What happened to mule deer archery buck season in Alberta

[J D]

I was planning on looking at towns to move to in Alberta next Sept and was thinking of getting a buddy to host me for mule deer well I was out there.

I just looked at the regs and noticed a lot of the places I used to hunt mule deer are now draw for bucks for archery. The strange thing is there is still an antlerless archery season.

If the numbers are down I understand changing it to draw but why only for bucks?

It just does not make sense to me why bucks are draw and antlerless are not for archery season now.

Anyone know the logic that was used for this change?

[NayNay]

wait for it....

[Dacotensis]

There is oodles of information on this topic on AO.

I think some of the threads got locked, but you can still search and read.

[hillbillyreefer]

They changed the rules to bring the archery season more in line with gun hunters. It didn't make sense to allow unregulated harvest for bows and regulate the heck out of rifle guys when the numbers have been decimated by harsh winters.

[Pudelpointer]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

They changed the rules to bring the archery season more in line with gun hunters. It didn't make sense to allow unregulated harvest for bows and regulate the heck out of rifle guys when the numbers have been decimated by harsh winters.

You must have missed the part of the OP's post where he observed that Antlerless Mule Deer are still open for archery harvest in every one of those zones...

[J D]

Originally Posted by Pudelpointer

You must have missed the part of the OP's post where he observed that Antlerless Mule Deer are still open for archery harvest in every one of those zones...

This is what seemed really screwed up to me. If it is a population issue you would think doe season should be all draw not bucks.

[Pudelpointer]

That is because it has (almost) nothing to do with deer populations, but a perceived fear that bow hunters are killing all the big bucks before the rifle hunters get a chance.

[J D]

I sure hope this is not being taken lying down by Alberta bowhunters because this does not sound like it is being done to manage deer populations.

I could see shortening the archery season and making it resident only but going completely draw for bucks does not make sense. Having the archery doe season with bucks on draw just does not sound like proper management.

Sorry guys but knowing bio's personally here in BC and the little knowledge I have on ungulates this just does not add up. Having a hard time understanding how this sounded like a good idea and came to fly with bucks on draw and does still open.


Sounds like you guys are getting screwed on this deal and hope things improve

[ishootbambi]

Originally Posted by J D

This is what seemed really screwed up to me. If it is a population issue you would think doe season should be all draw not bucks.

Originally Posted by Pudelpointer

That is because it has (almost) nothing to do with deer populations, but a perceived fear that bow hunters are killing all the big bucks before the rifle hunters get a chance.

sigh....at this point, anyone on this forum that doesnt understand this just doesnt want to.

populations have zero to do with archery draws....and neither does trophy bucks. the single...and very simple reason is that according to srds numbers, archery hunters represent about 15ish % of all hunters. therefore, they are entitled to about 15ish% of the harvest of mule deer bucks. in several zones, it has been determined through hunting surveys that archers are exceeding their allotted 15%, so those zones have beed switched to a draw.

the real argument is not the 15%.....but rather how they are doing the arithmetic to get to that number. there is too much guesswork and not enough facts to be considered accurate in my opinion....however, that is why the draw has been established.....nothing more.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Just wait till does in those zones hit the 15% threshold harvest by archers....then they will all be on draw

LC

[J D]

Sounds like a mess to me but that is just my opinion. It has always been my opinion that putting animals on straight draw should be reserved for areas where population is concerned.

It has been years since I last hunted mule deer with archery in Alberta so it was a shock to me to read the regs and see the change. A real disappointment to see it draw in areas that I use to hunt that never seemed to be lacking bucks. Looks like when I am a resident again I will need to scout new ground if I want to bow hunt mule deer bucks.

I did a search on the forum after posting this and see it has been hashed out a number of times. Was not out to stir the pot or open old wounds as that is not my thing. It just came as a shock to me when I seen the change

[L.O.S.T.Arrow]

Draws are not a bad thing, I remember the days in Alberta before the draws that finding a good mulie buck was rare and hard to find...we hated the first three point mule buck draw until four years later when monsters in numbers started to show up all across alberta...for both rifle and bow hunters to enjoy.


