, Realtree, Mossy Oak, the Drurys, Lakoskys, and all the other hunters in the industry because they practice the very same ideas that I have in their hunting. Most of you take antler restrictions the wrong way. It would still allow for basket racked bucks to be harvested, it would just save the majority of 1.5 year olds who are spikes and forkies. However I can clearly see that most in here just don't get it and therefore I throw in the towel on the antler restriction arguement.

As for Jason's statement about not being able to stand hunters who refuse to harvest does....I couldn't agree more. That issue is simply fixed by making Oklahoma an earn a buck state. Wanna shoot a buck ( even a spike ) then shoot a doe first. Otherwise I guess ya won't be filling that buck tag this year legally.....

And Tom, I shot a decent deer....wasn't quite what I had in mind this season, but I pulled the trigger and can't wait to get him home the taxidermist!:yes:

P.S. For all you that think I'm some trophy nut, I have yet to kill a trophy buck. I've killed a few decent deer, but nothing super. I've been tempted to pull the trigger on some spikers and forkies...even this very season. Ask Kevin about the spiker that came into me when he and I hunted this year. Took all I had to let him walk. But if the antler restrictions in place then I never even consider it and that buck walks and grows to be a bigger buck next year. I hope Kevin sees him next season and maybe just maybe he'll be a good sized buck.

Never said I wouldn't KILL a biggun, but I also don't shoot little ones either, I shoot what I AM HAPPY with, and could care less what everyone else thinks. I hunt for me, to make me happy, not for someone else. But even though I may not shoot spikes or forkhorns, doesn't mean that I should push that onto the other hunters in the state, just my opinion. Hunting means alot of different things to everyone, and they should be happy with the ones they kill. My biggest pet peeve though is like I stated before, the ones that REFUSE to kill a doe, that does more damage to the heard than anything else.

[jesse8953]

Promblem with crossbows is the technology to make weapons that are nothing like archery will happen and is happening right now. You folks in Iowa should open up more to out of staters and crossbows and rifles. There good reasons why Iowa has lots of deer. Oklahoma doing fine without crossbows and we got plenty of days in the field.

DB

DB

Some people would argue bows have also great technology.Bows that can shoot 330+fps.Some people can shoot these bow accurate at 60 and 70 yards.I thought bow hunting was a sport to get close to your game you are hunting.Crossbows are not as fast and not as quiet as the bow,so you have to get close to your animal to have a chance to kill it.I was told by a long time bow hunter "If a bow hunter says you are a cheater by using a crossbow,The bow hunter who has a 330 fps bow is also a cheater. If you want to shoot something at 50 yards or beyond use a gun"" I thought I would never hear that from a bow hunter.

[ruttinbuc]

If you look around at all the outdoor forums you will see an argument from everyone on what is right and wrong when it comes to deer hunting.... I want to kill big bucks at this point in my life, but the averages are against me because here in my state it is anything goes. The state says yea, kill em ALL and people try....They make big money on the deer here. The crossgun argument, the longer seasons, the drivers versus the standers..etc., etc., They keep people at each others throat because believe it or not it encourages people to pick up another weapon or hunt another season which we pay dearly for...What fools are we. Think through the alternatives and don't be brainwashed into thinking the DNR knows whats best for the deer herd. We are the keepers of the herd...

About earn a buck...BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR....:crutch:

Edited December 14, 2009 by ruttinbuc
Brain farts...

[Okbwhtr]

You seen some of todays crossbows

Some people would argue bows have also great technology.Bows that can shoot 330+fps.Some people can shoot these bow accurate at 60 and 70 yards.I thought bow hunting was a sport to get close to your game you are hunting.Crossbows are not as fast and not as quiet as the bow,so you have to get close to your animal to have a chance to kill it.I was told by a long time bow hunter "If a bow hunter says you are a cheater by using a crossbow,The bow hunter who has a 330 fps bow is also a cheater. If you want to shoot something at 50 yards or beyond use a gun"" I thought I would never hear that from a bow hunter.

Dont think for a minute the tecnology cant make weapons that will shoot long distance and better than compounds. We could add lots of seasons and weapons to deer hunting. How about a handgun season! Yur right be carefull what you ask for. If Im correct your state doesnt allow rifles. How about that! Would you want rifle season added? Ohio a beautifull state and sometimes you wont make everyone happy.

