Dumb hunting regulations

[Art Eatman]

Ever notice how farmers and ranchers don't talk a lot about how and what they do on their own land?

If I ever admit to anything, I guarantee you that the statute of limitations ran out decades ago.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Aren't there states back east that have no hunting on Sundays regulations

Well where I am that was part of the "blue laws"..., no sales of alcoholic beverages, and no hunting, on Sundays. That changed for my state and my county is the only county in the entire United States and territories where there are no privately owned stores that sell Hard Liquor. County facilities only! But you can have a beer & wine store. (and the county doesn't understand why neighboring counties make so much more money than here..., )
Now as for Sunday hunting, on certain Sundays on private land, yes...., I think it's like four Sundays, otherwise, the other 48 are a "no no".

LD

 

[DeepSouth]

In my opinion every law or regulation telling me what I can hunt on my own land, when I can hunt own my one land, what I can hunt with on my own land, how many shots I can have in my gun while hunting own my own land, or what type of animal I can hunt* on my own land. They are all dumb laws.

Basically I believe you should be able to hunt what you want, when you want, with whatever you want on your own property. If you want to squirrel hunt with a .50 cal in June on your property, knock yourself out.


*assuming it’s not an endangered animal, and I’m iffy on that... mainly because the Sasquatch was once on the endangered species list, though I’m not sure if it is now.

 

[buck460XVR]

Ever notice how farmers and ranchers don't talk a lot about how and what they do on their own land?

If I ever admit to anything, I guarantee you that the statute of limitations ran out decades ago.

So.........apparently, in your mindset, landowners are above the law, as long as they keep their mouth shut?
Why would it be any different for folks on public lands or private lands they hunt with permission or by lease?
So once again a moderator, so called administrator on a publicly read social media source, is suggesting and endorsing illegal hunting activities? Classy.
No wonder so many folks look at hunters and hunting with disgust. Thanks.
Public land, private land, breaking game laws makes you one thing......a poacher.
Bragging about it on social media makes one dumber than the dumb game regs.

Just sayin'.

 

[H&Hhunter]

In my opinion every law or regulation telling me what I can hunt on my own land, when I can hunt own my one land, what I can hunt with on my own land, how many shots I can have in my gun while hunting own my own land, or what type of animal I can hunt* on my own land. They are all dumb laws.

Basically I believe you should be able to hunt what you want, when you want, with whatever you want on your own property. If you want to squirrel hunt with a .50 cal in June on your property, knock yourself out.


*assuming it’s not an endangered animal, and I’m iffy on that... mainly because the Sasquatch was once on the endangered species list, though I’m not sure if it is now.

Unlike the lords and ladies who own game shooting estates and mange said land and game by royal decree. In this country you own the land but you don’t own the wildlife. The state does and that is why you are subject to state wildlife regulations just like everybody else.

Can you possibly imagine what would happen if every two bit land owner was able to shoot everything and anything they wanted anytime they wanted? I’m guessing that the Sasquatch would be completely extinct by now if that was the case.

 

[Art Eatman]

buck, I'm not advocating anything. I'm just commenting on human behavior that I've observed through the decades.

I'm teasiing: Don't go all Facebook judgemental, okay?

In 1943 my grandfather killed his one and only buck. In hindsight, I doubt that he even knew that he should have had a hunting license. I know that at age 14 in 1948, I'd never heard of such a thing. My grandfather's farm-boy hunting years were pre-college, in the 1890s. They didn't have licenses or seasons back then.

Didn't have income or sales taxes, either.

 

[DeepSouth]

Unlike the lords and ladies who own game shooting estates and mange said land and game by royal decree. In this country you own the land but you don’t own the wildlife. The state does and that is why you are subject to state wildlife regulations just like everybody else.

Can you possibly imagine what would happen if every two bit land owner was able to shoot everything and anything they wanted anytime they wanted? I’m guessing that the Sasquatch would be completely extinct by now if that was the case.

I’ll be honest, the main reason for my belief is quiet simple. I heard enough stories from my grandparents about hunting and eating during the depression to be very confident that had their parents obeyed today’s laws, or likely even their own, they would have literally starved to death.

I’ll also answer... “Can you possibly imagine what would happen if every two bit land owner was able to shoot everything and anything they wanted anytime they wanted?

I’m not sure my county even has a game warden, you certainly don’t see one unless you call him. So basically I don’t have to imagine it, it’s more or less what goes on now. I bet corn sales didn’t go up 10% when they legalized it for deer hunting because everyone was already useing it.

 

[Choctaw]

In my opinion every law or regulation telling me what I can hunt on my own land, when I can hunt own my one land, what I can hunt with on my own land, how many shots I can have in my gun while hunting own my own land, or what type of animal I can hunt* on my own land. They are all dumb laws.

Basically I believe you should be able to hunt what you want, when you want, with whatever you want on your own property. If you want to squirrel hunt with a .50 cal in June on your property, knock yourself out.


*assuming it’s not an endangered animal, and I’m iffy on that... mainly because the Sasquatch was once on the endangered species list, though I’m not sure if it is now.

I'm a landowner in Texas. The critters belong to the state, not to me.

 

[.308 Norma]

That changed for my state and my county is the only county in the entire United States and territories where there are no privately owned stores that sell Hard Liquor. County facilities only!

Thanks for explaining what "blue laws" are, and where the no hunting on Sundays regulations came from, Dave. However, there are no privately owned stores that sell Hard Liquor in the entire state of Idaho. In Idaho, Hard Liquor is only sold by the bottle at "Idaho State Liquor Dispensary" stores. And by the drink, at bars that have a difficult to obtain Liquor License. Beer and wine is sold even in grocery and hardware stores if they have the proper licenses.
On the other hand, hunting on Sundays is legal everywhere in Idaho. The fact is, on Sundays during deer and elk season, I can occasionally be found somewhere in the hills hunting with one of the Deacons of our church.

