Oklahoma Townhall Meetings.....

[Dawg]

or I really like the 13 inch or wider idea, or a doe then good riddance!

Is that supposed to say "or I really don't like the 13 inch or wider idea"?

If so, I couldn't agree more. At first I thought the antler restrictions were going to be a pain here, but it's not as bad as I thought. It's not bad enough to the point I would quit hunting. I don't think it could ever get that bad.

[Okbwhtr]

Its comingWont be long we allow this for archery. Why not it allows more to hunt! This is why we put limits on archery season. Click on link to read. http://www.swivelmachine.com/html/rimfire.htm Rimfire rifles have always been used for hunting different types of small game; but who would even consider, let alone recommend, the use of a rimfire rifle for hunting deer. Yet, that is the precise purpose of the new Airrow rimfire products from Swivel Machine Works, Inc. called the AIRROW A7722, and the AIRROW A1022. These rimfire rifles, are blank firing rimfire rifles! The recommendation of using blank firing rimfire rifles to fire arrows for big game is new. And they launch them at faster speeds than even the most sophisticated bows built today, yet with far more accuracy than the average archer could ever hope to achieve.

[hoosierhunter]

OKLAHOMA the sky is falling... the sky is falling....

You guys crack me up....

[The_Kat]

Is that supposed to say "or I really don't like the 13 inch or wider idea"?

If so, I couldn't agree more. At first I thought the antler restrictions were going to be a pain here, but it's not as bad as I thought. It's not bad enough to the point I would quit hunting. I don't think it could ever get that bad.

nope I said it how I meant it. I'd be all for a 13 inch spread or better restriction. It doesn't matter to me if I kill a buck or not. If I don't see any bucks that meet the restrictions thats ok....theres plenty of does.

[jesse8953]

I don't know if this would work I never been to Oklahoma but Ohio is a 1 buck state.Do you think that would work to get better bucks?I know a lot of people that pass a smaller buck because they only get 1 buck and they want a nice one.I think some other reason Ohio has some nice bucks.Gun season is after the rut,9 days of gun season,no rifles[population of people in rural areas,too many houses would be shot],4 days of ml season.They allow extra doe tags to help the herd control.Although there are lots of cars&trucks still hitting deer.This is out dated but probably still close..http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/04/news/newsmakers/deer/index.htm I hope everything works out for you in your state.

[MCH]

OKLAHOMA the sky is falling... the sky is falling....

You guys crack me up....

You're the one cracking me up. Acting like you're an authority on a subject that has absolutely nothing to do with you and instead of being subjective and helpful, you're making jokes.

Oh well...that's what the ignore button is for, I guess.

[Dawg]

nope I said it how I meant it. I'd be all for a 13 inch spread or better restriction. It doesn't matter to me if I kill a buck or not. If I don't see any bucks that meet the restrictions thats ok....theres plenty of does.

I see what your saying now, just read it wrong.

Guess the reason I've been ok with the restrictions this year is due to not seeing any deer at all LOL.

[elkoholic]

I just hate these debates on crossbows, but I will throw my two cents in anyway. Crossbows are definitely a short range proposition but the method of shooting one is not like shooting a compound/recurve/longbow. The method of propulsion is the same but that is it. The question should be; Why? Must there always be an "easier" way? Is there really a need? In the long run it will not really make any difference to the overall deer harvest, but maybe it will have an affect on the quality of your hunt if you are hunting on public land. Less serious hunters, only out there because it took less effort to shoot a crossbow, may not make the best people to be sharing the woods with. If crossbows are allowed in archery season then centerfire rifles should be allowed during muzzleloader season. After all, the means of propulsion are the same, and with todays "modern" muzzleloaders shots out to 300 yards are not unheard of. So; What's the difference? Can only use muzzleloaders and shotguns as a safety concern..... well, unless your shotgun is shooting old style slugs (foster or similar), not sabots, or your muzzleloader is shooting patched round balls, it probably can shoot well past 200 yards to take a deer. What about maximum range? Hmmmmm

I look at a longer season as a good thing as it spreads the hunting pressure out. Here in Montana we have a five week rifle season and there is no rush to get in the woods because of a limited window of opportunity.

When it comes to controlling poaching, I'm not sure any law/rules governing hunting seasons will have much affect on that. I am sure that here in Montana the total legal deer harvest is but a fraction of of the total number of deer shot. Many families survive the winter on poached venison.

