Originally posted by Mojostick:
The DNR has a near impossible task. They will never make everyone happy.
Not only that, Michigan deer habitat is very diverse. The northern UP may as well be Canada. When settlers came, there were still woodland caribou in the UP. Yet, southern Michigan may as well be Ohio or Illinois, with rich farmland. Making statewide rules is very difficult.
The gun only hunters think bowhunters ruin their hunt, some think the youth hunt in September ruins rifle hunting in November, farmers claim hunters won't kill enough deer, hunters "up north" claim hunters kill too many deer, hunters that don't want any buck rules want the freedom to shoot whatever antlered buck they see, while others want to see more 2 year old plus bucks in the woods.
Then you have those who want to hunt over bait and then those who claim bait alters natural deer movements and makes deer nocturnal. You have those who claim archery season is too long, yet others claim neighboring states have bow seasons that are nearly 2 months longer. You have those who claim muzzleloader season is too long and should be no inlines allowed, yet 95% of ML hunters hunters already own inlines.
Then you have 100,000 reported deer/auto accidents a year in Michigan. That's only those that are reported. Don't forget bovine TB and the cattle and dairy industry or CWD.
In a way, we're lucky deer hunting rules are as lax as they are.
Well said Mojostick, I myself hope that law finds it's way to the "thumb" of Michigan. We are so overpopulated with does in the mostly farm area here. That was the whole reason I came back to traditional archery after a 30 year leave is because I miss the challenge of hunting. It was way to easy to shot a year & a half old buck or doe so I made it a challenge now & am very satisfied taking a doe with traditional gear. I was not getting any satisfaction shooting a 4 point buck with modern equipment.
Now I don't bait either as I enjoy the hunt part of hunting, shooting animals at the food trough is not hunting to me, it is not that challenging figuring out where the deer beds are or the routes they are taking to and from food sources.
But I also welcome the law as I do enjoy the 2 week non-traditional season, especially if I don't succeed during the bow season. If that law comes here maybe I will have the opportunity for something other than a year & a half old buck as a doe taste just as good.
The way I hunt that rule would be the best of both worlds, I could go for a doe the hard way (with trad gear & a doe is a trophy to me) but yet I could trophy buck hunt for 2 weeks in november.
I agree it is very hard to please everybody & I try to not complain about the non-traditional crowd or the shot em at the food trough crowd. I must admit so far we are all happily living together at least in this part of the state, so I guess I have to say the DNR is doing ok, I do wish we could have a few more officers though to keep the rules enforced..
Dan
Topic: Michigan-Antler Point Restrictions Pass (Read 4144 times)
