The time to voice your opinion is NOW. http://mdc.mo.gov/node/24141
APPROVED Changes to fall deer season structure for 2016-2017: • Maintain current timing of the November portion and reduce the length from 11 to 9 days. • Expand the late youth portion to 3 days beginning the first Friday after Thanksgiving. • Reduce the length of the antlerless portion from 12 to 3 days and begin on the first Friday in December. • Eliminate the urban zones portion.
PROPOSED regulation changes to fall deer season methods and limits for 2016-2017: • Include crossbows as a legal method during the archery deer and turkey seasons. • Allow the use of crossbows during the fall firearms turkey season. • Reduce the limit of antlered deer from 3 to 2 during the combined archery and firearms deer hunting season, with no more than one antlered deer taken during the firearms deer hunting season and only one antlered deer taken prior to the November portion of the firearms deer hunting season. • Remove the hunting method exemption requirement related to use of crossbows.
I personally don't like the change to a "2" buck limit. The MDC admits that very FEW archers harvest 2 bucks during the archery season. So this change has minimal affect on the deer herd. What it does IMO is reduces the "satisfaction" that the MDC says they are concerned about. IF, I kill a buck before rifle season then the opportunity to maybe kill a second buck will be gone.
I have only filled both buck tags one time in 34 years. I believe that this change will take hunters out of the field, reducing the "hunter satisfaction".
I'm sure a lot will be written about these changes. Everyone, like myself will base their opinions on their own hunting experience. Could be an interesting thread you have started.
The "hunter satisfaction" is the reasoning I was told in person by MDC staff for the following issues:
1. MDC can't move gun season.... 2. MDC lengthened the archer season. 3. Allowing you to shot does in EACH county, not a total of 1 or 2 or 3. 4. lengthening "youth season". 5. Moving youth season
Just using their words, not mine.
As your neighbor, I think moving to a two buck limit or even a 1 buck limit would be the best thing that you could do to promote an excellent age structure and good trophy quality hunting.
You boys go back to straight stick and string, no cams, no wheels, no light catching pins that allow one to shoot past legal light, no modern nothing, then I will entertain your lame fear of the crossbow. Hypocrites. Good site. I have enjoyed reading about people's hunts!
Marilynn J. Bradford, Chair David W. Murphy, Vice Chair James T. Blair, IV, Secretary Don C. Bedell, Member PRESENTATIONS:
The Commission received the following presentations/reports:
Agricultural Crop Program -- Nathan Bess, Financial Services Analyst; and Dave Darrow, Wildlife Management Biologist Missouri Deer Survey Program -- Mike Hubbard, Resource Science Division Chief Report of the Regulations Committee -- Tom Draper, Deputy Director and Chairman, Regulations Committee Recommendations for 2016-2017 Fall Deer/Turkey Season Structure, Methods, and Limits -- Jason Sumners, Resource Scientist 2016 Missouri Wild Turkey Hunting Regulation Recommendations -- Jason Isabelle, Resource Scientist Upcoming waterfowl/hunter public engagement meetings – Mike Hubbard, Resource Science Division Chief Major Construction Projects Status Report -- Jacob Careaga, Design and Development Division Chief 2016 Permit System Vendor Changes -- Greg Jones, Permit Services Supervisor Information Technology Projects Status Report -- Douglas Fees, Information Technology Services Chief ADMINISTRATION:
The Commission:
Received public comments regarding proposed deer regulations from Cole Cruickshank of Cameron and Blake Hurst of Westboro.
Recognized Conservation Agents Brian Ham, Doug Yeager, Adam Bracken, and Matthew Bryant (2015 MDC Pistol Team) for awards received at the National Police Shooting Championships.
Recognized two conservation-agent work teams as recipients of the 2015 MDC Workforce Diversity Award. Team members are: Conservation Agents Chris Campbell, Tammy Pierson, Marsha Jones, Chris Decoske, Brian Bartlett, Adam Doerhoff, Becky Robertson, Kearby Bridges, Christa Cox, Alan Lamb, and Jerry Elliott; and Conservation Agents Lexis Riter, and Kevin Powell.
Recognized the 2015 Missouri 4-H Shooting Sports State Team for Top Overall Honors at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships. Representatives of the 36-member team in attendance were: Dalton Fisher, Nichole Gann, Seiler Johnson, Stewart McCollum, Cole Sandbothe, Leanna Schwartze, Jake Tanner, Levi Walker, and Hunter Weller.
Recognized Stewart McCollum as the Top Overall Individual in the Senior Division at the 2015 NRA International Youth Hunter Education Challenge.
