DaveS

It's all good 101...Troll and I have this same conversation every year about this time. You'd think by now he would have figured out that he can't out think me. It's all good....we "all" get our acorns squeezed once in a while! We'll settle down.......

Our local refuge has a big pit they throw them into, but most are left if the fields to blot and rot. Just what the general public needs to see and a good image indeed for our refuges!

Most of the time, if a person will just let the game warden know that they will take a deer in, the wardens are more than happy to pass on a "hit" deer to get it off the road. And I also beleive that we do chart our own pathways and set our own course. But sometimes we hit a "bump in the road" and then things don't go too well. In those cases, you have to take what is handed to you. That's why I donate deer, buck/doe/undecided, directly to needy families that I know, as I do not trust our local prossessor. I'll cut, wrap and give them the deer. I do not ask for anything in return as their smiles of graditude pays me in my heart. When God calls my name, I can stand before him and feel absolutely good about my life! Granted, there are freeloaders out there. Those aren't the people I help. I help honest under privilaged folks. I've been in their shoes, and please don't cast judgement upon them until you put their shoes on your feet!

I would give it 8 to 10 years (or less) and many middle Tennessee counties will be closed to hunting due to sub divisions and population growth. I see it coming already in Montgomery county. It's a good thing the state is killing all the hogs now, because in about 10 years, they'll be rooting up your driveway, playing in your kids sand box and chewing the tires off your cars!

A stroke of the Governors pen! I talked to a wildlife officer today, and I guess those meetings got pretty ugly. I don't guess Irate hunters is anyone to fool with. I know I'm hot enough over it. They should have told us this BEFORE the new licenses came out! I would have bought an Alabama tag instead. But I'm hot over this deal! Should of been brought up to the voters of the state since it actualy involves every resident, hunter, fisherman, land owner, farmer, hunt reserve ect., ect.. Let the voters decide and not beer drinking buddies at TWRA. Nuff' said...

I guess the "thinkers" at TWRA sit behind their desks "thinking up" things, sucking up a good bit of the revenue!

A doe/deer tag cost what? Now, divide that by the number of deer you can take. The numbers say that a deer isn't worth much at all!

They recieve alot of government funding just as our highway department does. I think our license fees pays some, but mostly salarys. USDA is funding some of the hog eradication in Tennessee. A nice little letter to our Governor is forthcoming real quick.

You can only shoot them on certain days......