[coondog]

Guys we all know how rumors are but a friend of mine was saing he had herd they are thinking about makeing powder season muzzle loader/slug shotgun season. Really wouldn't change much as the modern muzzle loaders have better balistics and range than a slug gun but it does sound like an option. Have also herd mention of a late December shotgun season but we all ready have the late season doe days with a rifle.

[Okbwhtr]

Proposal

Guys we all know how rumors are but a friend of mine was saing he had herd they are thinking about makeing powder season muzzle loader/slug shotgun season. Really wouldn't change much as the modern muzzle loaders have better balistics and range than a slug gun but it does sound like an option. Have also herd mention of a late December shotgun season but we all ready have the late season doe days with a rifle.

There defiantly looking at a longer gun season. Maybe adding crossbows in archery. Did not hear them talk about any shotgun in primitive. Nothing set in stone yet. You can go the wildlife web sight and give your input and read all the proposals.

DB

[The_Kat]

I wouldn't mind a late season hunt with muzzleloader like Iowa, but keep tag limits the same.

[Diamondback7]

"it gives more people a chance to get in the field"....isn't that exactly what our hunting community really needs!!?? We need all the help we can get!! You could say the same thing about the "primitive" blackpowder season....my muzzleloader is good out to 200 yards - not so primitive! Imagine if this type of thinking had prevented oklahoma from getting a muzzleloader season....think of all the people who would spend less time hunting (taking friends, children and family hunting) as well as a lot less money going into the sport of hunting. Think of the big picture here guys...

[Diamondback7]

Texas is the best managed whitetail state in the country; their rifle season is well over 23 days long. The fact is that if people have more time (as long as you don't increase the number of buck tags) to hunt, they are going to be more selective - letting young bucks walk - in turn creating a better deer herd. Adding those extra days might be just what it takes to get some kid hooked on deer hunting...and that is the kind of momentum we hunters need. And the same goes for the crossbows as far as i am concerned; you could say the same thing about muzzleloaders (as i am sure it was argued before we had a muzzleloader season)...bottom line is that we need as many people interested in the sport of hunting as possible.

[Okbwhtr]

Interesting

Texas is the best managed whitetail state in the country; their rifle season is well over 23 days long. The fact is that if people have more time (as long as you don't increase the number of buck tags) to hunt, they are going to be more selective - letting young bucks walk - in turn creating a better deer herd. Adding those extra days might be just what it takes to get some kid hooked on deer hunting...and that is the kind of momentum we hunters need. And the same goes for the crossbows as far as i am concerned; you could say the same thing about muzzleloaders (as i am sure it was argued before we had a muzzleloader season)...bottom line is that we need as many people interested in the sport of hunting as possible.

Why is it we have more Texans coming to Oklahoma leasing and buying non residents license ever year? So we include everthing into hunting to allow everyone to hunt regardless the outcome. Why not just let everyone hunt with any weapon at anytime. That would include everone all the time.

DB

[Okbwhtr]

Indiana

OKLAHOMA the sky is falling... the sky is falling....

You guys crack me up....

Seems there many from Indiana that say you guys have plenty to consider about your regulations as well. Plenty of angry hunters from your state. Quess your 100% happy there and thats good for you. But I have seen plenty of things about your state as well.

DB

[Okbwhtr]

More I read

The more I feel the wildlife agency should decide.

Some here would just allow everthing and anything.

Sometimes you have to decide whats best for the future of the state and the herd.

Will see what proposals pass and change.

You can go to wildlifedepartment.com and give your input.

I highly recommend you do this and atleast be heard.

DB

[Diamondback7]

obviously, you have to draw the line somewhere....the most important thing is that we implement regulations that will improve the healthiness of our deer herd (which includes a balanced buck to doe ratio). I think the best thing we could do is reduce the buck limit to 1 buck. Personally, I am just happy to be in the woods whenever I can...I hunt bow, rifle and muzzleloader. You still have to be a skilled outdoorsman to kill mature deer with a crossbow...why not allow a few more people (probably some exclusive rifle hunters) to spend more time in the woods each year with their family and friends? where is the harm in that?

