3-Point Minimum rule question

[hunt4life]

I hunt a lot in zone 13 as well as zone 8. F&G a few yrs back gaves zones 9 and 13 a 3 point on one side minumum for buck harvests. In zone 13, we have definitly seen bigger bucks as a direct result of this. Was wondering what the consensus is out there in making such a rule statewide?

[njbowhunter]

I am not for a 3 point rule. Because I am a meat hunter not a head hunter.

[Fish-Hunter]

Than shoot does!! njbowhunter!! What! unlimited anterless in most zones isn't enough for you meat hunters. Bucks have a hard enough time living in this state with all the buck tags and the gun clubs. There are defenitley more does in the woods than bucks and the meat tastes the same! Shoot a mature doe that is more of a challenge than shooting an imature buck!:naughty: So let the young bucks grow is my opinoin and everybody will reap the benefits of the the three point rule state wide! :razz:

[sj hunter]

sounds good to me f-h :thup:

[bassassassin8]

This thread is going to blow up. I already know it.


I hunt Z27 which has a three-point rule. I'm all for it. 110%. I have no problem with it and I wish it was state-wide. I've always preached make the 3-pt-rule mandated state-wide to those 16+ and let the younger kids have more opportunity at more deer by letting them take any size buck. Then permit season, have at your does. Just my two cents. I can't wait to see what becomes of this thread. :rolleyes:

[ACEarcher]

I hope it dosen't blow up. It is a good topic.

I can't say for NJ, but for Pa it was implemented to gain older age classes of bucks. Yes bigger racks is a side effect, but not the reason behind it. Before AR our buck harvest was about 80-85% 1 1/2yr old. Now with AR our buck harvest is about 50-60% 1 1/2yr old. It is not good for the heard to have the same older bucks doing most of the breeding. With the effective AR plan we have a more diverse age structure amongst our heard.

[TRACTOR]

I also hunt in zone 27 and the 3 point rule is showing me some awesome results it should be state wide

[bassassassin8]

I hope it dosen't blow up. It is a good topic.

I can't say for NJ, but for Pa it was implemented to gain older age classes of bucks. Yes bigger racks is a side effect, but not the reason behind it. Before AR our buck harvest was about 80-85% 1 1/2yr old. Now with AR our buck harvest is about 50-60% 1 1/2yr old. It is not good for the heard to have the same older bucks doing most of the breeding. With the effective AR plan we have a more diverse age structure amongst our heard.


ACE, what I was getting at is I hope this doesnt turn into a meat hunter vs head hunter thread or about shooting does, and arguing back and forth going off of what it's about; the three-point-rule.

[ACEarcher]

Oh yeah I know. I'm watching it. :cool: Always am.:wave:

[vonhess]

State wide, Fish hound nailed it. If unlimited doe isn't enough for these so called meat hunters, some things wrong. I think there more like brown its down guys.

[hunt4life]

....cant we all just get along?..lol...just wanted to praise "fishhunter" and "Bassassain8" and the rest of you for agreeing here!...im trying to convince F&G to try it for a couple of yrs at least!...im not only a meat hunter, or not only a bone hunter, im just a deer hunter who would rather see more mature bucks running around out there. I mean, what hunter out there wouldnt prefer to shoot an 8 pointer over a spike???:D

[njbowhunter]

Than shoot does!! njbowhunter!! What! unlimited anterless in most zones isn't enough for you meat hunters. Bucks have a hard enough time living in this state with all the buck tags and the gun clubs. There are defenitley more does in the woods than bucks and the meat tastes the same! Shoot a mature doe that is more of a challenge than shooting an imature buck!:naughty: So let the young bucks grow is my opinoin and everybody will reap the benefits of the the three point rule state wide! :razz:
I would be fine with that if I paid half price for a license.permit season charges you to shoot a buck so if I can only shoot does should I have to pay the same price. I pay the same as you do so why should I have to pass on a deer just so you can hang a head on your wall. I shoot does when I see them but if a small buck comes out first I will shoot that. I am against the unlimited does. I will only kill 3 deer a yr that will fill my freezer and I dont care if they are does or spikes or 10 points. With the food these deer eat and nutrution you are just going to have a bunch of old 4 pointers running around spreading bad genes. With that being said I am done dont want to start a battle. just my opinion

[bassassassin8]

permit season charges you to shoot a buck so if I can only shoot does should I have to pay the same price. I pay the same as you do so why should I have to pass on a deer just so you can hang a head on your wall.

