I was thinking about this the other day. If TP&W really wanted to know what the majority of people wanted all they would need to do is ask one question to everybody that purchases hunting licenses in an AR County. "Are you in favor of or against the current AR Regulation?". It would be very easy to do for them just like asking how many birds you shot. Most people on the inter web are for them but I bet if a true majority vote was done they would fail miserably. I really wish they would do it but then again I don't think they want to know the truth about what the majority really wants. For every 1 person on the net preaching how great they are there are 10 old timers that don't know how to turn a computer on that hate them. So, TP&W if you are reading this I DARE you to put it to a popular vote. I'm so tired of the minority of people running everything.

I am for them but....that proverbial but...they need an overhaul. I think some counties would be for them and others against them.

So it would be fair to say that you are against them as they are right now?

They'd easily pass.

It's a loud minority against them.

Lol

Set up a poll. I was pro ar before it was cool.

A poll on the internet proves nothing. 9 out of 10 people I hunt with don't even own a computer.

True, but did you not pose the same question to an audience of internet users?

Take it or leave it, poll might be interesting

I was really just thinking out loud and I know some Game Wardens frequent this site. But like I said, I don't think they really want to know what the majority wants.

I know several people who stopped hunting because of ar rules. my daughter and dad included. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE RESULTS OF A POLL BY TPW. they would probably never tell us tho.

My grandpa and a very close friend of mine that had hunted with me for 15 years stopped hunting deer because of them too. Sad

My neighbors on both properties I've owned lived on their land for the past 60 years.

Both of them are huge, huge fans of ARs. Literally said there were almost no bucks at all until they passed the rule and now there are big bucks everywhere.

I agree with them. But I should qualify that my land is in an area where people follow the laws, so they're more likely to work than in some other areas that aren't in the north, south, or west parts of Texas.

Id say get rid of them if everybody wasn't shooting every 4pt in the woods. I like em. Don't have a problem with em. Now I don't see any baby bucks in camp anymore

Yep, East Texas is the only place in Texas where game laws are broken.

Age minimum would be the obvious reason for a width minimum. Age is unable to enforce because of the inability of most hunters to accurately judge a deer's age. (Myself included on many occasions) Second best is an antler restriction that is not a 100% valid measure of maturity. I wouldn't even say 85%. It is easier to enforce, thus the rule. Personally, meat hunters could still tag a buck given an extra day or two in stand (including the unbranched rule), but they would be way more likely to tag a trophy. Just a bonus to the meat hunter. Not one they care much about, but if they were honest, I presume they would be pleased with the deer over a "basket rack."

I believe you are wrong about that.

WHY would people stop hunting that make no sense at all ......granted you might kill a buck but if thats what your only looking for your not going to get it by killing the first 4 point that walks out !
AR's have there good points and bad for sure but the one thing you can count on is more laws in the future that might further limit what you can take IMHO!

Slippery slope. I love the protection of the bucks and growth of the deer herd. The growth of the herd in my area is the problem. It is getting to be to many deer and you can not kill any doe unless you belong to the local WMA coop. Then you only get a doe permit for every 200 acres in my area. The taking of spikes helps on over all herd numbers but does little for the ratio when you are limited on doe harvest. So either you do not shoot spikes and have high numbers of bucks/deer or you shoot all spikes and have bad ratios. If you are not a member of the WMA coop you can not kill any does in my area, that is a major issue around me. No one is a member and not does are being killed. It resulted in a 17% fawn crop this year with more rain than last year. Last year was 24%. With no does being taken and we get into an above average rainfall for several years you can see where this is headed.

I can't speak for others but my friend and grandpa stopped hunting deer because they did not want to be a criminal because of an honest mistake. They are up in years and their eyes aren't what they used to be. Of course according to Cameron everybody here breaks the law anyway so I guess they should just shoot, measure, and discard. (which by the way does happen, ALOT)

I was tired of my neighbors shooting anything that moved.

were they breaking any laws or just not hunting the way you wanted them to?

ARs work - all these big East Texas bucks we've seen taken and on trail cams in the past few years prove that.

I'd like to see a study on the average age of bucks harvested in the Pineywoods before and after ARs were implemented. No doubt there has been a significant increase.

But do you think it would pass on a public vote where everybody that buys a license would vote on it? That is the question of the thread. I personally think the majority would vote no, by a landslide.