JMHO

Neil

[J D]

Not completely against draws just in my opinion if it is not a conservation concern a short non draw season should be combined with it.

Going from 2 month archery season to straight draw is just a bit much to me. Would rather have seen at least a week or 2 archery season combined with the change. At least this way guys would be able to hunt without waiting years to do so.

Just my look at things is all

[thrude1]

I'd rather see non-resident tags eliminated totally for all species that are on draw for residents. But that will never happen because APOS has TOO much $ ,they win we lose and now they don't have to worry about archers shooting "their "deer

[clanman]

Originally Posted by thrude1

I'd rather see non-resident tags eliminated totally for all species that are on draw for residents. But that will never happen because APOS has TOO much $ ,they win we lose and now they don't have to worry about archers shooting "their "deer

Now this hits the nail on the head. We all really know it's all about money and maintaining as many big bucks as possible for "paying" non-resident hunters.
What a shame for resident hunters....should have at least maintained September for archery only on a non draw tag. Could have even put a limit on antler size as well during that time.

[L.O.S.T.Arrow]

Originally Posted by J D

Not completely against draws just in my opinion if it is not a conservation concern a short non draw season should be combined with it.

Going from 2 month archery season to straight draw is just a bit much to me. Would rather have seen at least a week or 2 archery season combined with the change. At least this way guys would be able to hunt without waiting years to do so.

Just my look at things is all

yup ....No ..I agree and appreciate your opinion...I think the answer is in the two previous posts ...this isnt the first time this happened to us...we went from two and half months in some areas of moose hunting to almost zero across Alberta for bowhunting..that was big as I had 28 moose in 28 years with the bow and really depended on it for my family...that one hurt...


Some descions are political, some are plain stupid such as a full out deer cull in CWD ...than two bad winters did what was unsucessfully tried...now its draw there for rifle...
Some do benefit ..was simply stating sometimes we have to give a little to get a little and the mule draw worked before ...but for above political reasons its wrong..
Neil

JMHO

[J D]

Originally Posted by L.O.S.T.Arrow

yup ....No ..I agree and appreciate your opinion...I think the answer is in the two previous posts ...this isnt the first time this happened to us...we went from two and half months in some areas of moose hunting to almost zero across Alberta for bowhunting..that was big as I had 28 moose in 28 years with the bow and really depended on it for my family...that one hurt...


Some descions are political, some are plain stupid such as a full out deer cull in CWD ...than two bad winters did what was unsucessfully tried...now its draw there for rifle...
Some do benefit ..was simply stating sometimes we have to give a little to get a little and the mule draw worked before ...but for above political reasons its wrong..
Neil

JMHO

It could be worse you guys could have BC's rape the land management plan. Only really good hunting here these days is in remote hard to access spots. Lots of areas you need to work to find a spike. But hey a lot of residents here are happy because they can hunt deer with a rifle for 3-4 months out of the year.

Straight draw still sucks but it is better than what things are like in BC. Alberta defiantly has better game numbers.

[L.O.S.T.Arrow]

Originally Posted by J D

It could be worse you guys could have BC's rape the land management plan. Only really good hunting here these days is in remote hard to access spots. Lots of areas you need to work to find a spike. But hey a lot of residents here are happy because they can hunt deer with a rifle for 3-4 months out of the year.

Straight draw still sucks but it is better than what things are like in BC. Alberta defiantly has better game numbers.

I agree ...I have had the oppurtunity to hunt and been sucessful with my bow in Alberta for ..Free ranging Wood Bison, Moose, Elk, Whitetail, Mule deer, Antelope, Big Horn Sheep, Wild Turkey, and even two species of Caribou ..many are world class....

Predators such as Black Bear, Grizzly, Wolf, Coyote, Cougar, Wolverine, Badger

And even more such as Billy Goat, about the only one I never hunted...

We are fourtunate ... Wildlife Management, draws and even hunting bans are all part of good practice to keep what we have...some may not seem fair but in the end we usually benefit from it...

JMHO
Neil