DB

[jesse8953]

Dont think for a minute the tecnology cant make weapons that will shoot long distance and better than compounds. We could add lots of seasons and weapons to deer hunting. How about a handgun season! Yur right be carefull what you ask for. If Im correct your state doesnt allow rifles. How about that! Would you want rifle season added? Ohio a beautifull state and sometimes you wont make everyone happy.

DB

Your right Ohio does not allow rifle season.Because to populated [to many houses would get shot]and to flat of country,at least in n.w. Ohio.Our gun season is for pistol,ml,and shotgun[slugs only]Our gun season don't start till the week after Thanksgiving[after the rut].I think that is why we have some good quality deer. Edited December 14, 2009 by jesse8953

[coondog]

I have no problem with crossbows the only true bows are recurves and longbows anyway. (I hunt with a compound and love it so I am not takeing a shot at them just saying). In southeastern Oklahoma gun season starts in September and ends in Janurary (seems like with the poaching)thats why they don't have the deer the rest of the state has its a shame to cause the big buck genitics are there. The whole online check station is good and bad it gives an honest ethical hunter a easyer option to get checked in but gives the 20-30 deer a year croud a way to shoot small bucks and check them in as does (2 buck limit) and how many were shot with a gun and checked in as archery?

Make it take a doe first in gun season to earn you buck tag (in certain countys)

I wish people would stop killing the first buck they see let the 80 pound year old fork horn walk you need meat shoot a doe not saying you need to wait on a wall hanger just shoot a mature buck. Just my opinion.

You also hear every year about how many wrecks there are and deer causeing acidents and eating someones garden but try and get permission to bow hunt there.

Edited December 14, 2009 by coondog

[Okbwhtr]

Diffiantly have some good deer

Your right Ohio does not allow rifle season.Because to populated [to many houses would get shot]and to flat of country,at least in n.w. Ohio.Our gun season is for pistol,ml,and shotgun[slugs only]Our gun season don't start till the week after Thanksgiving[after the rut].I think that is why we have some good quality deer.

But Im told its a war zone come gun season there. I enjoyed Ohio and the one buck rule seems to work well for you guys. I didnt realize handguns were legal, interesting.

DB

[jesse8953]

But Im told its a war zone come gun season there. I enjoyed Ohio and the one buck rule seems to work well for you guys. I didnt realize handguns were legal, interesting.

DB

Yes around here it sounds like a war the first 2 days.Pistols have to be 6 inch barrels or longer.

[The_Kat]

Dan I don't think ya read the part of my post stating that a persons first buck not be restricted. My first two deer were spikes. I don't think I've ever been prouder of a buck since that one. But after the first I was taught to shoot a racked buck, and then graduated to a buck as wide as the ears or better. I agree the trophy is in the eye of the beholder, but why not improve our deer herd and the buck quality? If someones happy with a 2.5 year old basket rack fine, but give that spike or forkie a chance to grow into a decent racked 2.5 year old. If someone quits hunting just cause they can't shoot a spike, forkie, or I really like the 13 inch or wider idea, or a doe then good riddance!

[Okbwhtr]

Oklahoma Wildlife agencys

Dan I don't think ya read the part of my post stating that a persons first buck not be restricted. My first two deer were spikes. I don't think I've ever been prouder of a buck since that one. But after the first I was taught to shoot a racked buck, and then graduated to a buck as wide as the ears or better. I agree the trophy is in the eye of the beholder, but why not improve our deer herd and the buck quality? If someones happy with a 2.5 year old basket rack fine, but give that spike or forkie a chance to grow into a decent racked 2.5 year old. If someone quits hunting just cause they can't shoot a spike, forkie, or I really like the 13 inch or wider idea, or a doe then good riddance!

There goal is to promote anyone and everyone to go enjoy the wildlife. Its not promoting trophy deer. Now there not against that but on the other hand. Hunting for many is not a trophy thing. Oklahoma herd is once again looking like like record numbers. That means most everyone got a deer. Now some consider this a success. Deer car related accidents are up 34% just in 2009. Herd needs to be controlled. We also need to be trying to buy more public hunting. One day that land wont be avaliable. Two buck limits working. Doe harvests are not. I would not be against a antler restriction like you have mentioned. Myself control my lease and we have a 8pt restriction but I would hate to tell the guy in the public hunting he would have to shoot a 3X3. Every hunter in the state should go online and give there input to what they would like to see happen.

Thats a good start.

DB