How antler point restrictions will screw up WY!

So I just saw where they are looking to go 4 point or better in Region W. This is bad news for big bucks and anyone who hunts specifically for them. Forcing everyone in the unit to shoot a 4 point buck will leave only little bucks to breed, there are several areas where I have watched point restriction come and when they are in place harvest goes down, but when removed it is hard to find any good bucks.

A prime example is Ferris Mountain in WY. It was once 4 or better. Even today many years later the Bucks have a very strong 3 point gene and the majority of 4 point bucks are very crabby!

It also means that my target buck for next year is off the list. Last year he was 33" wide 3x3 and I know he was atleast 5 maybe 6. He made it into the late winter and looked healthy!

How shitty would it be to see a 35" wide buck and have to pass?

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't pass on that 35" 3 point! I notice region G is going to three point or better. If you are going to do point restrictions, I think this is a better approach to keep the three points from overrunning the place in a few years. It seems clear that point restrictions don't really provide any long term benefits. I suppose it is being done to appease some group of complainers.

>I'm pretty sure I wouldn't pass
>on that 35" 3 point!
> I notice region G
>is going to three point
>or better. If you
>are going to do point
>restrictions, I think this is
>a better approach to keep
>the three points from overrunning
>the place in a few
>years. It seems clear
>that point restrictions don't really
>provide any long term benefits.
>I suppose it is being
>done to appease some group
>of complainers.

Exactly. I would also point out the obvious, how do you get more big bucks when all you are targeting are big bucks! In region W I have more big bucks than I have in units I. COLORADO where it takes a nonresident 8 to 10 years to apply!

I beleive this is because many people are happy with 22 inche 3x3 and thus fill a tag and head home leaving more big bucks in the hills! With this new regulation everyone will be forced to hunt until the bitter end looking for a bigger buck.

Agreed should cut tags but we all know g&f is broke!

LAST EDITED ON May-11-17 AT 09:57PM (MST)[p]Not sure what the thinking is, but I'm sure the move was supported by the mule deer working group there. They won't leave that APR on for very long.

Waaaaaaaa!

Put in somewhere else.

LAST EDITED ON May-14-17 AT 10:16AM (MST)[p]In the past, whenever APR's have been imposed, many people quit hunting those units because they figure the hunting will be much harder( of course it will be). It will take a few years for the apr's to have a negative effect on the bucks. By then G&F will likely drop the apr's in those units. By then, b/d ratios will have improved to much better levels.

I've seen apr's drastically improve hunting for big bucks for the first 2-3 years. Amazingly so. But it seems that after 3-4 years, not so much. Those 2-yr old 4x4's start getting whacked when they are still kids and don't get a chance to get the age needed to grow bigger racks.

APR's were once a very viable option management-wise for increasing b/d ratios when used for 2-3 years. Now it seems they are more for pleasing the arm-chair biologists.

IMO, if G&F used apr's in different units for 2-3 years; constantly changing from unit to unit, it would be a good situation for improving b/d ratios as well as trophy quality.

BTW, Elks96, eyeguards are considered a point as long as they are over 1". Does this huge 3x3 have eyeguards??

im not from wy but up in was where i hunt is 3 or better i just see it ass more deer to mature more bucks breedbetter for population

>Waaaaaaaa!
>
>Put in somewhere else.


WOW! What an amazing and intelligent comment. Sorry but a person who is actually concerned and involved in management decisions is not someone to kick away. I love hunting Region W and have been in that area for a long time.

I am not leaving, but good try Fault.

I probably should not engage with you in any debate as it seems to be highly counter productive.

OH WELL!