Deer hunting zones

[walleyeking19]

It seems like every year, the DNR changes the deer hunting regs and the zones. So I went to apply for a doe tag the other day, and I went to apply for one, and it said I cant because my zone (246) is a "hunters choice" zone, meaning I can shoot my choice of a doe or buck. Where I hunt back at home (zone 229), it is a management zone.

So can I shoot a deer with my bow in a management zone, and than shoot another one with a gun in a hunters choice zone? I think I can, but I thought I'd double check with you guys. Thanks!

[TRZ II]

Yes- Only 1 can be a buck.

[Bear55]

Yes- Only 1 can be a buck.

Right on.

[bigbucks]

U got it.

[totally_addicted]

Correct me if I am wrong... If you shoot a deer in your hunter's choice zone that is also the same tag you would use for a buck. No bonus tags can be used in a hunter's choice zone. So if you wanna take a doe in your hunter's choice area that would eliminate your buck tag????

[TRZ II]

Yes. In those zones you have a choice of 1 deer period during gun season.

[Bear55]

Correct me if I am wrong... If you shoot a deer in your hunter's choice zone that is also the same tag you would use for a buck. No bonus tags can be used in a hunter's choice zone. So if you wanna take a doe in your hunter's choice area that would eliminate your buck tag????

Correct.

[bigbucks]

I think the only way you could still shoot a buck in another zone would be with a ML or Archery license in the proper season, as that's valid for either sex in the managed zone. It is correct that your either sex (only buck option) firearm tag would be gone.

[certified jumbo]

i'm a little confused. if you shoot a doe in a hunters choice area, couldn't you still shoot a buck in a managed or intensive area?? Everyone has a 1 buck limit??

[picksbigwagon]

I have't read the new regulations yet, but I would encourage you to call the DNR or your local CO to make sure

[flipper]

Interesting, If someone gets this clarified I hope you post the answer.

[fivebucks]

The way I understand it you could shoot either a doe or a buck in the Hunter's Choice and either a doe and/or buck in a managed. The tricky part comes using up the tags. If your only tag is a rifle tag you could shoot either in HC but it burns up your main rifle tag so you would be limited to using a bonus doe tag and could only shoot a doe in a Managed Area. If you bowhunted and rifle hunted you could use your archery tag for either sex in HC. If archery tags a buck you are done with bucks. If archery tags a doe, then you can still take a buck in a managed with your main tag. That's my interpretation and I think I read it right but an email to the DNR or maybe Mr. Cornice might chime in.

[Jameson]

i'm a little confused. if you shoot a doe in a hunters choice area, couldn't you still shoot a buck in a managed or intensive area?? Everyone has a 1 buck limit??

When we buy our license for bow season, rifle season, or muzzy season one either/or tag is included. They are the only tags that antlered bucks can be tagged with. Bonus tags are only for antlerless deer, and can not be used in lottery/HC areas.

The tricky part is that you must use your either/or tag for any deer that you tag in a HC area. So if you tag a doe in a HC area, your buck tag is used up for that season. The only way you could shoot a buck is with an unused either/or tag from an bow/firearm/muzzy license purchase. You could still shoot a buck in a managed/intensive area, but it would have to be in a different season that you had an unused either/or tag.

[Powerstroke]

Jameson is correct.

@certified Jumbo, your "main" tag for any season, firearm, bow or muzzie, is good for a buck. In a hunters choice zone it is for either sex, but if you choose to tag a doe in the HC zone you can no longer hunt a buck with a firearm, unless of course you have the separate muzzie license which must be used in the muzzie season.

This is the same if you have a bow tag but shoot a doe in lottery or hunters choice zone with you bow. You have filled out your main weapon tag and can no longer use that weapon for a buck.

[certified jumbo]

Thanks for the clarification and the responses. We rifle hunt in 183 which is HC, I also bow, gun and muzzy hunt in 227. I doesn't seem fair to me that someone can whack a doe in 225, then come to 227 and whack a buck with the same means. If i shoot a doe in 183 with my rifle (which is my one deer limit), why can't i whack a buck in 227 with my shotgun. It almost seems like you are at a disadvantage if you hunt or own land in a HC area. Does that make sense, or am i missing something?? I get it that I use my one specific tag up in 183, than its no longer valid. But what a bad deal. I still fall within the one deer limit. Those who hunt a season in a HC area are at a disadvantage???

[Jameson]

Life ain't fair.

It seems to me the DNR is trying to give us as much opportunity as it can without overharvest. If we were all allowed to use bonus tags in lotto/HC areas, many of us would be more likely to actually shoot a doe, because we wouldn't be using up our buck tag. The DNR realizes that most of us treasure our buck tags. If it means we have to burn our buck tag to shoot a doe in a lotto/HC area, most of us won't do it, or will wait for our final hunt to try.

The past few years we have had lotto areas with thousands of available doe tags for one area. Would we all rather have that again? Why?

[Bear55]

Thanks for the clarification and the responses. We rifle hunt in 183 which is HC, I also bow, gun and muzzy hunt in 227. I doesn't seem fair to me that someone can whack a doe in 225, then come to 227 and whack a buck with the same means. If i shoot a doe in 183 with my rifle (which is my one deer limit), why can't i whack a buck in 227 with my shotgun. It almost seems like you are at a disadvantage if you hunt or own land in a HC area. Does that make sense, or am i missing something?? I get it that I use my one specific tag up in 183, than its no longer valid. But what a bad deal. I still fall within the one deer limit. Those who hunt a season in a HC area are at a disadvantage???

I guess it all depends on your perspective. If you are in a HC area and just want to shoot any deer it is an advantage, you can shoot a doe that you might not have been able to if you area was a lotto area. Now burning up your one buck tag on a doe is a clear disadvantage so if you are like me there is NO WAY I will be using my HC tag on a doe. If you value your buck tags just treat any HC area like a lotto area and you should be fine.

[bigbucks]

Yes, you could, but whatever season you were hunting in the hunter's choice area when you tag your doe there that is your main tag, in essence your buck tag, for that season that you are using. So when you went to shoot a buck in a managed or intensive area, you don't have that main tag to use on the buck, you'd only have antlerless tags, unless it was ML or Archery, assuming you'd shot the Hunter's Choice in Firearms. If the Hunter's Choice doe was say Archery then your buck could be ML or Firearms in the more liberal area.