Shotgun, muzzle loader and crossbow.
Dang we just got rid of this 2 years ago and now its back.
Get your comments in.
What is going on within the MBA?
Sure glad I didn't buy a life membership.
"Add new limited B Licenses that allow a late season (12/1-1/1) harvest on private land only with special weapons where hunters who draw the license may purchase up to 2 additional licenses as below"
Unless I'm missing something this pertaining to private land only, correct?
If so, it could actually help public land archery hunters, like myself, by adding gun pressure on private land. Plus, if you have access to private land you would most likely be able to have a pretty good input to the landowner on whether or not guns/pistols/muzzies are used there anyway, right?
If I'm missing something please let me know....
Me not so much, I would prefer it to be archery only. Guess I am more about the hunt and less about extended opportunity.
This-
"If so, it could actually help public land archery hunters"
Then this-
"HD260 is almost all private."
Then this-
"Tony, I'm well aware of that"
Is confusing.
First of all, regardless of the fact that much of the unit is private, there is still various public land access throughout. I have personally killed 2 bucks off of public land there, so yes, like I previously stated I am aware, and this proposal could help public land guys like myself.
Secondly, as previously mentioned, if the private land you're hunting has bow only pressure and the surrounding properties have gun pressure, then I can't see how you wouldn't stand to benefit from this? So, it could benefit those who are on the public land access spots, as there would be no gun pressure there, as well as those who hunt on private (bow only pressure) land.
I too could are less about the extended opportunity, except for the fact that if allowing some gun pressure makes the areas I hunt more conducive for deer travel, then what is there to lose? Furthermore, if it would help to bring the buck/doe ratio more in line via more antlerless harvests then that's another added benefit.
Tony, I hear what you're saying, but it seems that you're basing your opinion more on principle than actual benefit, but then again that's just my opinion.
This could be and probably will be a foot in the door. If this passes it will be month that archers are sharing their season in this HD with shotgun, muzzleloaders and cross bows. Something the MBA fought to get rid of.
You still going to feel the same when it expands to 2 months or more?
Also I have been up trees when neighboring land owners open up in fields with muzzleloaders, not a good feeling with round balls flying around.
The MBA seems to always have a sky is falling mentality. I realize the need for restraint, but I think that can go overboard, and there needs to be a case by case reasoning.
Regardless, I hear where your coming from, and understand your position. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out. FWP seems to favor heavy harvests over any other concern, much of the time to the detriment of the hunters and animals, so hopefully this won't open Pandora's box.
Trust me when I say, that losing the archery only status is a loss to archers. At least people that would rather just use the bow. Opportunists are going to have a field day again.
That's a valid point, and I appreciate it!
It's just that I have personally noticed that the archery only restriction seems to bring out of the woodwork all the hacks who think bow hunting is just about grabbing a bow and going for a walk. (in that unit particularly, although my experience is no where near as extensive as yours) At least with the availability to use guns on private land those goons have an opportunity to ply their trade somewhere other than the prime public spots at during primetime, no? I can't tell you how many goofs I've seen walking around jumping deer at primetime acting like they're gun hunting, only they have a bow in their hand, and they clearly don't have a clue. I guess I would rather face competition from other serious bow hunters, than from a bunch of guys who don't know a field point from a broad head screwing it all up.
Again this is just my opinion based on my observations from my time spent in 260, which is, admittedly, not near the amount that yours is.
Eventually, nimrods packing a bow, quit. More opportunity breeds more nimrods, just packing different and more effective equipment.
I would rather a nimrod runs around flinging arrows, than flinging lead.
However, based on what I've seen I doubt most of them ever even have a chance to fling an arrow;)
Like I said before, history showed me that the area as a whole is worse off after these seasons are implemented. There's just too much pressure over a large percentage of time.
If you participated in the hunt this year you would have noted how quite it was in HD 260. Lets talk after next year and let me know how quite it is.