[TABLE] [TR] [TD] [TABLE] [TR] [TD] [TABLE] [TR=class: article] [TD]New Wild Hog Regulations The theory behind this ill-conceived eradication method is that hunters, in order to provide increased hunting opportunities for themselves, have been translocating and releasing feral swine into the wild. However, the TWRA readily admitted to me, on more than one occasion, that they have only had two instances of such actions in the last 10 years. In other words all the hunters of the state will be punished for the actions of a handful of people. Isn't this the same backwards logic we fight as gun owners when some say all guns should be outlawed because a few people use them for illegal activities? What is really confusing to many, myself included, is that up until just a few short years ago the TWRA were themselves trapping wild hogs translocating them and releasing them onto wildlife management areas. That's right, the TWRA was using our money to trap and relocate feral hogs. Now they want to use additional funds and agency resources to trap and kill hogs and their off spring that they were responsible for translocating in the first place! There are currently two meetings scheduled to discuss these new regulations 1) August 9th, State Rep Cameron Sexton is meeting with hunters at the Palace Theater in Crossville at 5:30 pm, central time. Palace Theater is located at 72 S. Main St. Crossville TN 38555. Exit 317 from I-40 go south about 4 miles the Palace is ob the right. 2) August 12th, TWRA has agreed to meet with hunters at Cumberland Mountain State Park near Crossville at 6:00 pm (central time) Discuss This Issue on-line Outdoor Talk - www.outdoors-411.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=13289 What Can Be Done About New Hog Regulations? Even though the new hog hunting regulations went into full effect August 1st, it's not to late to contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commissioners and respectfully express your displeasure with the new regulations. I suggest both calling and e-mailing ALL of the commissioners below. [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=class: article, width: 100%] [TABLE] [TR=bgcolor: #999966] [TD]Commissioner [/TD] [TD=width: 104]Phone [/TD] [TD=width: 192]E-mail [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 130]William Brown [/TD] [TD=width: 104](423) 785-8253 [/TD] [TD=width: 192]wbrown@millermartin.com [/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #ffffcc] [TD=width: 130]Jeffrey H. Griggs [/TD] [TD=width: 104](731) 968-6191 [/TD] [TD=width: 192][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 130]Governor Bill Haslam [/TD] [TD=width: 104](615) 741-2001 [/TD] [TD=width: 192]bill.haslam@tn.gov [/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #ffffcc] [TD=width: 130]Robert Martineau [/TD] [TD=width: 104](615) 532-0106 [/TD] [TD=width: 192][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 130]Dr. Jeff McMillin [/TD] [TD=width: 104](423) 968-1933 [/TD] [TD=width: 192]jeff.mcmillin@tn.gov [/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #ffffcc] [TD=width: 130]Julius Johnson [/TD] [TD=width: 104](615) 837-5202 [/TD] [TD=width: 192][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 130]Mitchell S. Parks [/TD] [TD=width: 104](615) 876-3046 [/TD] [TD=width: 192]mitchell.parks@tn.gov [/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #ffffcc] [TD=width: 130]Julie Schuster [/TD] [TD=width: 104][/TD] [TD=width: 192]julie.schuster@tn.gov [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 130]Todd A. Shelton [/TD] [TD=width: 104](423) 639-5183 [/TD] [TD=width: 192]todd@rlnhc.com [/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #ffffcc] [TD=width: 130]Danya L. Welch [/TD] [TD=width: 104](901) 759-5100 [/TD] [TD=width: 192][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 130]Eric Wright [/TD] [TD=width: 104](423) 474-3357 [/TD] [TD=width: 192]eric.wright@mapeswire.com [/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #ffffcc] [TD=width: 130]Jim Bledsoe [/TD] [TD=width: 104](931) 265-7201 [/TD] [TD=width: 192][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 130]Harold Cannon [/TD] [TD=width: 104](865) 670-8555 [/TD] [TD=width: 192]hcannon@cannon-cannon.com [/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #ffffcc] [TD=width: 130]Trey Teague [/TD] [TD=width: 104](731) 693-2900 [/TD] [TD=width: 192][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 130][/TD] [TD=width: 104][/TD] [TD=width: 192][/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #ffffcc] [TD=width: 130][/TD] [TD=width: 104][/TD] [TD=width: 192][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 130][/TD] [TD=width: 104][/TD] [TD=width: 192][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=class: article, width: 100%] What Can Be Done In The Long Run? In my opinion there two things that need to be done to prevent these asinine laws from occurring in the future. 1) we need to inject some new blood into the TWRA and 2) we need to do away with the political appointments that form the majority of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC). 1) Current Executive Director Ed Carter and Wildlife Biologist Daryl Ratajczak don't seem to understand that the hunters and fishermen of this great state pay their salaries and they are supposed to be looking out for our best interests. Without us, there would be no TWRA. The TWRA is 100% funded by the sale of hunting and fishing license as well as taxes on related equipment. The one person who can remove these two from their jobs immediately is Governor Bill Haslam so please give him a call AND drop him an e-mail to let him know we need new leadership at the TWRA. 2) Governor Bill Haslam, (615) 741-2001, bill.haslam@tn.gov [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 100%][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 100%][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 100%] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=class: article, width: 100%] • • [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 100%][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD=width: 140][TABLE] [TR] [TD][TABLE] [TR] [TD=class: bluebold, colspan: 2]Outdoors [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [TD=width: 140]Game Wardens [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=class: textnew, width: 10] [/TD] [TD=width: 140]Hunting Forum [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [TD=width: 140]Venison Recipes [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [TD=width: 140]Hunting & Shooting [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [TD=width: 140][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][TABLE] [TR] [TD=class: bluebold, colspan: 2]Sponsor Links [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [TD=width: 140]Outdoors-411 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [TD=class: whatsthis, width: 140, align: right][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [TD=class: whatsthis, width: 140, align: right]What's This? 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You may also get an LBL Hunt Permit and/or Backwoods Camping Permit at any license agent that sells hunting/ fishing permits.

