Regulation ?

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Well, normally I can interpret the regs with no questions/confusion (I understand the bag limits, 1 buck PERIOD, bonus tags, etc), however, this year with the new 'hunters choice' zone (and me hunting in one for a weekend), I'm stumped!

Here's my scenario (all of this takes place in the 100 zones)...

All of bow season and rifle opener weekend, I'll be hunting 'Intensive harvest' zones. But over the second weekend of rifle season I'll be in one of the 'hunters choice' areas. My conundrum is this.... Say I shoot a buck with my bow prior to rifle season, or say I shoot a buck during opener in the 'intensive harvest' zone, can I still hunt in the 'hunters choice' zone the second weekend and still take a doe?

The way I see it is this... Say I shoot a buck with my bow, I still need to buy a rifle tag to hunt and I would think I could use it to take a doe in the 'hunters choice' zone. Say I don't shoot a buck with my bow, but get one with my rifle opening weekend, I would think I still could use my bow tag to hunt a doe in the 'hunters choice' zone, no?

I get confused because of the 1 deer bag limit in those zones. But if I don't shoot a deer in those zones, I would think my above scenario should be okay.

Lou, are you still lurking out there?

Thanks!

[jay83196]

I believe you are correct on all accounts, I know only one buck per hunter no matter what or where all season (unless permit only area) . You can only register per area what that area allows...meaning if you hunt intensive and get three you could still hunt managed and get your two. If you hunt managed and hunters choice you get one hunters choice two managed...any combination firearm/bow. That was how dnr explained to me last year.

[Jameson]

...shoot a buck with my bow, I still need to buy a rifle tag to hunt and I would think I could use it to take a doe in the 'hunters choice' zone.

[Bear55]

I think you boys have it covered, it certainly is a little more confusing but not a bad option for some areas of the state.

[DRH1175]

I have the same scenario as OP the way I see it you can harvest 1 deer in hc as long as you have your regular tag open. If you shoot a buck opening weekend and use ytoour rifle tag. You would have wait rill muzzleloader or use your bow to harvest a doe in hc. I read it that bonus tags are not valid in hc zones.

[jay83196]

Good point I forgot to mention buy a bonus tag and fill that first you can't put a buck on it just does that being said if you shoot a doe and put it on your main tag then you can't tag a buck. I always buy my license and a bonus at same time.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Thanks! I appreciate the input. I wish Lou was still here answering ?'s like he used to.... guess I'll shoot him an email to confirm this.

[surewood]

The way I understand it is if you fill your regular tag (Buck Tag) you can't hunt in HC zones anymore unless party hunting.

[ANYFISH2]

Archery Firearms Muzzy

HC Doe or buck no longer valid No longer valid

(party hunting ok ) (Party hunting ok)

No longer valid Doe or buck No longer valid

(PH ok) (PH ok) (PH ok)

No longer valid No longer valid Doe or buck

(PH ok) (PH ok)

Now If you harvest a doe in a intesive harvest or managed area and used a bonus tag the above is still true.

If you harvested a buck in a Int. or Mang. are you may not tag ANY deer in any HC area with that seasons tag (Archery, rifle, muzzy are different seasons). In the other seasons you will be valid to shoot and tag a (1)doe only.

If you shoot and tag a doe with your regular license in any one season in a Int. or Mang. area you may not tag ANY deer in any HC area with that seasons tag. In the other seasons you may still shoot a buck or a doe in a HC area.

I am sure there are tons of other combinations but I hope this helps any way.

In the end remember you need the regular license tag to harvest a deer in a HC area for the respective season, and you are only allowed 1 deer per calander year in ALL HC areas and 1 buck per calander year statewide.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Huh?

[bigbucks]

+1 on the huh. I have no idea with the PH abbreviation is.

[Bear55]

I think PH means party hunting is ok but I can't make heads or tails of the rest of it.

[paceman]

I will be hunting in HC and managed this year. The way I read it I could shoot and tag a Buck in the HC and then shoot and tag 2 does in the managed using bonus tags. I won't shoot that many but I think I would be legal doing it?

