OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Scopes > Rifle Scopes
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - When quality of scope matters!
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

When quality of scope matters!

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
chasseur106 View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman
Avatar

Joined: March/12/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 137
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chasseur106 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: When quality of scope matters!
    Posted: January/28/2005 at 03:31

      In my humble opinion, scope quality matters, even if like me, you live in a state where hunting is not expensive.  ( Pennsylvania)

          The reason I say this is because just recently, we have had to endure a Game Commision that is taking their cues from the Timber industry, and the Car Insurance people.    They have imposed antler restrictions on us all.  Three points or better in my "Game Management Unit".  The flavor of the speech given to us three years ago when all of this started, was that if you mistakenly shot a buck lees than the legal limit, you could turn yourself in, and pay a nominal fine, ($25.00), get a new license and be on your merry way for another chance at a legal buck.

                 What actually happened was this.... A whole bunch of guys I talked to, did this very thing and the Game Commision penalized them with a $500.00 fine, and no license renewal.       So now guys,who in the heat of the hunt do not bother to count points, drop the deer, and then go up and count the points of the dead deer.  If they make it, great, but if they don't, they leave them lie... Wasting away for the coyotes, or crows and turkey buzzards.  NOT very sportsman like, if you ask me.

                   They have also extended the doe season and made 4 doe per hunter a common thing.     I cannot say that Gary Alt's deer management plan will ever turn around again in favor of the hunter's.  We are entering our 4th year of his management, ( even though he quit this year).   The Game Commision still plans to follow through with his recommendations to cull the herd further.  Some serious hunters around our state capital have organized and are threatening to sue the Commission.  So I will see.

                     Now one does not see many deer in PA anymore.  We as hunters, took the bait of more meat in the fridge, and have almost successfully exterminated our herd, for Gary's trade off of larger racks.  We have also reduced the size of the herd per square mile.  Which makes the timber people and Insurance people happy.  The point is is that they, ( timber & Insurance) do not buy the licenses, nor do they fund the Commission.   We are all under stress, and being watched as to what we do in the woods by everyone.  

            So I put this to other hunter's who may get mad at me when I say put your money in the equipment and shut up about it.  Hunting is inherently expensive.  Unless you are poaching, you would be further ahead to give up the cost of the rifle, the cost of practice time at the range, the cartridges and go to the store and buy your meat or to the farm and butcher your own.  I do not condone poaching it.

              We have to be conservationist minded, and wary of "those offering to help us have better racks."  As well as a healthier deer herd.   I am seriously thinking of hunting in NY next year.

              I have posted this as a new topic, because in PA, I used to see 60 plus deer with no effort during the first three days of hunting.  This year, I saw 16 total for 5 solid days of hunting.

                My point is, that this scenario could happen to you, no matter where you live in whitetail country.  Unless of course it is in a rural state.

                 Sincerely,

                       Chasseur

                

               

                 

                    

Back to Top
gozarian View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice


Joined: April/04/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 158
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gozarian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/28/2005 at 04:55
chasseur106, that really sucks if what you say is true.  I live in Alaska but Dad my lives in Potter county Pa.  He says there are tons of deer but he doesn't hunt anymore either.  My brother in law from New York is doing the big buck thing that you speak of and he to was disgusted at first.  It took about two years for the herds to come back up after the culling and boy I'll tell you what; the herds have gradually increased now and they are killing MONSTER BUCKS!

They did that up here in Alaska about 20 years ago with the Dall Sheep.  LImited the horn size to full curl or better in most of the areas.  It was a pain in the ass at first but now we are reaping the rewards with BIG ASS RAMS.

Here's the bottom line, your state biologists know what your deer herds need.  If the GREENIES and the POLITICIANS stay out of the picture you will see a big improvement but it will take a few years.  Game law fines generally suck when they involve honesty on the hunters part; that's too bad.  Up here in Alaska they make an example out of you if you screw up.   They take everything boat, guns, planes you name it.  I feel your pain!
Back to Top
ranburr View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master


Joined: May/16/2004
Status: Offline
Points: 1082
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ranburr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/28/2005 at 12:13

Herd management has been common in TX for decades.  In the long run you will have healthier deer with biggger racks.  I disagree with the three points or better thing.  You have to manage a heard by age and genetics.  That plan does not appear to take either into account.  I would not worry about shooting too many does.  There are always too many does anywhere but the most strictly managed areas. 

 

ranburr

Back to Top
chasseur106 View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman
Avatar

Joined: March/12/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 137
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chasseur106 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/29/2005 at 03:43

      It is only in my area of PA that has the 3 Points or better rule.  There are other places near Pittsburgh, PA where the rule of thumb is 4 points or better per side.  The Commission is not enforcing a 3 or 4 point per side both sides.... So technically a 5 point or a 7 point could be harvested depending upon which game management unit you live in.

          The "Game Management Units" are sectioned off in each county by roads that run North/South and or East/West.Some are pretty big like those in the 2 G section and I think 2 F section but they are in rural PA and there were always more deer per square mile there than there were trees and people combined.  It covers much of our National and state forest areas. 

              I really appreciate you guys taking the time to write me and tell me about your states, and or areas that you hunt, and especially that everything will turn out O.K., because seriously I was beginning to worry that we were headed down a path that leads to Annhialation of my favorite game species.

                 Yes we are starting to see some of those bigger bucks in the field... When I say we, I mean PA hunters in general, because frankly I am not sure I would not dirty my drawers if I saw what some of those guys are dragging out of the woods in my scope picture.

                 Maybe I should go buy a Simmons, or a BSA for my deer rifle... That will keep me from getting too excited if I don't have a full field of view...        LOL

                 So you are saying that the herd will bounce back in numbers, but with a heavier Buck to doe ratio, huh?

                   O.K.  I guess I can wait a few more years and see if or how it works out.

                 Chasseur

Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.238 seconds.