If you could change one regulation in your state

[Wind Gypsy]

For you guys down on the crossbow - we have a five month season for crossbow and those hunters only take five percent of the harvest - less than vertical bow hunters. What % of harvest are crossbow hunters taking in the northern states?

Example from 2024 Wisconsin: 321k total deer harvested, of which 38.4k were Archery and 63.1k Crossbow.

Example from Ohio (stolen from different forum):
They definetly have changed things in Ohio. Ohio’s 2022-23 statewide deer harvest, by individual season:
Archery: 99,742
Weeklong and two-day gun seasons: 87,095
Four-day muzzleloader season: 13,617
Two-day youth season: 9,515
Controlled firearm hunts: 1,008
Most popular hunting implements:
Crossbow: 71,701 (34%)
Straight-walled cartridge rifle: 56,437 (26%)
Shotgun: 36,398 (17%)
Vertical Bow: 28,041 (13%)
Muzzleloader: 17,854 (9%)
Handgun: 546 (1%)

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Minnesota:

If I was a public land hunter it would be lottery for non resident buck tag.

For me, 1 9 day gun season moved to the last week of Nov.

Is there a lot of NR hunting public? Must be a SE MN thing because I sure as hell never see them from the cities and further north (likely for good reason).

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Had to take a pic of this 1 for when needed in times like this...

View attachment 74185

what in the.. Youngest hunter award in the "Hit n Miss Bragging rights"?!

 

[Wind Gypsy]

For MN, would be a toss up between eliminating party hunting and moving the season back to same dates as WI. Lots of hate and discontent would be spread with either of those happening. They wont.

Next would be taking crossguns back out of archery.

 

[BenA]

This is the harvest by weapon for Kentucky comparing the 2024 season to the 2020 season. There hasn't been a change in the crossbow harvest percentage over the last 5 seasons:

2024 Season -
Archery 11%
Firearm 72%
Muzzleloader 8%
Crossbow 9%

2020 Season -
Archery 13%
Firearm 69%
Muzzleloader 9%
Crossbow 9%

 

[Natty Bumppo]

Agree!!!!!! well same for Pennsylvania, I thought we were the last state that had that rule. I work 6 days most weeks and Sunday is my only day off. From what ive read is its getting closer every year, but we will see.

Maine also has no Sunday hunting. Every now and then you hear about a push in Mass. to allow Sunday hunting. Our governor will never allow it. I can travel to VT to get Sundays in. But Sunday hunting on my land in MA would be great too.

The Sunday thing is absolute bs. I’m not an outlaw but that’s one rule where I’m taking my chances

Totally hear you. Something I've struggled with. I could easily walk out my back door and hunt my own land on Sunday and nobody would be the wiser. Here is why I don't. I have always wanted to be a good role model for my kids...now 14 and 18. I didn't want them to see a father who breaks the laws when he doesn't agree with them. Here is why I am starting to reconsider that. Our friggin' tyrant of a governor has gone wild with new gun laws. She has been passing legislation through really low-down, scummy, and undemocratic methods. My kids see it. And they understand how wrong it is. Now two wrongs don't make a right...BUT, I have been considering getting in one more day of hunting during bow season just to give this state and Healey a big F-You middle finger.

I never understood the Sunday thing. What's the reasoning for it?

It goes back to the old "Blue Laws." Stores couldn't be open. No liquor sales. That kind of thing. Also I guess now the argument I hear is that it gives hikers and bird watchers a day a week to be in the woods without hunters.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Maine also has no Sunday hunting. Every now and then you hear about a push in Mass. to allow Sunday hunting. Our governor will never allow it. I can travel to VT to get Sundays in. But Sunday hunting on my land in MA would be great too.



Totally hear you. Something I've struggled with. I could easily walk out my back door and hunt my own land on Sunday and nobody would be the wiser. Here is why I don't. I have always wanted to be a good role model for my kids...now 14 and 18. I didn't want them to see a father who breaks the laws when he doesn't agree with them. Here is why I am starting to reconsider that. Our friggin' tyrant of a governor has gone wild with new gun laws. She has been passing legislation through really low-down, scummy, and undemocratic methods. My kids see it. And they understand how wrong it is. Now two wrongs don't make a right...BUT, I have been considering getting in one more day of hunting during bow season just to give this state and Healey a big F-You middle finger.



It goes back to the old "Blue Laws." Stores couldn't be open. No liquor sales. That kind of thing. Also I guess now the argument I hear is that it gives hikers and bird watchers a day a week to be in the woods without hunters.

I’m a law follower like you. But this one isn’t based in anything scientific. It’s social. What if I’m Jewish and go to church on Saturday? What if I’m an atheist? I would think an ultra liberal state like Massachusetts would not base anything on religion!
I could also see this being anti hunting in your state. 99% of people have the weekend to hunt. Take away one of those days and it monumentally reduces ability to make it worth it. You can fish, go to football games, drink, go to a strip club…but you better not hunt. Screw them

 

[Kdog]

Youth hunts are early adult season around here.

But honest question…did you have a youth season? Did your grandfather? Did I? I think it’s a NO across the board. Youth season to me is more of a problem than a solution.

I did not have a youth season, but my kids did. I carried a shotgun on the first dove hunt I took my two boys on. I did not shoot until the hunt was almost over and most had left the field. Never took a weapon on any other youth hunt. I saw goobers on the dove field with kids that couldn't hold a gun much less shoot it. I don't have a problem with youth hunts and wish they would hold more youth only hunts.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I did not have a youth season, but my kids did. I carried a shotgun on the first dove hunt I took my two boys on. I did not shoot until the hunt was almost over and most had left the field. Never took a weapon on any other youth hunt. I saw goobers on the dove field with kids that couldn't hold a gun much less shoot it. I don't have a problem with youth hunts and wish they would hold more youth only hunts.

I guess my point is (besides the absolute abuse by adults) is that we all fostered a love of the outdoors without the crutch of an early season. It’s starts people off with this mindset that you are entitled to special circumstances. I’m just arguing that generations hunted for life without it, there’s literally no need for it all the sudden.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

I’m a law follower like you. But this one isn’t based in anything scientific. It’s social. What if I’m Jewish and go to church on Saturday? What if I’m an atheist? I would think an ultra liberal state like Massachusetts would not base anything on religion!
I could also see this being anti hunting in your state. 99% of people have the weekend to hunt. Take away one of those days and it monumentally reduces ability to make it worth it. You can fish, go to football games, drink, go to a strip club…but you better not hunt. Screw them

Yes...exactly. I agree. I can drive 20 minutes and hunt VT on a Sunday. But in Mass. I'd be a criminal for doing so. And yes...absolutely now an anti-hunting gimmick.

 

[Kdog]

I guess my point is (besides the absolute abuse by adults) is that we all fostered a love of the outdoors without the crutch of an early season. It’s starts people off with this mindset that you are entitled to special circumstances. I’m just arguing that generations hunted for life without it, there’s literally no need for it all the sudden.

If it gets more kids involved, I am all for it. If it is a crutch for adults to shoot more, then I would agree with you.

 

[Electrodigical]

I guess my point is (besides the absolute abuse by adults) is that we all fostered a love of the outdoors without the crutch of an early season. It’s starts people off with this mindset that you are entitled to special circumstances. I’m just arguing that generations hunted for life without it, there’s literally no need for it all the sudden.

Yes I'm torn on the youth hunts, exploitation aside. I wonder about my youngest nephew, if he'd been able to go the first few times when it wasn't so cold, and maybe had a better chance of seeing something, would he have stayed interested? I don't think so. Honestly, more and more I see the man he's turned into, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have mattered.
I do look at it and wonder if we're doing these kids a disservice, giving them false sense of reality. Just setting them up to lose interest a couple years later?

