Earn a buck tag...

I have heard the topic come up a few times in the past but never hear much in detail about it. There are many views on the good/bad reasons if a doe would have to be harvested before a buck could be taken. Personally, as a diehard bowhunter, love the idea but many who don't have much time to spend in the woods disagree.

All the personal reasons aside as to why someone would disagree, this is about whitetail management. To be effective, putting strict guidelines like this will do more good than bad. Having abundant limits in SE Ohio to help fill the freezer sounds great but the success % of hunters taking advantage of these limits have to be low. Why? Because hunters are after horns and pass many opportunities at a great doe hoping for a wall hanger. This does not speak for everyone but my guess is that it covers a good number of hunters.

I would like to see the impact that a system like this would have on deer management. What are your thoughts?

It is an interesting thought, if the idea is to force hunters to cut down the deer population. I have seen it mostly associated with CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) areas though.

I guess it really depends on the state or area and what their need are. One patch of expressway in Toledo, Ohio has 400 deer and automobile collisions annually. On the other hand, it seems gone are the days of seeing 20 deer on the trail camera in some urban areas of Ohio. If the deer population is low, I certainly wouldn't want to see it around here.

I tend to doubt a seasoned bow hunter would limit themselves to only bucks but again that is my opinion. Seeing as they have all year to hunt and only one buck tag. It does happen, I just assume it is not the norm.

5SO Admin

I can't speak for everyone but I never pass on a chance to put meat in the freezer. Yes, I'm lookin for that monster mature buck but it doesn't keep me from thinin out the does. YUMMY