I wonder how this budget is going to effect our natural resources and the TWRA's feral hog eradiction program? It's going to be interesting to see.Tenn. agencies looking at 30 percent spending cuts | The Leaf Chronicle – Clarksville, Tenn., and Fort Campbell | theleafchronicle.com

What do ya'll think of our "crow" season?

So, some people and feral hogs are in the same catagory?

A vicious cycle indeed!

I think we should all just go to deer camp, sit around a nice campfire, get "toasted" and burn the soles off our hunting boots...the small crap will fix itself!

You are right. Take it...or don't kill it!

Well said. Big differance in "trophy hunters" and "hunters who take trophys".

[/img] For sake of argument, lets say Tennessee imposed an 8 point minimum point restriction on bucks. That means that this little 8 point buck which measures 4 3/4" tip-to-tip, inside spread of 6 1/4" and a main beam length of 9 1/2 inches, would be perfectly legal under the "point restriction". Now on the other hand, under the "8 point restriction" this 7 point buck which measures 8 1/2" tip-to-tip, inside spread of 13" and 20 1/2 inch beam, would not be legal, but he would be on a minimum spread length of ear-tip to ear-tip. [/img] But in favor of good herd management and policing ourselves, I get this: [/img] and this.... [/img] My whole point being, I DO NOT NEED "BIG BROTHER" to tell me what size bucks to harvest. There is no Good answer!

Remember though, You may not have any Illegal game animal in your possession no matter why, food bank or otherwise. It's not a good deal.

That's what I'm finding out. On the same note of "putting down" an injured buck, if he was not legal, then he must be left where shot. Beyond most hunter's morals. I think the best answer would be let the individual hunter decide what he wants to harvest. I'm going to post some examples of "for and against" point restrictions.

My friend Troll has me doing some research right now. I'm seeing where some states that have point restrictions, make no referance to a deers "estimated" age, just things like that, "Minimum of 2 points on at least 1 side". A "minimum of 4,5 or 6 point total". Actually, not much differant than what is being shot now. Instead of a "point restriction" how about a "minimum spread" across the board. Lets say, the rack must reach the deers ear tips at a minimum to be a legal buck. That means a basket rack 10 pointer may not be legal, because his rack doesn't extend past his ears. Now wait a minute, that means that this 3 or 4 pointer is legal, because his rack does. What a nightmare. What restrictions would you put on a racked doe? I mounted several when I ran my shop. Now as I'm reading, there are more and more of them appearing in the deer populations. Is that something we want in our herds? Just a thought. Troll, clarify how this point restriction works or could help the herd. The more I read Brother, the more confused I get. Some things I've learned already. Some places it works, some places it don't..... Dave

