Why not change the Archery season?

[Birddog]

It's a well know fact in my circles that most biologist don't concider bowhunting a very good way to reduce the deer population..So if they did extend a season for the takeing of more deer out of the overall population, It would probably be gun season.

And I don't think you will ever get archery season moved.

Just my $0.02

[trailboss]

At BAO - Oct is our most productive month for taking deer. Dec is a close 2nd but Oct has the best hunter success ratio. I personally would hate to see Oct eliminated. I much prefer hunting the warmer weather as opposed to cold the older I get. Of course, I also see myself becoming more an afternoon hunter.

Trailboss

[Texas Grown]

Why eliminate Oct.? Here's a better idea. Why not have two 30 day bow only seasons, one in Oct. and one in Jan. That way we bow hunters get a second chance and more time. The doe/spike hunters and Muzzle loaders may disagree with it. But those in the rest of the counties that don't have doe/spike or muzzel loader season would be very happy And adjustments for south Texas hunters could be made too. Just a thought.

[Texas Grown]

.....I much prefer hunting the warmer weather as opposed to cold the older I get. Of course, I also see myself becoming more an afternoon hunter.

Trailboss

Trailboss, I totally understand

[Daniel Ryan]

I agree, I see more deer during the heat of bow season than I do after rifle season opens up. I hunt in East Texas and the rut normally falls during bow season in October and movement steadily falls through December which means I would be missing some of the best hunting in my area. This along with the high amount of pressure paper company leases in my area, and i'm sure all over East Texas get during gun season, is a big part of the reason our deer movement slacks off towards the end of season. While i'm not trying to totally bash your thread because as you only hunt out West, I only hunt the East and do not claim to know much about deer movement and patterns in your area. However what I do know is what you are suggesting (In my opinion) wouldn't be good for the whole state as suggested.

i agree I hunt also only in North East texas and you hit it right on the nose so

[JW]

Yeah I think it should change. From Sept to the end of Feb so I can weed out more culls and get a jump on that 35+ doe harvest...

[buzzcut]

I agree with Texas Grown...bow only in january and october would be fine.Just dont touch the october season,leave it as is.However in january you might have to deal with some horrendous weather.We're getting hit with an ice storm in north Texas as I type.The thought of sitting in a treestand with ice-sicles bouncing off my head dont sound too appealing! LOL

[DFWPI]

Deer Season

I say somebody get with those in the know and get us an extra 30-days in January!!!!

[Buckey07]

Texas is a big state and the best time to hunt in a lot of counties in Texas is in October. I bow hunt down in Colorado county and have tagged deer in the 120's on the opening weekend of the archery season the past two years. October is the best month of the year to hunt for me. It is prime time for the rutt. I also lease in Val Verde county and hunt the late archery season on out there. This year I was covered up with bucks from October on. To get rid of the Oct. archery season is a ridiculus idea to say the least. TPWD has to consider the state as a whole not one person interests b/C they hunt in a part of the state that is slow during Oct.

[gekko man]

Boy....I don't think i would want to be your neighbor!!!!!

Give everyone the late archery season. Make it equal for the WHOLE state. Not for for just a group of individuals that hunt South Texas or have two leases.

Don't change it for me...change it for everyone that would like to extend their season.

[shotgunsmitty]

Being from Ohio I gotta say that I like the fact that Ohio's bow season runs from September 30 to February 4th.
But then again, their "gun" season lasts about three days for muzzleloader and their gun season lasts a week....well, there is a special doe season that lasts a day, too, almost forgot that.

But staying on topic:

Ohio's Archery Deer Season Off to Good Start
Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources
Posted on: 11/15/06
For the third straight year, Ohio bow hunters set a record harvest during the first six weeks of the state's deer-archery season, taking 45,733 whitetails. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, this year's early archery season harvest is 9 percent higher than last year’s record of 41,859 deer.

"Bow hunting for deer has become very popular in Ohio. The season started in September for the first time this year as a way to provide a few more days of hunting. It will continue through February 4, making it Ohio's longest archery season on record," said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife.

Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer brought to check stations were Tuscarawas - 1,724; Licking -1,679; Holmes - 1,624; Harrison - 1,140; Clermont -1,107; Knox - 1,085; Ashland and Coshocton - 1,084; Trumbull- 1,082; and Ashtabula - 1,034.

The statewide deer population was estimated to be 600,000 in early October. Approximately 300,000 bow hunters are expected to participate in the statewide deer-archery hunting season.

Last year, bow hunters harvested a total of 60,090 deer during the four-month Ohio archery season.


Looks as if Ohio doesn't feel this early season pressure...must be the lack of heat!

[holepuncher]

I think I'LL go get me wun of them thar South Texas leases!

[nsbowhunter]

I like hunting in October. This year did kinda suck but normaly the first part of season you have un pressured deer comming into a feeder and at the end of October you have pre rut which for me has always been the best and I too hunt in West Texas.

[Mike Murphey]

With Texas being diverse some of the bucks go into "rut" in late September into October.....other areas will peak November and December....

[Hoosky1143]

Why eliminate Oct.? Here's a better idea. Why not have two 30 day bow only seasons, one in Oct. and one in Jan. That way we bow hunters get a second chance and more time. The doe/spike hunters and Muzzle loaders may disagree with it. But those in the rest of the counties that don't have doe/spike or muzzel loader season would be very happy And adjustments for south Texas hunters could be made too. Just a thought.

Great idea.