[Jameson]

I will be hunting in HC and managed this year. The way I read it I could shoot and tag a Buck in the HC and then shoot and tag 2 does in the managed using bonus tags. I won't shoot that many but I think I would be legal doing it?

You should be withing your limits.

[surewood]

I will be hunting in HC and managed this year. The way I read it I could shoot and tag a Buck in the HC and then shoot and tag 2 does in the managed using bonus tags. I won't shoot that many but I think I would be legal doing it?

Definetly some confusion. The way I thought it was is if you shot a buck in HC that would leave you only with a bonus tag in managed. So two deer maximum if you hunted managed/HC or just managed. I thought in managed you get one antlerless tag (bonus) and one regular tag (antlered or antlerless). Which would have you tagged out unless you go to an intensive area.

[certified jumbo]

surewood - you might be right, i'm not sure. but my interpretation would be that you can shoot a buck in hunters choice area, then shoot 2 does in a managed area with bonus tags. i believe you are within you limits on this, but thats only my interpretation. there does seem to be some confusion on this whole topic.

i just wish one could shoot a doe in a HC area, then go and shoot a buck in a managed area during the same season. it only seems logical since one can shoot a doe in a managed area and then go and shoot a buck in a HC area. more and more of us are hunting multiple areas/zones now. but, i guess since party hunting is legal, there are plenty of people i hunt with who can tag deer so maybe it doesn't really matter??

[BRULEDRIFTER]

If I only was rifle hunting or only bow hunting, there is no confusion. I just can't figure out if I shoot a buck either with my bow or with my rifle in an intensive zone before I hunt the HC zone the 2nd weekend of rifle season, can I use my other open tag and still take a doe? (see original post). I still feel that I can.

LOU C., WHERE ARE YOU!?

[certified jumbo]

brule - i'm not lou. but what most seem to think by reading the posts is that.....yes you can shoot a doe in a HC area with a rifle, even if you shoot a buck in a intensive area earlier with your bow(different seasons). but you can't shoot a doe in a HC area with a rifle if you shoot a buck during rifle season in a intensive area before that point.

is that right??

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Yup, that's right! My question is if I shoot a buck with my rifle opening weekend, can I bring my bow up to the HC zone the 2nd weekend and shoot a doe with it?

My confusion is the fact that I'd have 1 deer in my bag limit, am I then excluded from taking a deer in an HC zone?

[jay83196]

No, you can still bow hunt in h.c. area as long as you got the other deer on a managed or intensive area you can only get one in h.c area nomattet what you use And If you shoot a buck with rifle then you can get only a doe. Buck must be used on main rifle or archery license (depending what you used).

[Jameson]

...Definetly some confusion. The way I thought it was is if you shot a buck in HC that would leave you only with a bonus tag in managed. So two deer maximum if you hunted managed/HC or just managed. I thought in managed you get one antlerless tag (bonus) and one regular tag (antlered or antlerless). Which would have you tagged out...

Three, four years ago it was that way. Lou C. thought it wasn't that way. Their was a good long discussion about that on here. The next year it was changed to allowing us to use two bonus tags in a managed area. So, now, as far as I know, and I'm not LC either, we can use two bonus tags in managed areas.

Here is the link to the thread where lc was Wrong!

[ANYFISH2]

Sorry guys rows don't submit well I guess!

I guess trying to simplify the simplest thing is confusing!

[Bear55]

i just wish one could shoot a doe in a HC area, then go and shoot a buck in a managed area during the same season.

I think the whole point of the HC area is to allow hunter more options to harvest some does but not near as many does as a Managed or Intensive Harvest area. Think of it as a small step up from a lotto area, if you didn't have a HC area chances are it would be a lotto area with do permits where you end up burning your buck tag on a doe when it is accompanies with your doe permit.

[flipper]

If I understand it right you are still burning up your buck tag on a doe if you shoot a doe in a Hunter's Choice area. The only way you could shoot a buck is if you are part of a party hunt or with an archery or Muzzleloader License in a Managed or Intensive area.

[DinnerPail]

Agree with Flipper, shooting any deer in the HC area uses up you main tag and limits you to does in managed and intense areas. If you want to shoot a buck it would have to be as Flipper stated party hunting, archery or muzzle loader.