Sad Day for MS Bowhunters

[Rhino]

By a vote of 86 to 30 today the House voted in favor of 2 bills that would change our deer seasons. One will chop off 19 days of our bowhunting limiting archery season to only the month of October. The other bill would allow DMAP participants the right to apply for the right to take antlerless deer with a gun during archery season.

In the past the last week of archery season has also been a youth gun season. I have always been in favor of it but now MS bowhunters could be faced with having only 3 weekends to enjoy the peacefulness of bowhunting outside the "bang" seasons. The 19 days of bowhunting in November that we would loose would be our primitive weapons season. Primitive weapons here now include all single shot rifles provided they are .35 cal. or larger. All primitive weapons seasons are also designated youth seasons so a youth hunter may hunt with any modern gun they want. The months of November, December, and January would be bang seasons. All of this and we are still on the honor system (no tagging system here).

Our average breeding dates vary across this state from the end of the 1st week of December to the 1st week of February. Where I hunt its around January 1st. It's common to see spotted fawns in November. I wonder how many of those spotted fawns would survive this kind of season change.

Needless to say, I'm not very happy about loosing 1/2 of our opportunity in MS to enjoy the peacefulness of bowhunting. It could be all of it if any of our neighbors in DMAP are granted the right to hunt does with a gun starting opening day of bowseason.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Rhino

[rhine16]

Pathetic.... Absolutely Pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought that after the DMAP barey passed yesterday, that this would not. Guess it's time to find a bow only lease now...

[Diamond Archer 01]

Sorry to hear that.

[rhine16]

The bill hasn't "passed" yet. Still gotta get through the senate.

Got a link to your senators contact info for you MS boys. Anyone else is more than welcome to contact em for us also.

http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=81342

[Rhino]

Guess it's time to find a bow only lease now...

Good luck with that but even if you do it doesn't mean the neighboring land would be that way.

I may just have to take my bowhunting on the road and forget about doing it here.

The bill hasn't "passed" yet. Still gotta get through the senate.

Got a link to your senators contact info for you MS boys. Anyone else is more than welcome to contact em for us also.

http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=81342

That's correct. I already voiced my opinion to the senators and sent an email out to every MS bowhunter I know. I included a link to every senator's email addy and their phone numbers.

Not looking good when the MDWF&P is openly backing the season change and trying to make it a gun hunters vs. bowhunters situation by urging all deer hunters to support the season change. Gun hunters outnumber bowhunters here 3 to 1.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Rhino

[rhine16]

I may just have to take my bowhunting on the road and forget about doing it here.

I wish I could afford to, but I can't. And if I could, I wouldn't have time because of school. I know several people that this might push them over the line to do a bow only lease... maybe we'll get one together.

You know... i'm all for hunting with a gun during certain times of the year. I went from bowhunting 95% the past 4 years to hunting every hunt from Dec 16- Dec 31 with my rifle this year. Yes, I enjoyed hunting with my gun, but there are certain times to do it in my opinion.

I just can't imagine getting any satisfaction by toting a gun to the same box stands watching the same green patches every hunt for three months. That's what it'll be though. Lazy hunting is the way to go these days.

[Rhino]

I enjoy hunting with a gun too rhine but my real passion during deer season is bowhunting them. I truly enjoy the peacefulness of bowhunting when I'm in a stand. I still get the shakes BAD when I send an arrow through a doe. It's worse with a buck. I usually get rubber legged! I honestly could care less about shooting a doe with a gun. It's just not the same. I do get excited about killing a mature buck though no matter what weapon is in my hand.

[rhine16]

Completely agreed on all accounts there Al. Just something about having that month and a half of peacefulness. Now we'll be lucky to get a few weeks....

[Rhino]

For what it's worth, this is the email I sent to all our state senators.

Gentlemen,

I see that the House has passed both HB1137 and HB1282. I would like to voice my objection to both of these.

First of all I'd like to express my feelings as a bowhunter. Bowhunting deer for me and many of my close bowhunting friends is not a game, sport, or contest. It is a sacred activity. It is an intimate relationship with the great outdoors, nature and wildlife that can only be truly appreciated outside the noisy firearms seasons.