[Okbwhtr]

One buck

obviously, you have to draw the line somewhere....the most important thing is that we implement regulations that will improve the healthiness of our deer herd (which includes a balanced buck to doe ratio). I think the best thing we could do is reduce the buck limit to 1 buck. Personally, I am just happy to be in the woods whenever I can...I hunt bow, rifle and muzzleloader. You still have to be a skilled outdoorsman to kill mature deer with a crossbow...why not allow a few more people (probably some exclusive rifle hunters) to spend more time in the woods each year with their family and friends? where is the harm in that?

So you think going to one buck would put more in the woods. My thoughts and many others. One buck would elimanate some from ending there season early and many not going to the woods that often. Some may decide one buck not worth the effort of leasing and buying a tag. That would be the case for me. We went to two bucks from three and just as many bucks were harvested. Its trying to figure out how to get hunters to harvest a doe that Oklahoma needs. This is where the numbers dropped from last year.Cost of deer processing is stopping many from harvesting does. My lease is part of the state Dmap program and we harvest plenty of does. Go to one buck and I myself and many may not hunt at all. Think of the money we dont spend in Oklahoma if we are not hunting.DB PSIm not against crossbows. I think you give them a season. Oklahoma Bowhunting council and other Bow hunting assc agree with this. They are not a archery weapon. They certianly look more like a gun than a bow and use scopes like guns. Crossbow manufactuers are the ones pushing for use of crossbows. Not archers currently hunting with bows.

Edited January 6, 2010 by Okbwhtr

[Okbwhtr]

Pope and Young stance on crossbows

Archery assc. dont agree with crossbows. States want more money and selling more tags. That will happen with crossbows maybe. Might put some gun hunters in the woods with crossbows during archery season and sale a few more tags. True archers arent going to drop the compounds and pick up crossbows. I like the idea of the use for handicapp folks who cant draw a bow.

Pope and Young stance, club that has fought harder for archers more than any other club in the history of archery.

Crossbow Policy Statement

The Pope and Young Club was founded to promote bowhunting and to record for posterity the outstanding examples of North American big game animals taken solely with the hunting bow.

For the purpose of the Pope and Young Club, a bow shall be defined as a longbow, recurve bow or compound bow that is hand-held and hand-drawn, and that has no mechanical device to enable the hunter to lock the bow at full or partial draw. Other than the energy stored by the drawn bow, no device to propel the arrow will be permitted.

Consequently, the Pope and Young Club does not consider the crossbow to be a hunting bow and will not accept any trophies collected by crossbow hunters. Further, the Pope and Young Club considers the use of crossbows during bowhunting seasons to be a serious threat to the future of bowhunting.

The Pope and Young Club therefore recommends the crossbow should not be considered for use in any bowhunting only season. Also, the Club strongly recommends that crossbow hunting be abolished from all existing bowhunting only seasons and the use of crossbows for hunting be restricted to firearms seasons.

[Diamondback7]

So you think going to one buck would put more in the woods. .

I absolutely think that there would be more bucks if you were restricted to shooting just one. No doudbt. Look at Kansas - they have a great buck to doe ratio (and a lot of mature bucks) because you can only shoot one buck...it is simple math. The alternative would be going to a "earn a buck" policy...which i think would do a lot of good as well (and would keep hunters such as yourself in the woods).

[Okbwhtr]

Im all for shoot a doe first

I absolutely think that there would be more bucks if you were restricted to shooting just one. No doudbt. Look at Kansas - they have a great buck to doe ratio (and a lot of mature bucks) because you can only shoot one buck...it is simple math. The alternative would be going to a "earn a buck" policy...which i think would do a lot of good as well (and would keep hunters such as yourself in the woods).

I would go for shoot a doe first to earn a buck tag. Sad part with this now you could just fill out and tag and do it online, earned your buck. But some zones dont need does harvested so it would be on zone by zone basis. Now Kansas has qaulity deer for sure. Increase the herd here to trophys and we might be having quite a few more Texans and Kansas residents coming to Oklahoma. Im just not sure I want that for Oklahoma residents. Im happy with everone getting to harvest a buck. Only thing we need right now is increase some doe management mostly. Im hoping the milatary doesnt take Camp Gruber and Cherokee refuge and management area over, we certianly dont want to lose public hunting lands to the milatary but they own that land and can take it back at anytime. 30,000 acres which is a possiabilty.

