The does being archery only is key. That's how it is in my county, where ARs are second only to god.

The does being archery only is key.

I've hunted Lamar County, Delta County, Hopkin County, and Franklin County. All four of them have GREATLY IMPROVED with Antler Restrictions.

I've hunted those counties over 10 years. Like I said before, 10-12 years ago, you were LUCKY to see a deer, now you see lots of them. I'm so glade they put Antler Restrictions on and OUTLAWED deer hunting with DOGS. (I liked East Texas because it was easy to get to). Over 10 years ago, I swear people just shot whatever they saw. It also didn't help there was a bunch of poachers out there also.

Over the past 2004-2009, I've tagged out in those counties (I didn't hunt the same county each year). Usually I got my Buck within the first 3 weeks. Only in 2009 I didn't tag out, I passed on a buck that I thought would get better, and I didn't have a opportunity to get another.

Why did I move? I do not agree with the Doe rules in those counties. It really sucks to have to go Thanksgiving Day to Sunday to shoot your does. I would have MUCH preferred the state to Reduce the number of does from 2 to 1 and allow you to shoot the doe anytime you wanted than over 4 days. Plus I felt it was time to hunt a different part of the state (I went to Hill Country). BIG difference.

our situation is 2 hunters to 652 (only 1 buck can be shot) and 8-10 on 5000 (only 8 bucks can be shot). PArt of hunting is that if you want to kill nice trophy class deer (for a given area), you have to be willing to lose...a lot, some folks just don't have it in them & b/c of that we have a 13" rule.

PRO AR ! Hamilton co has improved due to AR. Jack co got put on this past year and I promise It will improve the hunting there. All you east tx guys< how many of you agaist it, are in a bad hunter to land size situtation? This is the problem! If yall want alot of deer and big ones to go to the state and get your county put on lottery system. Then and only then will those areas be what you all say it should be numbers and size. It is hard for 12 poeple to have slice of pizza when there is only 8 slices.

Well, just to reiterate, I am lucky enough to hunt in Foard (no AR's but need it!), Archer(just got AR's, prolly good there) REAL.. just shoot more; and Fannin/Red River.

Trying to compare those three regions, is ridiculous. Nearly as bad as hunting Hamilton and Jack and telling us what's wrong with Fannin/Red River/Hopkins.... or lumping all of east texas into one rule...

And by the way, the whole mind set in east texas was totally wrong. There was a ton of us out there that were sick to death of putting our time and effort into proper management pratices only to have the guys (so called meat hunters) all around us shoot every deer that walked out. It real hard to sit and pass up nice 2.5 to 3.5 year old deer year after year knowing they will get shot as soon as they cross the fence. But we continued to do so for 15 years and now we have some help. So yes those of us who have been doing it properly for sometime now are glad our work and patience has paid off and are thankful for the help from tpwd. Minus the spike and 2 doe tags.

I know, it sux when "your neighbors" shoot deer you think they shouldn't even if they are legal or more specifically, shoot your deer.

No one said anything about them being "my" deer. Shooting a young buck is just bad management. Wheres the frigging challenge in that. Shoot a mature buck or go home without one or kill a doe. I never understood people who think its ok to shoot an immature buck. Lets face it none us hunt because its the only way to put food on the table. Its for the challenge, the camp life (relaxation) and the hunt. Emphasis being on the hunt. How hard is it to throw up a feeder and stand and kill an young buck. Its not, and i was tired of seeing all my efforts wasted by the "meat hunters" next to us. I put meat hunters in quotations because what they really are is lazy hunters.

5000 is a work in progress since it's former type2. The 652 has been steady and structure seems to depend on the fawn crops. Prior to that were 12K and 15K acre leases and things were steady on them until doe harvests got ramped up in '04.

should buy stock in popcorn, btw

should buy stock in popcorn, btw

that would make sense then

Unlike ARs in certain counties.

And you know this how?