Three- Point Rule
While archery hunters have been hunting under the new antler restrictions all season, the vast majority of deer hunters will be exposed to the new law in just nine days. Our area’s buck hunters will be required to pass over any buck having fewer than three antler points on one side of its rack. Hunters, this season is a test. Much is at stake. We can pass or fail.
The new deer hunting rule for last fall was concurrent buck and doe seasons. While I was a little skeptical, the season proceeded smoothly, does were not over-harvested as some naysayers had predicted, and a few extra bucks escaped hunters’ bullets to grow bigger antlers for this fall.
After experiencing one either-sex season, I’d have to give it an A+ rating. It certainly increased my hunting opportunities and my enjoyment of the entire 12-day season. I’m looking forward to this year’s combined hunt and, since I hunted under a self-imposed three-points-to-a-side rule last season, I’m more than a little excited about this December’s opportunities. You should be, too.
The Rationale
One of the components of a healthy deer herd is large dominant bucks competing with one another to breed does – allowing mainly the better bucks to pass their genes on to the next generation. This is accomplished by a smaller breeding buck to doe ratio, as well as older bucks surviving to do the breeding. This doesn’t happen in Pennsylvania.
Because of our unlimited number of hunters and a liberal two-week rifle season, the vast majority of Pennsylvania’s bucks never see their second birthday. Less than one percent see their fourth birthday. With the absence of older dominant bucks and our high number of antlerless deer, even first-year spikes get to breed and pass on their genes.
The solutions: A – greatly shorten the buck season; B – limit the number of antlered deer licenses; or C – implement antler restrictions. Which one would you select?
The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Deer Management Section head Gary Alt traveled all over the state last winter and early spring presenting programs to hunters about the benefits of a new, stricter antler restriction. He used gentle persuasion, slides, statistics, and sample antlers to tell his story.
Alt’s message to area residents and others across the state was clear: “Pennsylvania hunters kill a greater percentage of our antlered bucks than any state in the country.”
Alt’s solution: “Of all the things that could improve our breeding ecology and increase the size of bucks in the herd, nothing would do it as quickly and dramatically – and be accepted by hunters – as changing our antler restrictions.”
The Rules
Hunters in a ten-county area of western Pennsylvania will be required to abide by a four-point-to-a-side rule. Special regulations counties – Allegheny and four counties near Philadelphia – will follow the old rules. With the exception of Junior hunters (not seniors) and active duty military personnel, all central Pennsylvania hunters will be under a minimum three-point-to-a-side antler restriction.
To be legal in Blair, Centre or Huntingdon counties, bucks must have at least one antler with three points. The Game Commission has made their interpretation of “a point” as liberal as possible. The antler must have one branching point of at least an inch in length, a brow tine (the first point, usually branching off a few inches above a buck’s skull) of any length, and the end of the main beam counts as a point even if it is broken off. If no brow tine is present (and they are absent on a large percentage of bucks), a buck must have at least two branching one-inch-long tines and the end of the main beam. All of this is explained in detail on Page 35 of the Regulations Digest that came with your license.
My Views
There have been critics of the new antler restriction, but quite frankly I don’t understand their views. Either they don’t understand the biology or the math, or maybe they aren’t true hunters. While true hunters may have the kill as a goal, they truly enjoy the hunt while trying to achieve that goal.
It is correct that the buck kill should be lower this year, but next year it should bounce back to near normal, with a greater percentage of older, larger antlered bucks in the woods. I don’t know of any deer hunter who would rather shoot a spike than an eight point. Would you?
But some hunters have claimed, “I don’t hunt for antlers, I just want venison.” The solution is simple – harvest an adult doe!
Of the three options mentioned earlier, two greatly decrease hunting opportunities, and the third choice – antler restrictions – actually increases, yes, I said increases hunting opportunities. It potentially lengthens our deer season because, on the average, it will take longer to locate a legal buck. Why would a person who enjoys hunting turn down a system that could increase our legal hunting time and potentially put many bigger antlered bucks in the woods?
Mistake Kills
As a final option, the Game Commission has a generous “mistake kill” rule. If an adult hunter shoots a protected deer (a buck having two or fewer points to a side), the fine is only $25 if the kill is tagged and reported within 12 hours. The hunter forfeits the antlers, but is allowed to keep the meat.
A Wish
I hope that hunters do their best to follow the new regulation, even if it means changing their hunting style. Honest mistakes will be made, but I hope we demonstrate that we are responsible hunters and make a sound choice before pulling the trigger.
I’m looking forward to 12 days, or at least a Monday and two Saturdays, of deer hunting excitement. I might not harvest or even see a legal buck this year, but I know that my chances will be much greater next season. My anticipation and enjoyment will be high all season because, while I’m looking for that legal antlered buck, I’ll also have the same amount of time to attempt to harvest an adult doe.
Mark Nale can be reached at MarkAngler@aol.com
