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Post by Woody Williams on Feb 26, 2008 13:27:47 GMT -5
I keep hearing from the folks that want to shorten the gun seasons that "Indiana has 32 days of firearms".
Of course they throw in the late muzzleloader season to try and make that claim.
This is a season where weather can be very unpredictable, the deer have been harassed and shot at for two solid months beginning as early as September 15th in some areas, and the hunters are using single shot hunting tools.
Now why would some want to lump the muzzleloaders in with the regular firearm season? Because they think that it strengthens their case to say "32 days of firearm season".
Now for most it is a matter of wanting to get bigger bucks by limiting the "firearm season". So they throw the late muzzleloader season into the fray. But how big an impact is the late muzzleloader season making on the "buck herd"? Not much.
Let's take a lok at what the late season muzzleloader season does do - in terms of antlers and antlerless.
I looked at 2003 to 2006 numbers. I do not have all of the 2007 deer harvest numbers yet.
In those years the muzzleloader hunters took..
15,696 antlered deer
59,173 antlerless deer
Antlerless deer make up 79% of their deer harvest.
So for every buck they kill they kill 3.8 does.
I think that shows that the muzzleloader hunters are doing a yeoman's job of taking out a large portion of does and helping managing the herd.
I also think that the muzzleloaders have earned their right to be left out of this "shorten the gun season" fiasco.
I would also think the IDNR would want to reward these guys/gals with a fair weather hunt, maybe in October.
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Post by hornharvester on Feb 26, 2008 13:34:45 GMT -5
I think that shows that the muzzleloader hunters are doing a yeoman's job of taking out a large portion of does and helping managing the herd. I also think that the muzzleloaders have earned their right to be left out of this "shorten the gun season" fiasco. I would also think the IDNR would want to reward these guys/gals with a fair weather hunt, maybe in October. X2......h.h. |
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Post by swilk on Feb 26, 2008 13:54:40 GMT -5
I personally like the seasons the way they are. With maybe 1 exception ..... and that is for purely selfish reasons.
IMO the best deerhunting is from about October 28 - November 14 or so. My only complaint of the current season structure, considering I enjoy archery season more than gun season, would be on those few years when gun season comes in on the 12 or 13 of November. Like I said .... purely selfish reason.
I would like to see an October "primitive" MZ season ....... I would also like the opportunity to kill a buck in velvet with my bow.
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Post by weedhopper on Feb 26, 2008 13:57:10 GMT -5
I agree wholeheartedly, Woody. Lumping the Muzzleloading season with the General Firearms season just to make their case, is very transparent.
I think it's time to push for an October opportunity for the muzzleloaders.
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Post by hunter7x on Feb 26, 2008 14:11:33 GMT -5
So the 15,696 buck that are killed shouldn't count in the total buck harvest ?
I'm not following why is shouldn't or wouldn't count as a gun season...you squeeze the trigger it goes bang a gas propelled projectile travels down the barrell...
What is the same math formula for the regular gun season?
# of antlered vs antlerless?
percentage antlerless makes up of total harvest ?
AND everyone of those hunters already has a bonus season, it's in Nov lol
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Post by dbd870 on Feb 26, 2008 14:11:45 GMT -5
They're doing the same thing liberals do - guess you know where they rate with me!
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Post by weedhopper on Feb 26, 2008 14:26:14 GMT -5
Every one of those hunters?? Bonus season in November?? Please explain?? A bonus season would include something other than what we've had since the muzzleloading season was established.
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Feb 26, 2008 14:30:19 GMT -5
X3 Woody.
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Post by hunter7x on Feb 26, 2008 14:38:10 GMT -5
Every one of those hunters?? Bonus season in November?? Please explain?? A bonus season would include something other than what we've had since the muzzleloading season was established. it was tongue in cheek  Everyone of those hunters can hunt during the regular gun season in Nov. actually I have no problem with an early MZ season, but I don't think that group is any more special than the rest of "them" |
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Post by weedhopper on Feb 26, 2008 14:54:08 GMT -5
I don't either. But they DO have to pay for an extra tag to enable them to shoot a buck during that time.
