Campfire Coffee Cup Rumor

[Flintlock54]

I just got back from a not so successful muzzleloader camp. While there I heard that there is a possibility of having a early modern gun season that may be the same time as the early muzzleloader season next year. Anything to the rumor.

[Rob]

I suspect that what you heard is just a rumor. However, I will say that, if the KDFWR wants deer hunters to have a significant impact on the number of does in the areas where they are overpopulated, they will have to offer an antlerless only modern gun season prior to allowing hunters to harvest a buck with gun or MZ. Otherwise, a lot of hunters will pass on the does & wait for that buck. And I also believe that this antlerless only season should come early in the season (about mid October) so that the buck to doe ratio will be higher prior to the rut (which should then be more active & visible) & so those does are harvested prior to winter, leaving more food for the rest of the herd. I am not talking about this early antlerless season taking place where the herd density is poor or marginal, but only in the overpopulated areas. Hunters can now take unlimited does in those areas & too few does are still being harvested.

Just my $.02!

Rob

[CSS archer]

That's the first I've heard of that one. I seriously doubt that as a possibility.

[imported_admin]

Don't think its possible. I believe deer season dates where set at Commission meeting, and they where the same structure as this year.

[DC]

The FW Commission approved the OPENING dates for 2002-03 deer season at its quarterly meeting on Dec. 7th. The bag limits, zones, and season lengths will be set at meeting in March as usual. Also, be aware that a start date can also be changed at that meeting if extremely necessary.

Several options are being explored to stay after does in the most heavily (deer) populated counties. The key is to keep people hunting, defeat the vagaries of weather, and not impact everyone's favorite sesason--pretty impossible task but we have to keep working at it. The alternative isn't acceptable.