If both of these bills were to become law they could be detrimental to the resource. It's well known and documented that the mean breeding date for deer across this state varies from the end of the first week of December in the northwestern part of the state to the first week of February in the southeastern part of the state. It's common for me to see spotted fawns in November. Allowing firearms for the harvesting of does starting on Oct 1st under HB1137 could be a disaster for the resource. It may be less devastating in November but giving them a little longer to learn the skills of survival that only their mother can give them certainly makes more sense to protect the resource. What chance do those spotted fawns have to survive if orphaned at such an early age? Bowhunters have the time to make an informed decision to pass those does with spotted fawns. A firearm hunter is more apt to shoot at the first sight of a doe before they even know if it has spotted fawns.

I am strongly opposed to both bills and concerned for the resource. The first recommendation on Page 72 of the MDWF&P's 2009 deer program report states the following.

"Statewide variance in parameters such as breeding dates, conditions indices, and changes in habitat quality continue to warrant intelligent site-specific deer management recommendations. Because of the extreme diversity in management needs across the state, landowners can implement these recommendations only if they are provided with a season framework that offers maximum opportunity or with special permits that allow additional opportunity."

These statewide changes proposed are far from the intelligent site-specific deer management recommended. I was shocked to see that the same people who expressed the need for this are in favor of HB1282.

In closing I would like to say this state is long overdue needing a statewide harvest reporting system. I was shocked to see these bills proposed without them. That continues to be a recommendation by the MDWF&P to take deer management in this state to the next level.

[BigDog]

that stinks!

[Ravin R10 man]

Man...we get from Mid Sept. to Jan 2nd..minus the 9 day gun season of course

[ruttinbuc]

gun hunters vs. bowhunters

We have that problem here, Al. It stinks when the Fish and Game council is run by gun loving farmers and the big drive clubs. They are looking to shorten the bow seasons all the time pushing guns farther and farther into November.

Hope the MS senate brings some common sense to the issue.

[RangerClay]

If they remove the 19 days, how many days to bowhunt will you have?

[Rhino]

If they remove the 19 days, how many days to bowhunt will you have?

Just the month of October; however the last week of bow season has also been a special youth gun season too. It's not clear if that will remain the same yet. If hasn't been addressed so the assumption is it remains the same. That week would be shared with youth gun hunters and bowhunters would be required to wear hunter orange. That gives bowhunters 3 weekends when the big guns aren't out there.

A firearm hunter would have all of November, December, and January...except the southeatern part of the state that's open until February 15th. That part of the state that stays open through Feb. 15th would also be a firearm season for them.

[preacherman]

Al,

I was in Jackson on Monday and had the privilege to open the legislature in prayer. I did voice my opinion and got snubbed in doing so. These guys are stuffed shirts that have no idea about hunting and honestly do not care. It is all about how their buddies vote and whether or not they are going to be accepted by them. That is all that matters, hands down. But I did remind my rep. that he was voted in by the people and not by his buddies in the chair next to him.

[Rhino]

Al,

I was in Jackson on Monday and had the privilege to open the legislature in prayer. I did voice my opinion and got snubbed in doing so. These guys are stuffed shirts that have no idea about hunting and honestly do not care. It is all about how their buddies vote and whether or not they are going to be accepted by them. That is all that matters, hands down. But I did remind my rep. that he was voted in by the people and not by his buddies in the chair next to him.

Unfortunately I know that. Sad but true. So far I've only gotten 1 response from my email yesterday.

BTW...got an email from Joel Cunningham with the Mississippi Bowhunters Association this morning urging bowhunters to contact the senators. I beat him to the punch yesterday. I also sent every bowhunter I know an email urging them to do the same yesterday. Some are outraged and have already voiced their objection.

[bloodtrails]

So lame!

[joeaveragehunter]

Might be time to call a realtor.

[maddhunter]

Sounds like a bunch of CRAP to me. You could move to Oklahoma, we have from Oct. 1st to Jan. 15th for archery. Doe or Buck.

Hope that bill doesn't pass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[123 4/8 P&Y]

I don't feel so bad about the seasons in my state now.

[123 4/8 P&Y]

I don't know much about government so this might be a dumb question. Why are the hunting seasons in Mississippi set by the senate and the house? I'm pretty sure the seasons in Nebraska are set by the Game and Parks department.

