re: Should some parishes in Louisiana adopt Antler restrictions?

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How much killing does it take to make this happen?

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I wish the state kept better statistics on this within the WMAs. They track total deer taken and sex. But I’d be willing to bet the majority of those deer taken are 2.5 years old and under.

It’s my own opinion, which I can tell you disagree with, but there isn’t as much sport in shooting a bunch of young stupid deer year after year.

I also recognize its comes down to the individual and the situation. If you can only make four hunts a year and you shoot one young deer? I get that. But the individual who fills their tags every year shooting immature deer, I’ll never quite understand.

Lady is basically a biologist; no brow times = cull buck.

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So how do we know the population isn’t healthy?

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Well the state still keeps restrictions on certain areas as compared to others with less tags, doe days, etc. I’m not saying they have it all figured out, but the people that are doing it as their day job must have some sort of reasoning for keeping those restrictions in place.

ETA: additionally, most of the WMAs have pretty tight restrictions as compared to the rest of the state. Much shorter rifle seasons and buck only days. If the deer population in Louisiana was that robust I’d imagine those wouldn’t be needed.

Since the run on leases people have started being more selective, no one in my area would show up at camp or the processor with a dink 4 or 6 pt .

Maybe a kid or some old man but most let em walk

Antler restrictions across a state or parish is a bad idea. The current frame work for Louisiana is probably one of the best in the country that balances opportunity and population protection. Fawn health and time of birth (early/late) can drive wither or not a young buck could be harvested with these types of regulations, do you know if a late drop fawn in a drought year is carrying genetics to be a trophy? You have 2 bucks standing in the lane, one is a harvestable has 3 points on one side at the ears or whatever made up restriction is in place and one is scraggly and doesn't meet the minimum standards. Congratulations the better genetics may have just got harvested. Do this long enough and your average antler size at maturity will go down. No if ands or buts about it, that is how selective harvesting and breeding works. People need to be able to shoot what they feel is fitting for their property and objectives. An injured buck with funky rack may not be harvestable with restrictions. Keeping population below 50% of carrying capacity entering spring is very important for the health of the deer herd. Explore the MSU deerlab studies they have a wealth of data on these topics. One study was a large high fence in Texas that did extensive antler restrictions and the neighboring property was free range not restrictions, the free range no restrictions end up passing the high fence property on average mature buck antler size. MSU Deer Lab Publications

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Right, but they have no problem killing 4 does with none weighing over 120 lbs. and then bitch about not seeing deer most hunts.

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We have a different problem, a too many does problem. They'll watch does all season thinking a buck is going to come out behind a doe opening weekend of rifle in November like its the rut, don't shoot any does all season, then shoot 120lb pencil horned 8 points in early January so they can get some sausage.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Kansas or Illinois have a minimum antler requirement, and people drive across the country to go there. If the state wants to put restrictions on some or all of the WMAs, I could get behind that, but they need to leave private lands alone.

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could be wrong, but I don't think Kansas or Illinois have a minimum antler requirement, and people drive across the country

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Kansas only allows one buck and you pretty much only get to go hunt it every third year if you are lucky. I put in for a unit this year and didn’t draw.
If I would have drawn I wouldn’t have driven up there and shot the first 120i saw on day one. I would have waited till day 5-7 and tried to and then struggled to fill my tag and ate it very good chance.

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Kansas only allows one buck and you pretty much only get to go hunt it every third year if you are lucky.

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Boy, that sounds like paradise to me

That's as a non-resident. In my limited research as a resident of the state, for Illinois and Kansas, a maximum of 2 antlered deer in a season, (archery/primative/gun seasons all required separate "permits" and could only take one for each permit) an antlered deer was defined as 3" on one side. Far less restrictive than what MS has in place.