What are you talking about? The buck stub is completely separate from the permit? You don't have to buy a stub to kill does. So how are you getting jipped? You can still take your 3 does for the permit price of $27 and need not worry about "paying the same price" becuase you're not if you don't have a buck stub. A permit/stub combo is runnin you $54. I must be misunderstanding what you're getting at. :huh::please:

[fraid.knot]

Talk about the three point rule in PA I have a suspition that there going to make more of the state four points and it may work .Theres alot of big deer in the state now . It would quikly become a premire state with that and big money for the deer farmers and prob. a lot more deer farmers then now.Just my thought.

[njbowhunter]

What are you talking about? The buck stub is completely separate from the permit? You don't have to buy a stub to kill does. So how are you getting jipped? You can still take your 3 does for the permit price of $27 and need not worry about "paying the same price" becuase you're not if you don't have a buck stub. A permit/stub combo is runnin you $54. I must be misunderstanding what you're getting at. :huh::please:
I am talking about the regular season. Should I be able to buy a half price license to kill does only. He is telling me to only kill does. so If we both pay $32 for a bow license why should I only be allowed to kill does if I pay the same. Does that clear it up any:confused:

[bassassassin8]

I am talking about the regular season. Should I be able to buy a half price license to kill does only. He is telling me to only kill does. so If we both pay $32 for a bow license why should I only be allowed to kill does if I pay the same. Does that clear it up any:confused:

Yup I got ya now. Thought u were talkin about permits, not your bow license. Thanks for the clarification. :cool:

[beakbuster]

i hunt zone 27 and i am all for the three point rule. only problem is across the street in zone 28 u can shoot anything with bone on its head. ive seen more mature bucks the last couple of years then ive ever seen. south jersey has the potential to produce deer like they have out in the midwest if people would pass on the smaller deer.

[Flintlock]

I hunt private ground and i choose to let the smaller ones walk because I know i can tag a doe anytime I wish during the permit season, and this gives the bucks a chance to get bigger. That being said, i don't think that I or anyone should impose their hunting styles/values one others that choose to hunt differently after paying the same amount as everyone else. Just my opinion. If it is legal to shoot then you should be able to shoot it and not pass on it. I think that it is just different styles for different people.

[tuny]

In areas where there is the potential for larger bucks it makes sense to let the younger deer mature, but not in zones like 24 and parts of 23&21. Some of the deer taken in those zones come to the check station and are still spikes or fork horns at 3 1/2+ years old. A lot of them will never develop into three point or better. Granted there are some bigger bucks out there in those zones, but on average their racks run on the small size.

[chad w]

i'd like to see bigger deer also i also hunt here s. jersey havent seen very many last couple years we've taken a couple last year doe days 2 1/2 &3 1/2 thought were does maybe 1'' stubs apparently no good nutrition there did they breed what are their offspring gonna be like love the meat like to put a head on the wall also

[bassassassin8]

i'd like to see bigger deer also i also hunt here s. jersey havent seen very many last couple years we've taken a couple last year doe days 2 1/2 &3 1/2 thought were does maybe 1'' stubs apparently no good nutrition there did they breed what are their offspring gonna be like love the meat like to put a head on the wall also

I know you aren't too far from me in Williamstown. I can definitely agree the bucks aren't around like they've been the past 4..5 years. I used to sit out in my backyard every night and film them when I was in high school. From about 04-06 was prime! After that, the bucks just weren't around :huh: No one really hunts here and I'd know if they were killed legally. I think the deer were either poached here or a lot succumbed to EHD. :( There was a couple brothers I filmed for 3 seasons. Was so great watchin' them grow up..Then they were gone :(

