Explain to me the management reason for...

[B Littleton]

Taking antlerless deer only during archery season and thanksgiving weekend. I hunt in Red River County and at the LBJ grasslands, and both place have this restriction. I guess I just don't understand why limiting the time frame that they can be taken helps with managing the herd. Why not just restrict the number of tags and allow people to hunt what they want when they want. The thanksgiving one is particularly frustrating because of the problem it presents getting into the woods when there are family obligations and such. Educate me.

[jebsvitals]

My guess would be so you arent killing any does that are pregnant. But I would think at thanksgiving they would already be in rut so I could be way off.

[Txjourneyman]

So the population isn't wiped out during general season.

[catslayer]

because the odds of them being bred by that point is significantly less... That's the only one I can think of, we try to take doe and cull buck early so that bigger deer have better chance breed and make it through. Bucks get wore down breeding a relatively few number of doe and if you kill the doe caring the big guys kid you are still keeping him from procreating as surly as killing him

It isn't a SUPER strong argument to me, the odds of a particular doe being the one bred by your big boy isn't great... but I does help to protect some genetics.

[B Littleton]

okay, but why thanksgiving weekend, why not first two weeks in of general season? why not 1 doe tag? I think it makes more sense on the public land, but why not just limit tags and extend dates on private land?

[LWC]

I asked a biologist why some counties have more restrictions on taking does than bucks, when does need to be taken for the health of the heard. He told me that there really was no science behind it and it has more to do with politics. Something about people feeling bad about shooting mommas. Didn't make much sense to me.

[B Littleton]

That would be pretty frustrating if that is the case.

[Chuy]

IMO..Supply and demand.

The less amount of breedable does gives higher probability of mature bucks to breed them. Younger bucks can't compete for a doe a stud already has.
Also, you know for sure they aren't pregnant.

[B Littleton]

But by that logic wouldn't it make sense to have the doe harvest period earlier in the general season? seems like in our area the rut is usually in swing by thanksgiving weekend.

[Jp.]

So somebodies cousin can have a job working for the state doing MLD stuff.
If you want to hunt does all season pay them and get your MLD tags.

[Txjourneyman]

I think a lot of Thanksgiving weekend is about tradition. I know many families that for years would use that long weekend to hunt and that particular weekend would be a bigger deal than most others. More kids and spouses getting in the woods.

[BrianL]

I think it is a way for TP&W to say that you can shot a doe, but they don't really want you to shot a doe, or a AR buck. This has ALWAYS been my argument to AR. If you want to put AR in place, then allow at least ONE doe.

[BIGSAM]

The lbj should go back to permits in a couple of years.they only change regs every three years.the last time the lbj regs was messed up when they put it in the book.so hopefully it will go back to issued permits.

[Cam-Mac]

What do you mean by family obligation? I thought when family came to town that is the best time to be gone hunting?

[B Littleton]

True, not really a problem for me or my family. We'll all be at the lease as soon as we finish thanksgiving dinner. ; )