[Rhino]

I don't know much about government so this might be a dumb question. Why are the hunting seasons in Mississippi set by the senate and the house? I'm pretty sure the seasons in Nebraska are set by the Game and Parks department.

That's just the way it is here. In MS the Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks essentially can only make recommendations and enforce the game laws. All the laws, including hunting seasons and bag limits are set by the state government. They come to a vote in the House & Senate and then go across the governor's desk. He can sign them into law or veto them.

[redkneck]

I guess I havent been in this room in a while guys, just noticed the post. Like most bowhunters in this state, it really ticks me off that we're going down this direction. Like Allan said, Those first few weeks are great to be out there without all the shooting, just peace and quiet. It's not all about having the woods to myself, although the reduced numbers are nice, but I encourage others each year to take up the sport and take thier hunting experience to a whole new level. It really stinks, but wont really have much impact on my hunting for now I dont suppose.

[BBR12]

This is all about 1 thing and that is money. I've heard Chad Dacus(the head deer guy pushing this) speak on two different subjects lately and what he said at each completely counteracted what he said at the other. The first was that this season change was to help REDUCE an out of control population. The second was the antler restrictions we have are in place to reduce buck harvest therefore improving breeding habits and INCREASING deer numbers. Its a sad day when you can't even expect to get the truth from the biologist who are suppossed to be protecting the resource not the money men.

[Rhino]

I hear ya about Chad Dacus. He will just say what he thinks the group he's speaking to wants to hear.

Well apparently the bill passed the Senate wildlife committee and will come to a vote in the Senate soon. Got this email from the MS DWF&P today. They are obviously trying to solicite favorable support for any MS licensed hunters since bowhunters have already been contacting their Senators.

MDWFP Supports Deer Season Structure Change

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) continues its support of HB 1282 as it moves to a vote in the Mississippi State Senate. HB 1282 passed the Mississippi House of Representatives with an overwhelming majority. Now is the time for sportsmen to contact their senator in support of this bill. “We appreciate the support of the sportsmen,” MDWFP Wildlife Bureau Chief Larry Castle said. “It’s the support of these sportsmen that help us to progress and move forward.”

If HB 1282 becomes law, the deer season structure for 2010-11 would be:

Archery: October 1 – 31

Archery / Crossbow / Primitive Weapon: November 1 – 19

Gun with Dogs: November 20 – December 1

Gun without Dogs: December 2 – 23

Gun with Dogs: December 24 – January 19

Gun without Dogs: January 20 – January 31

Archery / Primitive Weapon: February 1 – February 15 (Zone 2)

HB 1282 is not taking opportunity away from archery hunters. Archery hunters still have 123 days of hunting opportunity because they can choose to hunt with archery equipment during the gun seasons. “HB 1282 will empower landowners and hunting clubs to harvest deer earlier in the season with a more efficient weapon,” Chad Dacus, Deer Program Coordinator. “This earlier deer harvest is needed on some properties across the state to help reduce the deer herd in areas with high numbers of deer vehicle collisions, crop damage, habitat damage, and out of balance buck-to-doe ratios.”

If you are in support of HB 1282, contact your Senator at (601) 359-3770. For a list of senators, visit http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/.

Can't believe they don't understand the difference between enjoying the peace and quiet of bowhunting compaired to trying to bowhunt during the noisy gun season. Also bowhunters would have to wear 500" of unbroken hunter orange. I touched on the orphaned spotted fawn issue in my earlier post.

And...Chad Dacus' statement toward the end is a joke. Some properties may need help to reduce deer numbers but the whole state certainly doesn't. Their own data of average numbers across the state shows a buck to doe ratio of ~2.5 to 1. The area of the state I hunt is a little less than 2 to 1. Crop damage? Give me a break...there is program available now that allows for crop depredation permits. All you have to do is apply for it.

BTW...for those of you that don't know...primitive weapons now in MS include any single shot rifle with a minimum caliber of .35. A .35 Whelen or any other .35 cal. magnum round is not very primitive.

Time to voice my objection to our state senators again.

Edited February 26, 2010 by Rhino