Hunters who long for wall-adorning antlers have suggested ways to improve the quality of the Michigan deer herd and they're pressuring the Natural Resources Commission to make it happen.
As neighboring states have moved to single-buck seasons, Michigan remains a holdout where two bucks may be taken with certain antler point restrictions in place.
Hunters have been vocal in recent years about increasing the number of quality bucks (read huge antlers) and specific suggestions have been presented to the NRC.
The first, a one-buck rule, would limit deer hunters to take just one male deer throughout the entire deer season including archery, firearm and muzzleloader. The idea, which Indiana and Ohio have already adopted, sets a clear path for more bucks to mature into years two, three and four, which is often when their antlers become bigger and more defined.
Taking fewer bucks from the woods each season would result in more bucks growing older, thus creating bigger racks for sporting hunters.
Another popular idea is to widen the scope of antler point restriction areas throughout the state to focus on limiting the amount of younger bucks taken.
Currently in most areas of Michigan hunters may take a maximum of two bucks throughout the three seasons but one must have at least four points on one side. That standard is meant to make it more difficult to harvest that second buck, as there are plenty more spikes and fork-racked deer, often just a year or two old, wandering the woods of the state.
Hunters can take two bucks in much of the state if they purchase a combo license but still need to adhere to the antler restrictions for each hunting area.
Proponents of this plan say it also helps deer mature, as very few hunters succeed in filling that second buck tag.
During the February NRC meeting in Lansing a handful of individuals spoke on behalf of changing the hunting laws in favor of their preferred plans.
Lincoln Rohn, creator of the popular Michigan deer hunting Facebook page "Michigan Deer Hunters -- Let 'em Go & Let 'em Grow," is in favor of maximizing quality bucks by promoting select harvest through statewide APRs.
"Let's face it, everybody says it's all for the end result," Rohn said. "We hunt for the buck, that's why we do this. I believe this is where the state needs to go. This is where we need to focus our attention."
We fully support the implementation of antler point restrictions statewide."
Currently much of the lower peninsula offers a single or combo license where hunters may take a buck with at least one antler three inches or longer. A second buck taken must have at least four points on one side.
Not everyone was in favor of such restrictions.
"Our primary objective is to stop antler point restrictions that are mandatory in place," United Sportsman's Alliance spokesman Bob Walker said. "We have nothing against APRs that are voluntary. The problem and where the line is drawn and will always be drawn, is when it's mandatory."
Walker gave the example that if a youth hunter were to take a buck in October, and hunted in a place where it's not legal to harvest a doe (as some places in the Upper Peninsula are), then he would be done hunting for the year. He wouldn't be able to return to the woods to deer hunt at all.
"They could doe hunt if it's available in that area but if it's not they're done for the whole year," Walker said. "You have to look closely at numbers. Only 4 percent fill the second license. (Having multiple buck licenses) does offer hundreds and thousands of extra hours deer hunting that you wouldn't have."
That time in the woods is what should be protected, Walker said, in addition to a combo license which would allow for the taking of a doe and a buck, or at least the option for taking a second buck.
"We want to be in the woods, my grandchildren want to be in the woods," Walker said. "We want people to be in the woods as much as they can and to hunt as much as they can. The combo license let's us do that."
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