I understand fully. No bones there. My question is, why would we impose such rules as point restrictions? That would hurt the fellow out hunting meat, and does are not always the answer. TWRA should issue FREE doe tags to the poor and elderly. I have neighbors in need of help. Some don't hunt, some can't afford hundreds of dollars for a license. These are good people, who do and mean well, that don't need to be hurt anymore by our State and Local Governments. My stand on muzzleloaders? If you shoot (and I have 2 of them) inlines that are scoped, fire just as acurate and at higher velocities than lets say a 12 guage modern saboted slug...move it into gun season with the rest of the "centerfires". Have a special season for sidelock traditional cap, and sidelock flint. That's all I'm saying. Me and my Son have a little rule on our property; we shoot mature bucks (I have yet got one to tell me his age before he took a dirt nap) as a general rule. We shoot no deer with spots. We love shooting fat does for the table. The TWRA biologist and Federal and State Game Wardens have given us advice and helped us on managing our heard. Henceforth the foodplots and the the harvesting of does this year. You have very good ideas that I may try this year to see how they work. We challenge ourselves every year and make a rule that we can't take a buck "smaller" than the one we each got last year (certain exceptions apply). We are blessed with the fact that the other 2 properties that surround ours allows no hunting. This works well for us. We are blessed with some very large bucks and I guess we can be choosy. I'm not a trophy hunter by now means, but I like big racked bucks. I like deer meat even better. That means I have to shoot better than my buck last year (10 point, 18 inch inside spread) My Daughter has to take better than her deer (12 point, 23 inch inside spread) With the exception of an injured 3 pointer I put down, and several does taken, we let many many young bucks and does walk. This could have hurt us, because there was a chance that those bucks may have not gotten any better. My favorite hunting weapon is a .50 cal Flintlock Kentucky Long Rifle. Her name is "Kleine Schwester". And together, we're going to call down the thunder on some deer! I do not live on the land that I manage. When I make referance to neighbors I refer to the neighboring property on our land. They allow no hunting on their property. When I referance neighbors shooting all sizes of deer, it's my neighbors where I live. I can't control them. But they're poor country folk, and can kill any deer they want as far as I'm concerned. I guess that's why I like hunting by myself or with family as I haven't to answer to anyone about my choices except unto to good lord himself. Good day to all...

I peels go to the chickens, rabbits and goats. Waste not want not! We waste nothing is this family. Taters are only killed for food. We do not "remove the buds" and leave it lay to rot!

Troll, you are right in your thinking. Part of the problem I see is that TWRA charges extra money for a type 094 tag to harvest antleress deer. I often wonder how many a por' boy don't have the money to buy that tag, but takes those small bucks for the food. I think point restrictions would work to some extent, but in others, I see many a little buck left in the woods with his "backstraps" missing, because some poor fellow wanted some food, and couldn't buy a doe tag nor could he pass up a meat buck to wait on, lets say, an 8 pointer. With society and the economy going as it is, I feel the taking of small, young bucks is going to become common. I'm here to tell ya, these ol' country boys around here don't want to hear no "point restriction" crap. They kill for food and that's that. They can't afford nothing else. Here we're all discussing which deer we should shoot, when in a year or two, there isn't going to be much to hunt anyways. What the upcoming pig explosion doesn't get, the developers will. We should ALL be raising hell to our law makers about saving land and our natural resources! Write to Quails Unlimited, write to Ducks Unlimited, write to National Wild Turkey Federation, and tell them how displeased you are about TWRA halting the hunting of feral hogs. Feral hogs destroy hundreds of thousands of ground nesting bird nest. Lets all fuss about something worth fussing about. Do something worth while. If a man wants to shoot a small buck for food...let him. Why restrict his decision. He bought his license too (hopefully), and if it's his land, the state should have no business telling him what size buck he can harvest. Them ol' boys ain't going to listen any ways. Everyone keeps saying we don't need no more regulations in Tennessee. What do you think "point restriction" is, or no shooting of does ect., ect. is going to do? All I got to say is that those fella's that want point restrictions and giant bucks....then impose those rules on yourself. Those who enjoy the hunt and is happy with whatever legal deer that presents itself for a clean kill...then be happy with it. But none of us should wish for more rules. Hell, I can't understand half the ones we got now! What would happen (and it has in some states) if Tennessee stopped the harvest of bucks for a year or two to allow the bucks to grow bigger and better. Then what? What if the point restriction was for the harvest of 6 point or less to save the mature bucks for breeding? I've been exposed to point restrictions before. When I was an MP game warden in the army, and it wasn't pretty, and I never want to see it again! It's a shame there wasn't "wanton waste" laws then. Be thankful for what we can hunt now. It's not going to last forever! Also keep in mind how much influence the auto insurance industry has on deer hunting. If they had their way, it would be "down if it was brown!" They were the biggest battle that Kentucky and Tennessee had in the elk restoration here. THEY DIDN'T WANT them because of the potential for damage to vehicles due to elk/vehicle colisions. They don't want deer either! NO MORE RULES! We all need to be happy in the choices we make. We should not, as a group, make those choices for everyone else! Just my two pennies worth is all!