By Cory Boothe
Coryboothe@hotmail.com
See Deer Kill Plummets Part I
And Deer Kill Plummets Part II
The bad news is the deer kill did plummet in 2014. The harshest news is for Calhoun County which experienced the largest decrease in the state. Calhoun's buck kill dropped fifty-seven percent from 2014. The buck kill has dropped seventy percent from a record high of 1,642 bucks taken in 2001 during rifle season.
Local drop offs from the 2013 antlered buck harvest in percent are:
Calhoun 57%; Clay 27%; Gilmer 53%; Roane 49%; Braxton 45%; Ritchie 45%; Wirt 37%.
Unfortunately, we still have liberal limits on bucks like we had during the late 90's and early 2000's even though drastic steps have been taken to reduce the deer herd from that time. We simply cannot have the same bag limits when we have half of the deer herd. It is the author's opinion that a reduction in the buck limit is needed.
Currently, a hunter can harvest three bucks a year. Does a hunter need three bucks when we have a liberal doe harvest. We have too many people killing two or more bucks a year and not killing does.
We have too many poachers. We do not have enough people turning in deer poachers. A short, simple, anonymous phone call to the DNR headquarters for District 6 at 304-420-4550 will take care of a lot of the problems with poaching.
Currently, their is a movement to reduce the buck harvest regulations. It is imperative that sportsmen be heard and recognized. It is imperative that sportsmen attend the regional DNR Commission meeting that will be held in February in Charleston. The regional DNR meetings actually are to relay info to the DNR Commission. So it is more effective to just attend a commission meeting.
Thoughts? Ideas? The author's idea is to have a two buck limit with an APR on the second buck. Personally, I do not think hunters in West Virginia are ready for a one buck limit and I do not think the DNR wants to give up their additional buck stamps.
Any opinions or ideas can be sent to Coryboothe@hotmail.com
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