Extend Firearms Season in MN ......huh???

[cyberamish]

I'm not so concerned about my dogs being shot by mistake, you're right an orange vest can prevent that, I would be more concerned (especially on public land) about confrontation issues between bird hunters and deer hunters. I hunt on private land but would not want to bring the dogs out if I knew one of our neighbors was out deer hunting during an early season just as a curtesy to them and to avoid any potential ill will. On public land unfortunately, all bets are off. You never know if some guy sitting in a tree is going to be ticked off enough at the sight of a dog that they may or may not take a crack at them. Maybe I'm just paranoid about it but with some of the recent events can you really blame me?

[tripper]

cyber, I think you have every reason to be concerd about your dog getting shot.

Myself I see most of these ideas as just a round about way of trying to bring in QDM a step at a time without mentioning it.

I am a little suprised that there were no responses on the idea of a handgun season in the metro areas where rifle(slug) seasons are short. Maybe those that are willing to take on a relatively short range hunt down there would rather stick with their bow.

[wheelierida]

I think earn a buck is the way to go! It would really reduce the number of bucks taken, and increase all of our chances on taking a trophy. second it would make EVERYONE take more time and most likey place there shots better. if you could only get one or two bucks in your party you would be a lot less likely to shoot a spike or a fork. I am more for a buck tag lottery though. I am against the antler point restrictions because that could cause unnessicary court cases and who knows what because a dear diddn't meet a acertain antler size, What if you shot big seven pointer in NW Minnesota a 200 yards with your .270 and it was supposed to be a 8 point minnimum, give us a break.

[MNmikew]

I agree Lawdog. I've been hunting the early T zone in Wisc for a few years now and have seen LOTS of bucks after the early season with a bow.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Just to mix things up a bit.....How about a late doe season??? If there are so many mixed feelings about earn a buck or early season, how bout making a late doe season.

I'm no deer expert, but I've heard quite a few people say the reason we don't have a healthy big buck population is because the bucks get killed before they get big. Ok, I'll buy that. Deer hunting, for me, is a 2 day thing. I'll apologize in advance if this upsets people, but fellas, I want a deer in my freezer. I'd much rather it be a doe, they taste better, but I only have 2 days. No, I'm not going to shoot a fawn, but if I have a clear shot at a 4 pointer I'm not going to pass it up.

A late doe season will remove, for me anyway, the "I have 2 days" mentality. I'm only speaking for me and my kids, but if I knew I had another season in, say, December.....I'd pass on the 4 pointer during regular season. Less pressure could also lead to less bad things happening that we hear so much about. Such as, people shooting cows, tresspassing, bad shots, etc.

Just an idea, what do you fellas think?

[BLACKJACK]

I like the idea of a late doe season. It wouldn't interfere with duck and pheasant hunting, the crops would be all out, and it would help accomplish the goal of keeping the deer population down. By December the hunting seasons would be winding down, you'd probably get good hunter participation.

[bigbucks]

The way I see it, the doe season has to be late, after muzzleloader. The guys that want to bow hunt still have the advantage of being able to take a buck potentially. The other hunters moving deer around & letting bucks go could help the bow hunters.