Approved recommendations for 2016-2017 fall deer/turkey season structure, methods, and limits:
Archery Deer and Turkey: Sept. 15 through Nov. 11, 2016, and Nov. 23, 2016, through Jan. 15, 2017 Firearms Turkey: Oct. 1 through 31, 2016 Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion: Oct. 29 through 30, 2016 Firearms Deer November Portion: Nov. 12 through 22, 2016 Firearms Deer Antlerless Portion: Dec. 2 through 4, 2016 Firearms Deer Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 24, 2016, through Jan. 3, 2017 Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion: Nov. 25 through 27, 2016 Maintain the current 11-day November portion of the firearm deer season instead of the proposed 9-day season. Expand the late youth portion to 3 days beginning the first Friday after Thanksgiving. Reduce the length of the antlerless portion from 12 to 3 days and begin on the first Friday in December. Eliminate the urban zones portion. Include crossbows as a legal method during the archery deer and turkey seasons. Allow the use of crossbows during the fall firearms turkey season. Reduce the bag limit for antlered deer from 3 to 2 during the combined archery and firearms deer hunting seasons, with no more than 1 antlered deer taken during the firearms deer hunting season and only 1 antlered deer taken prior to the November portion of the firearms deer hunting season. Remove the hunting method exemption requirement related to crossbows. Approved recommendations for changes to the Wildlife Code of Missouri to limit the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease.
Approved 2016 Missouri wild turkey hunting season regulation recommendations.
Established the 2016 spring turkey season from April 18 through May 8 with a limit of 2 bearded turkeys during the season; provided only 1 turkey may be taken during the first 7 days of the season. Established 2016 youth spring season April 9 and 10. Established the 2016 fall turkey hunting season from Oct. 1 through 31 with a limit of 2 turkeys of either sex during the season. Approved regulation changes identified during the mid-year review of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.
Approved entering into a contract for acquiring LiDAR and aerial photogrammetry of 34 conservation areas.
Approved an amendment to the negotiated agreement for design of the new Grand River Pump Station at Fountain Grove Conservation Area in Livingston County.
Approved an increase to the permit vendor commission rate effective upon implementation of the new electronic permit system.
Approved the exchange of approximately 16 acres of Angeline Conservation Area in Shannon County for approximately 9 acres in Shannon County as an addition to Angeline Conservation Area.
Approved the purchase of approximately 14.69 acres in Jefferson County as an addition to Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area.
Approved the 2014-2015 annual report for the Department of Conservation.
Denied the request for reinstatement of hunting privileges from one individual.
Approved the suspension or revocation of one or more hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges of two individuals for cause:
Lucas C. Hughes, Louisberg, Hunting, Additional 2 Years; and Tyler M. Summers, Warsaw, Fishing, 1 year. Suspended or revoked all hunting and fishing privileges of 400 individuals who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws.
Suspended or revoked one or more hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges of 374 individuals in accordance with the terms of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Suspended or revoked hunting privileges of six individuals who inflicted injury to another person while hunting.
Set the next regular meeting for January 21-22, 2016.
This document is provided for public information only and is not an official record of the Missouri Department of Conservation or Missouri
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not even close to being the same...
I love how some will take to the woods with a compound bow with all the bells and whistles and think they are the elite bow hunters with a holier than thou attitude about what is archery hunting and what is cheating, [Crossbows]. 60 years ago I may have had the same attitude about compounds if they were available then, but today I am just thankful to be able to hunt during bow season with my crossbow.
Longbow shares these 3 things with a compound. String, arrow, and has to be drawn. Thats basically it.
Crossbow share these things with a compound: String, arrow, graduated sights with lights or magnification, you don't have to hold the full draw weight of the bow, both loose the arrow via a trigger be it release or on a stock, (i mean seriously, 85-90% let-off), shooting over 300fps. In truth, the ONLY major difference is that it is pre drawn.
Here is the silliness of all of this. For the bowhunting elitist, the NUMBER 1 argument is always "you don't have to draw a crossbow in the presence of the animal." That's what it ALWAYS comes back to. But these same elitist do everything possible to gain an advantage in this area: 20ft. ladders and pop-up blinds being the 2 most common contraptions to conceal this movement. So unless you are on the ground in the woods, you don't really have a valid argument. Once you get above 15ft, it is not hard to draw on a deer. And even so, when did the ability to secretly draw a bow with a deer around become a GREAT SKILL. It even sounds silly. Say it out loud and hear yourself.
As far as the tons of new hunters and the perceived slaughter to come... show some REAL data. You can't because it isn't there. In every state that has allowed the crossbow, there was no ensuing massacre. Harvests and numbers changed very little. Neither did the number of archery numbers.
So really, unless you are shooting a longbow, or a compound exclusively from the ground, there really isn't much of an argument.
I did kill a nice buck (Pic attached) with my bow and a small doe with my bow. Killed the buck my first afternoon to hunt. Then killed the doe that saturday the weekend before Gun season.
Where are you at? My place is near Montgomery Woods CA.
I will try and look you up next year. We can't be more than 10 miles apart.