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Post by freedomhunter on Feb 26, 2008 15:20:37 GMT -5
A muzzleloader is a firearm? The buck tag thing needs to change to one purchase next season, it is ludicrous. Considering the regular firearms and ml seasons are shortened to say around 9 days each and moved a couple weeks later (with 5 days of no hunting between), a ml weekend in mid-october would be a good tradeoff along with maybe allowing crossbows for a couple weeks in October. Maybe go as far as to shut down the archery during the regular firearms days or even 5 days prior to the regular firearms.
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Post by 10point on Feb 26, 2008 15:48:46 GMT -5
shut down the archery during the regular firearms days or even 5 days prior to the regular firearms. You got to be kidding! Not only is that a great time to hunt some people will only allow bow hunting and if someone wants to hunt with a bow during gun season who cares. |
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Post by dbd870 on Feb 26, 2008 16:01:15 GMT -5
A muzzleloader is a firearm? The buck tag thing needs to change to one purchase next season, it is ludicrous. Considering the regular firearms and ml seasons are shortened to say around 9 days each and moved a couple weeks later (with 5 days of no hunting between), a ml weekend in mid-october would be a good tradeoff along with maybe allowing crossbows for a couple weeks in October. Maybe go as far as to shut down the archery during the regular firearms days or even 5 days prior to the regular firearms. Other than restructing the licenses the rest of that is terrible. |
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Post by freedomhunter on Feb 26, 2008 16:47:30 GMT -5
Feel free to break down that post into several "quotes" and expound on how terrible each idea is.. It makes for entertaining reading if nothing else.
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Post by hunter480 on Feb 26, 2008 17:17:45 GMT -5
Dunno that I agree with the early muzzleloader season, but do agree with the lame argument for 32 days of firearms hunting.
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Post by dbd870 on Feb 26, 2008 18:15:30 GMT -5
Pointless; it's all a rehash anyway, we all know where each of us stands and no one is going to change anyone elses mind.
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Post by steiny on Feb 26, 2008 18:17:10 GMT -5
Don't really understand the point of this thread, other than another angle at arguing against any reduction in firearms hunting.
If a muzzle loader shouldn't be lumped in with firearms, where should it?
How about we call it achery equipment?
Sheesh !
And for the record .... I really don't like the idea of muzzle loaders or any other firearms during the early archery season. I like the solitude and quiet and don't really want any more hunters during that season.
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Post by budfields on Feb 26, 2008 18:44:36 GMT -5
Golly... I don't care how many days it adds up to.. I just LOVE TO HUNT.
When I started deer hunting in the early 1960's, I was taught that deer hunting was an "AMERICAN TRADITION" and to "PASS IT ON TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION" and what is happening now?? Other hunters are wanting to convince the "POWERS THAT BE" to surrender our TRADITION and RIGHT TO HUNT HOPING it will create a few more MONSTER BUCKS...
In my humble, worthless opinion, I wish others would leave well enough alone and IF the hunter wants to shoot a trophy buck... do so... If they want to shoot a doe... DO SO but once we give ANYTHING UP... IT WILL BE GONE..
Not meant to be offensive to anyone... I for one enjoy deer hunting and if they had a season for rock-throwing at deer, I would be out there during that season as well.. (If the state could make a few bucks doing that... that might...)
Bud
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Post by oldrookie on Feb 26, 2008 19:07:22 GMT -5
[quote author=
In those years the muzzleloader hunters took..
15,696 antlered deer
59,173 antlerless deer
Antlerless deer make up 79% of their deer harvest.
So for every buck they kill they kill 3.8 does.
Woody, are the above numbers from muzzleloader season or from muzzleloaders? Only reason I ask is there are alot of muzzleloaders used during firearms.
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Post by tenring on Feb 26, 2008 19:11:30 GMT -5
D And for the record .... I really don't like the idea of muzzle loaders or any other firearms during the early archery season. I like the solitude and quiet and don't really want any more hunters during that season. I'm a gun hunter and not too thrilled with the guns being in the early archery season, and argued against it many years ago when they held meetings at the State Office buildings, but against all common sense judgment, the DNR went ahead and moved the archery season into the gun season. Go figure! |
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