Posted By: KennyLee
Broken racks and an A/R question - 11/27/10 03:03 AM
Today got off to a rocky start and my morning hunt was ruined before it got started (long story, but wish people would stop dumping their pets on my property). However, driving around and again this evening, I saw more deer than I'd seen so far this year. Lots of chasing going on and bucks on the move at every hour. Saw my two biggest bucks of the year, one that was definitely very mature, but didn't pull the trigger.
Strangely, I saw 4 different bucks with one side broken off. I also have a picture of a 5th buck (the largest of the broken group) missing almost one entire side. I've never seen this many broken racks this early in the year, particularly so many missing an entire side. I can't remember ever seeing this before.
The fortunate thing is all of these bucks are young and will live another year. At least three of them would be 13+ inches if they had both sides and I'm actually pretty happy they broke off a side to make them less appealing to my neighbors.
However, I question whether these bucks would qualify as "one unbranched antler". Three of them were broken real close to the base. I can see someone unfamiliar with these bucks (I've seen all but one of these prior to their antlers being broken) deciding that it's a buck with an unbranched antler and trying to consider it "legal".
I read the regulation and it seems a bit vague. From what I can find, it says nothing about a deer naturally growing an unbranched antler.
Obviously, I have no intention to shoot any of these deer, but worry the neighbors would pull the trigger quickly.
Anyone know if the deer has to naturally grow a "spike" on one side to be considered legally a "spike"?
Strangely, I saw 4 different bucks with one side broken off. I also have a picture of a 5th buck (the largest of the broken group) missing almost one entire side. I've never seen this many broken racks this early in the year, particularly so many missing an entire side. I can't remember ever seeing this before.
The fortunate thing is all of these bucks are young and will live another year. At least three of them would be 13+ inches if they had both sides and I'm actually pretty happy they broke off a side to make them less appealing to my neighbors.
However, I question whether these bucks would qualify as "one unbranched antler". Three of them were broken real close to the base. I can see someone unfamiliar with these bucks (I've seen all but one of these prior to their antlers being broken) deciding that it's a buck with an unbranched antler and trying to consider it "legal".
I read the regulation and it seems a bit vague. From what I can find, it says nothing about a deer naturally growing an unbranched antler.
Obviously, I have no intention to shoot any of these deer, but worry the neighbors would pull the trigger quickly.
Anyone know if the deer has to naturally grow a "spike" on one side to be considered legally a "spike"?