DB

[ruttinbuc]

Archery assc. dont agree with crossbows. States want more money and selling more tags. That will happen with crossbows maybe. Might put some gun hunters in the woods with crossbows during archery season and sale a few more tags. True archers arent going to drop the compounds and pick up crossbows. I like the idea of the use for handicapp folks who cant draw a bow.

Pope and Young stance, club that has fought harder for archers more than any other club in the history of archery.

Crossbow Policy Statement

The Pope and Young Club was founded to promote bowhunting and to record for posterity the outstanding examples of North American big game animals taken solely with the hunting bow.

For the purpose of the Pope and Young Club, a bow shall be defined as a longbow, recurve bow or compound bow that is hand-held and hand-drawn, and that has no mechanical device to enable the hunter to lock the bow at full or partial draw. Other than the energy stored by the drawn bow, no device to propel the arrow will be permitted.

Consequently, the Pope and Young Club does not consider the crossbow to be a hunting bow and will not accept any trophies collected by crossbow hunters. Further, the Pope and Young Club considers the use of crossbows during bowhunting seasons to be a serious threat to the future of bowhunting.

The Pope and Young Club therefore recommends the crossbow should not be considered for use in any bowhunting only season. Also, the Club strongly recommends that crossbow hunting be abolished from all existing bowhunting only seasons and the use of crossbows for hunting be restricted to firearms seasons.

CASE IN POINT

Would a true archer take this shot? I highly doubt they would. This mentality comes with the weapon.

Like I said before don't be brainwashed into thinking the Wildlife Agency knows best.

[Adjam5]

I have stayed out of this discussion and read all the posts. Up til now.

No one has brought up this point.

The simple fact that the crossbow does NOT have to be drawn in the presence to the animal disqualifies it for archery season. We are talking about a shoulder fired, pre cocked, scoped weapon. Point and shoot like a gun. Sure the range is limited, compounds and longbows beat it hands down, also in quietness.

How many times have you been busted drawing your bow on stand? How many times have you been busted pointing your rifle while on stand? An archer knows what I mean.

Like Mike said...don't think for one minute that there is not a consortium of crossgun manufacturers who are pushing for this and State DNR's looking to sell more tags.

Yes, we need to get more hunters in the game. So why stop at crossguns?( Excuse me Luke ) I mean crossbows. What about the guy who wants to hunt with a spear? Or a rock? How much more primitive can you get? There needs to be rules.

Archery is meant to be a difficult and demanding, skill and practice is involved. If it is all about making the harvest easier...lets go to hand grenades why don't we. When I don't shoot my bow for a few months, I need to get reacquainted with it. When I don't shoot my rifle for a few months, I know I can put it in the bullseye. Just like a crossbow.

I shot a crossbow for the first time in my life about 5 years ago and I hit the bulleseye at 30 yards. Am I that good or does it make it easier to launch a pointed stick?

I have nothing against anyone using any weapon to hunt in ANY season for the disabled, hurt, vets and seniors.

The aforementioned should be able to hunt anytime, anywhere with any weapon IMO.

Just not in archery seasons for healthy hunters.

If the state DNR's are looking to increase the hunter rolls. Why isn't hunter ed taught more often than just the few months before the seasons open? It is all about $$$.

[johnf]

It won't make any difference.

muggs is right. When they legalized xbows in Arkansas there were about 2-3 years where archery deer went up about 5%, then they leveled back out. I use both and would much rather have my compound in the woods with me. I'm also one of those folks who started out on Xbow and switched to compound. I think it's a good way to get into the sport.

[Okbwhtr]

John

muggs is right. When they legalized xbows in Arkansas there were about 2-3 years where archery deer went up about 5%, then they leveled back out. I use both and would much rather have my compound in the woods with me. I'm also one of those folks who started out on Xbow and switched to compound. I think it's a good way to get into the sport.

As one that truly teachs the art of archery. I hope most dont choose a crossbow and decide to not try archery. Your a prime example. Didnt relize Arkansas was a crossbow state. I realize it most likely going to happen here in my state eventually like others. I just dont want folks listing and telling me crossbow is archery because it is not. Have not looked at your statistics there in Arkansas. Do you guys get the statistics whether your harvest was with a bow or crossbow. I have attended archery events in your state and never heard any disscusions about crossbows.

DB