Senate Bill 910, Velvet Antler Season

[Okie4570]

I really doubt it matters much. If we don't start killing a boatload of does, we're gonna be seriously overpopulated soon, IMHO. (that's eastern OK mostly)

It's not uncommon to see 100-150+ in multiple wheat fields in January and February in NW/NC Oklahoma. We kill does, and there's numerous DMAP landowner participants in the area as well. I bet the buck to doe is still 1 to 20 or more in many areas up here.

 

[retrieverman]

This is the key and I don't understand why people do not harvest more does. I am sure we all talk to people who only shoot bucks, and I do not get it.

I‘m mainly a trophy buck hunter and haven’t shot a doe off my place since 2018. When my brother and I started splitting a steer every year, I quit shooting does, because I don’t need the meat. My neighbors shoot does, and from what I see via several trail cameras, I don’t believe overpopulation is an issue. There is an overpopulation of coyotes, and from what I see on camera, I estimate fawn survival at 25% or so.

I don’t know about other parts of the state, but the current deer herd on and around my place is less that 50% of what it was before the 2011 drought. I used to see herds like Okie is talking about, but it’s not like that anymore.

 

[Dorkus]

I‘m mainly a trophy buck hunter and haven’t shot a doe off my place since 2018. When my brother and I started splitting a steer every year, I quit shooting does, because I don’t need the meat.

Maybe consider shooting the does and donating the meat? There are a lot of people down on their luck and would love a free deer to eat. I think to donate a deer is only $10.

There are also people who just can't hunt anymore. I know some processors (Terry's for example in OKC) that have a list of people that can't hunt anymore but want deer meat. They pay the processing fee and get the food.

Just something to consider that will help your herd and help people get by. Just a thought.

 

[retrieverman]

Maybe consider shooting the does and donating the meat? There are a lot of people down on their luck and would love a free deer to eat. I think to donate a deer is only $10.

There are also people who just can't hunt anymore. I know some processors (Terry's for example in OKC) that have a list of people that can't hunt anymore but want deer meat. They pay the processing fee and get the food.

Just something to consider that will help your herd and help people get by. Just a thought.

“Free deer”
For what I have per pound in venison, I could buy wagyu beef.

I’d be willing to donate a deer or two a year and actually tried to give a guy on here a deer last year, but after he posted he wanted one, he never responded back to his thread or my PM. I know there are others on here that have had similar experiences.

 

[Oklahomabassin]

This did not pass out of committee.

 

[JEVapa]

Not a fan

 

[Jlingle]

I wish they would re-consider this bill, but make it a traditional archery-only 9 day early season. That would be bad to the bone.

 

[kwaynem]

I wish they would re-consider this bill, but make it a traditional archery-only 9 day early season. That would be bad to the bone.

Traditional archery is pretty much an art in my opinion I would hate to see hunters pick up a recurve practice for a few weeks and go hunt and find out they weren’t as accurate as they thought they were

 

[retrieverman]

Traditional archery is pretty much an art in my opinion I would hate to see hunters pick up a recurve practice for a few weeks and go hunt and find out they weren’t as accurate as they thought they were

I agree and will add that in my opinion lack of practice with compound bows, crossbows, and rifles is why there seems to an explosion in the number of people needing the services of tracking dogs.

 

[Dorkus]

You guys may not remember but a very similar bill was introduced last year that did not pass either. That one was limited to muzzle loaders and no archery. If I remember correctly it did not have the special tag, draw etc.