[bassassassin8]

In 2004, he's an 8..this was in Sept with VELVET hanging off him.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g157/enjoiemerica83/dang.jpg
In 2005, he's a 9 now.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g157/enjoiemerica83/8pter1024.jpg
And in 2006, a giant 10pt. His g2s and g3s were unbelievable.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g157/enjoiemerica83/deer_0005.jpg

Sorry for the crappy pictures. They're stills from my video camera. :cool:

[bassassassin8]

In 2004, here he is as an 8pt in full velvet!
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g157/enjoiemerica83/dang2.jpg
In 2005, he was still an 8pt.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g157/enjoiemerica83/7peter.jpg
In 2006, he was a wide 10pt but I can't seem to find the pics of him that year.

[bassinblank]

i hunt zone 27 and i am all for the three point rule. only problem is across the street in zone 28 u can shoot anything with bone on its head. ive seen more mature bucks the last couple of years then ive ever seen. south jersey has the potential to produce deer like they have out in the midwest if people would pass on the smaller deer.
hey beak i hunt across the street and even though it does not have the 3 point rule we have implemented it on our property due to the incredible genes in the area

[carcus52]

every since the 3 pt rule in zone 9 i have shot three slammers. Im all for it state wide

[droptine]

three point rule would be great, meat hunters should shoot doe,s also how many deer can you eat, really how many, greedy gready, same guys that dont like the flounder or striper rules, now if we could teach our young ones not to be meat hunters, our problem will fix it self, :razz:

[Bullseye]

I would be happy wirh a 4 pt rule statewide, & 1 buck & 2 does, for each of the seasons, (bow, shotgun & muzzleloader). remove the permit system all together & just follow the zone rules for each season;).

[brantdude]

IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN --TO MANY GUN CLUBS ---TO MANY OF US (GUN CLUBS ) ALL YOU TROPHY HUNTERS CANT STICK TOGATHER :razz:--I LOVE WHEN YOU GUYS FIGHT (TROPHY HUNTERS ):fight:

[BowtechKilla]

Well if MOST of the gun clubs could practice a little "trigger management" our herd would rebound without the state's intervention. Too many hunters feel the need to shoot every deer they see. The state is talking about pulling the 3 point rule in QDM zones, we need to speak up and let them know it is working!!!
BTW brantdude- I don't consider myself a "trophy hunter". I am a meat hunter that hasn't shot a buck in 8 years. I have taken several does to fill the freezer, never more than I can consume. I am seeing better deer because of QDM and anter point restrictions.

[farmer ted]

In 3 point zones can you harvest 3 inch or less antlered deer?There always seems to be big 8 pointers 10's 12's and 13 pointers harvested every year with no 3 point rule.Reducing seasons,limits,and antler restrictions won't help sell permits and licenses.Buying back a buck stub will. On the last day most hunters will use that hard earned $28 buck stub rolling it over to the next season might help.I want to use my $28 tag and will harvest the first buck i see?:)

[briarpatch]

I've posted this on a couple of other forums. It will be interesting to see what the members here think. The 3-point minimum, or any APR for that matter, has one basic flaw. There will likely be a buck that does not meet the minimum, but should be taken out because of inferior genes. How many of us have seen that 3 1/2 year old cowhorn spike? What I propose is a two buck per year quota. You may take your two bucks with whatever weapon(s) you choose. There are no 'automatic' buck tags, like the ones that come with your firearms license. When you buy your tag(s), only one will have some type of APR associated with it. This way, we reduce the overall number of bucks taken, and likely the percentage that are 1 1/2 year olds. You'd still have the flexibility to take a spike, if you choose. The tag without the APR will have the same '3 inches or better on one side' criteria that's always been. Guys who can only hunt during 6-day will have the same limit they've always had...two bucks. Does must continue to be managed by zone.

[Strut1]

I AGREE WITH tHE 3 POINT RULE ALL THE WAY :fight: