2007 Deer License/Reg Changes

[Mark Christianson]

Its been very clear on these forums that regulations that cover vast areas are not the way to go. The upside to regs that cover vast areas is that they are easier to set and interpret.

We are now seeing the DNR listening and addressing "pockets" that are not holding their own under a more generalized rulebook. The downside is that it is going to be more complicated to get a more micromanaged population management plan.

I have scratched my head on many occasions the past few deer seasons trying to understand the new changes every year, but I would much rather have the added complications, if the end result is a more balanced and positive experience for us all while we are out in the field.

Now if someone could come up with a Cliff Notes version of the regs, we'd be set.

[lcornice]

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So let me see if I have this straight, when I buy my all-season license it will still have three tags but I can only tag one deer in a lottery area.

So, I hunt both 451 (lottery) and 452 (managed), assuming they'll be the same designations this year I think then that I can shoot a doe in 452 with my second tag and shoot a buck in either 451 or 452 for two deer still right? Also, if I get a doe permit for 451 by applying in September for the gun and/or muzzleloader season (can I apply for both and get both???), can I then use my doe tag in 451 and still shoot a buck in 452 with my main tag or is the doe permit for the main tag and not the second tag? Very confusing...

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The bag limit for lottery areas will be one deer. If you kill a deer in a lottery area you can't kill another is a second lottery area. Yes, the license comes with 3 tags; however, it was never intended to be a vehicle for overharvesting deer. Also, you can't apply for both areas. You've actually never been able to do that.

I hope that clears it up.

[Powerstroke]

Exactly. Here are the regs straight from last years book. I think they clear up the questions that have been asked so far.

All-Season Deer License

• Up to three deer may be taken with this license, no more than one of which may be a legal buck.

• It comes with an either-sex tag (depending on area) and two antlerless only tags.

• Either-sex tag options:

o Can be used statewide during the archery or muzzleloader seasons.

o Can be used in all managed or intensive permit areas during the regular firearm season, except 3B

o The tag is valid for only bucks in lottery deer areas during the firearm season unless the hunter has obtained a lottery either-sex permit.

o In all deer areas, the tag is valid for only bucks in a specific season (archery, firearms, muzzleloader) if a hunter has already used both antlerless tags in the same season.

• Antlerless only tag options:

o Both tags can be used during the archery or muzzleloader

seasons in all open deer areas.

o One tag can be used to take an antlerless deer during the firearms season if you apply for and draw an either-sex permit in a lottery deer area.

o Both tags can be used during the firearm season in managed

or intensive permit areas, except 3B.

• Party hunting is legal with this license.

• No other deer hunting license (archery, regular firearms, or muzzleloader) may be purchased in addition to this license, except hunters may purchase bonus and early season antlerless permits.

• Holders of this license may hunt in any open archery, regular firearms (except 3B), or muzzleloader season and area, using the legal firearm or bow and arrows for the respective season and zone.

• Note: Only one antlerless deer can be taken during the firearm season in lottery deer areas and only if the hunter has obtained an either-sex permit for that deer area. Only two antlerless deer can be killed in any one season (archery, firearm, muzzleloader). To maximize opportunity, hunters should tag antlerless deer with their antlerless only tags first. For example, if you kill two antlerless deer in the firearm season, you should just use the

antlerless only tags. That way, you can still take a buck during the firearm season or a deer of either sex in the muzzleloader or archery season. Using the tags in this order will maximize the number of antlerless deer you can take with this license.

[lcornice]

I wouldn't use last year's book

[CROPDUSTER56386]

Intensive harvest you can harvest five same as it was. ? do you still have to buy all the tags or did they simplify it, so you dont have a file cabinet in your wallet like i have had the past few years.

[Jameson]

A filing cabinet in the wallet makes for a happy wallet. I can't wait to have ALL those licenses, tags, and stamps in the wallet. Good times...

[Powerstroke]

Well, you don't have an '07 book out yet....

I think the questions people are asking are pretty well explained with last years regs. These aren't sweeping changes, they are an over-simplification for some folks. The question of how many tags are sold and how they can be used was addressed in previous regs.

Intensive is still the same. I hope you don't go and buy 5 tags right away, unless of course you can fill five tags in one outing.

I do management hunts in the metro and they recommend having 2 bonus permits with you. Yes even having 2 permits is a lot of paper in the wallet, but I don't carry more than that at one time. In fact, I like to keep a little wallet size thing with just my ID and hunting licenses in it. I don't need any cash or credit cards out in the field so I lock them in the car. It cuts down on the dump I bring out.

[chucker34]

Another thing I was thinking of last night was that I almost exclusively hunt archery. So if I was able to take a doe by archery in my home lottery area, that pretty much shuts me out of trying for a buck by archery there or anywhere for that matter as I'd have to use my regular archery tag and not a bonus permit in a lottery area to tage a doe. Therefore, I'd only be able to use and additional bonus archery tag on does outside my lottery area. Am I correct?

[lawdog]

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So let me see if I have this straight, when I buy my all-season license it will still have three tags but I can only tag one deer in a lottery area.

So, I hunt both 451 (lottery) and 452 (managed), assuming they'll be the same designations this year I think then that I can shoot a doe in 452 with my second tag and shoot a buck in either 451 or 452 for two deer still right? Also, if I get a doe permit for 451 by applying in September for the gun and/or muzzleloader season (can I apply for both and get both???), can I then use my doe tag in 451 and still shoot a buck in 452 with my main tag or is the doe permit for the main tag and not the second tag? Very confusing...

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The bag limit for lottery areas will be one deer. If you kill a deer in a lottery area you can't kill another is a second lottery area. Yes, the license comes with 3 tags; however, it was never intended to be a vehicle for overharvesting deer. Also, you can't apply for both areas. You've actually never been able to do that.

I hope that clears it up.

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Well, thanks for trying Lcornice, but no it didn't actually. Maybe I didn't make it clear what I was asking. I'm right on the border of two areas and one is managed (451) and one is a lottery (452). Now, I hunt in both every year, so what I'm confused about is 452 where I don't need to apply for antlerless vs. 451 where I do need to apply. I'm assuming I should apply for a 451 antlerless and then I can shoot my doe in either zone right? I undertand that if I get that 451 antlerless and shoot a doe in 451 that I can't take another deer there regardless of sex, but does shooting that doe in 451 mean I can't shoot a buck in 452 or anywhere else?

I'm just trying to understand this so I don't do anything wrong. I've not taken two deer with this all season license yet and I've bought it every single year its been available. I just don't want to shoot a doe for the freezer and find out later that when Mr. Boone & Crocket comes walking by, he's off limits...

[lcornice]

Lawdog,

For 2007 both 451 and 452 will be lottery. So you're going to have to pick one to apply. Sorry.

[lawdog]

Thanks Lcornice, that takes care of that question for me anyway...

[bigbucks]

Is there a list of the areas & what type they will be somewhere now that we can see?

If not I want to know about 213 & 214 mostly if you can check that out for me instead.

[lcornice]

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Is there a list of the areas & what type they will be somewhere now that we can see?

If not I want to know about 213 & 214 mostly if you can check that out for me instead.

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No list has been published yet. However, 213 - managed; 214 - intensive with early antlerless hunting (Oct. 13-14).

[chucker34]

lcornice, do you know if my assumption in an earlier post is correct that if I tag doe by archery in my home lottery area, that effectively ends my opportunity as a buck by archery? It would appear so as I couldn't use a bonus permit for archery in a lottery area as my one deer for that area? I would think I would have to use my regular archery license which nixes the buck anywhere else by archery. Thanks.

[lcornice]

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lcornice, do you know if my assumption in an earlier post is correct that if I tag doe by archery in my home lottery area, that effectively ends my opportunity as a buck by archery? It would appear so as I couldn't use a bonus permit for archery in a lottery area as my one deer for that area? I would think I would have to use my regular archery license which nixes the buck anywhere else by archery. Thanks.

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Yes, one deer in one lottery area per year. No bonus permits (you never could use those in lottery areas).

[BLACKJACK]

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lcornice, do you know if my assumption in an earlier post is correct that if I tag doe by archery in my home lottery area, that effectively ends my opportunity as a buck by archery? It would appear so as I couldn't use a bonus permit for archery in a lottery area as my one deer for that area? I would think I would have to use my regular archery license which nixes the buck anywhere else by archery. Thanks.

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chucker, your question(s) are confusing, they run together.

My interpretation is that no matter what weapon you use, if you're hunting in a lottery zone, you can only take one deer, no matter what weapon you use. And the other big change is if you hunt with a ML, you need to go through the permit process, a doe permit is NOT automatic.

Does anyone know, when will the 2007 Hunting regs be coming out?

[chucker34]

Essentially what I'm asking is, if I kill a doe by archery in a lottery area, can I kill a buck by archery in a managed or intesnive area afterward. I would think no because I'd have to have used my regular archery license and not a bonus one in the lottery area. So I could go after another doe in a managed or intensive area, but not a buck tag because that would have been used as my regular archery license. If that makes sense.

[chucker34]

And lcornice should know the reg question but Fleet Farm said they're supposed to get the books sometime in August.

[bigbucks]

lcornice,

Why do you know all this stuff? Are you DNR or something?

Anyway, do you know why 213 went from intensive to managed?

What about 244, that has been intensive?

[fivebucks]

What lcornice has said is that in lottery area it is 1 deer. Since you cannot use a bonus tag in a lottery area so you would have to use you main archery tag for 1 deer. That tag is then done and that is the only archery tag you can use to tag a buck. So if you use your archery tag to tag a doe early you cannot tag a buck anywhere in the state with your bow. That is the way I have been interpreting this thread. Please correct if I am mistaken.

[Jameson]

I think fivebucks has gotten it stated correctly. So if chucker bags a doe in a lottery area, than chucker must use his only either/or (BUCK) tag.

[Powerstroke]

Fivebucks is correct. In a lottery area, you can only use your main "either sex" tag. Bonus tags are not allowed. That was said already. SO, if you do get drawn for a doe permit, then you shoot a doe, in a lottery area with ANY weapon, than that is your "either sex" tag. You are no longer able to shoot a buck. From then on you have 2 "bonus permits" for antlerless only. I think its pretty simple.

lcornice has been a great resource for FM.com members with ihs information with the DNR. I appreciate it.

If you are curious as to why certain areas are changing from intensive to managed or lottery to managed or etc, I encourage you to check out the DNR's hunting deer webpage and near the bottom there there is a link about goals for the 2007 season. It has a small slideshow and has a survey at the end. It explains why some areas are changing and why and allows you to provide your personal input.

Here's the link

DNR deer slide show and survey

At the bottom click and you can choose your area if it applies.

[Powerstroke]

For bigbucks, by using the link I provided it looks that area 213 has a goal set to increase deer populations by 25%. In order to do that they need to lower the harvest in that area and provide more protection to antlerless deer. By moving from Intensive to managed they will reduce the number of antlerless deer harvested and hopefully increase the population by leaving more breeding does and young bucks for the next year.

244 was not part of this years info so you'll have to wait on that info. I encourage everyone to check out the link. It provides a lot of great info into the decisions made by those who make the rules. Its hard to please all the people all the time, but it seems to me that they are doing the best they can for everyone.

[lcornice]

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What lcornice has said is that in lottery area it is 1 deer. Since you cannot use a bonus tag in a lottery area so you would have to use you main archery tag for 1 deer. That tag is then done and that is the only archery tag you can use to tag a buck. So if you use your archery tag to tag a doe early you cannot tag a buck anywhere in the state with your bow. That is the way I have been interpreting this thread. Please correct if I am mistaken.

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You are correct.

[lcornice]

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And lcornice should know the reg question but Fleet Farm said they're supposed to get the books sometime in August.

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Should be the first week in August.