As for sunday hunting, heck you can't let people hunt on the day they're able to hunt!
NY's muzzleloader season always makes me laugh for the same reason. It runs a week or so, then they close it for Christmas eve/Christmas day or some such, then they open it again for the rest of the month. Gee thanks, you're closing the season on the only two day that I'm off work and could actually go. Thanks.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Yes I'm torn on the youth hunts, exploitation aside. I wonder about my youngest nephew, if he'd been able to go the first few times when it wasn't so cold, and maybe had a better chance of seeing something, would he have stayed interested? I don't think so. Honestly, more and more I see the man he's turned into, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have mattered.
I do look at it and wonder if we're giving these kids a disservice, giving them false sense of reality. Just setting them up to lose interest a couple years later?

As for sunday hunting, can't let people hunt on the day they're able to hunt.
NY's muzzleloader season always makes me laugh for the same reason. It runs a week or so, then the close it for Christmas eve/Christmas day or some such, then they open it again for the rest of the month. Gee thanks, you're closing the season on the only two day that I'm off work and could actually go. Thanks.

My brother shot a deer his first time hunting. He hasn’t been hunting again in 28 years. No amount of youth seasons would have made him a hunter. It’s either in you or it’s not. Can’t fake a passion

 

[Brian662]

My brother shot a deer his first time hunting. He hasn’t been hunting again in 28 years. No amount of youth seasons would have made him a hunter. It’s either in you or it’s not. Can’t fake a passion

True but some youth are able to get access they otherwise wouldn't during the youth hunt to spark that flame. That alone is worth it to me.

 

[Mortenson]

My brother shot a deer his first time hunting. He hasn’t been hunting again in 28 years. No amount of youth seasons would have made him a hunter. It’s either in you or it’s not. Can’t fake a passion

My brother is 7 years my junior. I used to beg him to go deer hunting. He never hunted once in his life. Now looking back I'm glad he didn't. Lol. He's a girl dad now and slowly giving away his fishing tackle. Suburbs got to him.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

My brother is 7 years my junior. I used to beg him to go deer hunting. He never hunted once in his life. Now looking back I'm glad he didn't. Lol. He's a girl dad now and slowly giving away his fishing tackle. Suburbs got to him.

I’ve owned farms within an hour from brother for the last seven years. He’s been once to take his boys so I could drive them around on the tractor

 

[MadMadHoosier]

All my hunters would rather shoot a doe than a less than spectacular buck. The only problem, fawn recruitment is so low here, that we dont hardly shoot does. We let the grand daughters take a couple and that is it. I feel a lot better about one of my hunters killing a 90”, 3:5 yr old buck than a nice breeding age doe. But, my hunters have got to the point they wont even kill a less than spectacular buck, period. My two oldest grand daughters, 15 and 13, would not shoot a deer of any kind this year - holding out for a spectacular buck or nothing - and nothing it was. There were a few really less than spectacular bucks - like a 3 pt on one side and spike on the other - a 3 pt on one side and a nub on the other - and they would not shoot them. Deer hunting is so different than when I was 15 yrs old

I've got so many doe on my farm I was not even thinking about that. The other pass on our farm is youth hunters. They can shoot what ever they want for their first deer.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Is there a lot of NR hunting public? Must be a SE MN thing because I sure as hell never see them from the cities and further north (likely for good reason).

No idea. I know state land down here is crowded all season long. I don't care if it's less than 1% id still do it.

 

[Brian662]

No idea. I know state land down here is crowded all season long. I don't care if it's less than 1% id still do it.

Opening weekend of gun hunting 2023, drove by some public in Houston County, 6 rigs parked there, 4 were WI plates, 1 from Iowa, one blue plater.

 

[SwampCat]

I dont know how important youth seasons are on private land if you own it - you arent fighting for a spot on public. On The public lake near me, folks will camp out overnight next to better holes during duck season. Same with turkeys - any turkey on public will have three people trying to work them. My son has taken his daughter to a nearby nwr that is mostly bow only but has a youth mg weekend. Just makes for a nice hunt without having to have plan A, plan B, and plan C.

But on my place, all through season - it is usually one of adults without a rifle with one of the kids on the gun. We dont ever hunt the youth weekends because everyday is youth on my land