 

[DeepSouth]

I'm a landowner in Texas. The critters belong to the state, not to me.

The same is true in Alabama and every other state in the US to the best of my knowledge.

It’s really simple, I believe a man should be able to buy himself and his family a decent size piece of land and live off of it. Unfortunately that simply isn’t possible in this day and age due in large part to hunting regulations.

It’s not something I care enough to get worked up about, it’s just my personal belief of the matter and it’s completely irrelevant because it’s not that way nor will it ever be again, short of an complete Governmental collapse and we look pretty sturdy, thankfully.

To the OP’s point the number one dumbest hunting law IMO is the 3 round limit for migratory birds. That’s the most pointless game law I can think of.

 

[George P]

In my opinion every law or regulation telling me what I can hunt on my own land, when I can hunt own my one land, what I can hunt with on my own land, how many shots I can have in my gun while hunting own my own land, or what type of animal I can hunt* on my own land. They are all dumb laws.

Basically I believe you should be able to hunt what you want, when you want, with whatever you want on your own property. If you want to squirrel hunt with a .50 cal in June on your property, knock yourself out.


*assuming it’s not an endangered animal, and I’m iffy on that... mainly because the Sasquatch was once on the endangered species list, though I’m not sure if it is now.

EXCEPT....Those animals do not belong to YOU; you do not own them, and if a game animal that falls under some particular regulation, violating that reg makes you simply a criminal; in some states that makes you a felon - and good bye hunting and guns forever.

 

[George P]

To the OP’s point the number one dumbest hunting law IMO is the 3 round limit for migratory birds. That’s the most pointless game law I can think of.

Again, this goes back to the days of market hunters; that said, if you can't hit your quarry with the first, second, or even third shot; what makes you think another 4 or 5 are? It is called hunting, not killing.

 

[Choctaw]

EXCEPT....Those animals do not belong to YOU; you do not own them, and if a game animal that falls under some particular regulation, violating that reg makes you simply a criminal; in some states that makes you a felon - and good bye hunting and guns forever.

Also, how long do you think game animals would last if there were no regulations? Not very long.

 

[George P]

Also, how long do you think game animals would last if there were no regulations? Not very long.

How long do you think the game would last?
Unrestricted hunting has caused extinction and severe decline in many critters here in the US............

 

[stillquietvoice]

Along with no job hunting we can't take fissurecats. They kill ground nesting birds like grouse, and pheasants leading to reduced numbers and shorter seasons with lower bag limits.

 

[DeepSouth]

Again, this goes back to the days of market hunters; that said, if you can't hit your quarry with the first, second, or even third shot; what makes you think another 4 or 5 are? It is called hunting, not killing.

The days of market hunting are over, repeal the law. It’s pointless.

I don’t really know what the hit ratio has to with how many shells are in my gun, unless you expect to hit 100%.

 

[DeepSouth]

Also, how long do you think game animals would last if there were no regulations? Not very long.

Just to clarify, I wouldn’t support “no regulations” I just believe you should be able to hunt however you want own your own land.

I personally don’t think that would have much impact in game numbers.

 

[Choctaw]

Just to clarify, I wouldn’t support “no regulations” I just believe you should be able to hunt however you want own your own land.

I personally don’t think that would have much impact in game numbers.

Okay, I must have misunderstood you. I thought you were advocating no restrictions (such as the elimination of seasons) which would lead to a decimated wildlife population. However, that isn’t what you said. My bad.

 

[Art Eatman]

As near as I can tell from reading about game laws around the country, the majority of them make good sense. As long as bag limits fit the population and the land's carrying capacity, all well and good. As an example, some states allow many deer to be killed; others limit the kill to two bucks. Seasons make sense; get the offspring weaned and able to live on their own; shoot bucks pretty much after they've done some breeding.

As far as the three-shell limit for migratory birds, the positive aspect is that it saves an inept shotgunner from wasting a bunch of money. Three misses on doves is cheaper than five or six misses.

I guess my main gripe is with the restrictions on cartridges. Bullet-makers' R&D has made the .223 useful for deer, within limits--the same sort of limits we ourselves impose on our handguns or lever guns shooting pistol cartridges. And after some 75 years of shooting rifles, I don't really understand "shotgun only" deer hunting regulations.

At any rate, I never saw any conflict with Texas game laws that kept me from some forty years of enjoying deer meat. Whether sitting around or sneaky snaking, sooner or later, there's Bambi. Always seemed easy enough. Never minded the cost of a license; it pays for wildlife biologists as well as the game wardens. The more licenses bought in a state, the more excise tax money comes back from US Fish & Wildlife. Win/win.

 

[jmorris]

As far as the three-shell limit for migratory birds, the positive aspect is that it saves an inept shotgunner from wasting a bunch of money. Three misses on doves is cheaper than five or six misses.

Is it wrong for me to be the first to complain about the 3 round limit, yet primarily use a shotgun that only holds two rounds, just so I can have two different chokes?

I’ll never forget taking a friend out to my Great Uncles farm to dove hunt when we were in high school. I loaned him a Stevens 12 ga that we both knew you could hold down the trigger and just cycle it, rifleman style. I had used it in the past because it was in my Grandmothers kitchen closet, never put more than one or two in it though, just to kill something I was told to.

There were a few other folks out there that day and I guess I didn’t tell him the rules nor did he learn about them himself, so he fills her up and the first group flys over him and it’s “bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam!” and the birds kept on flying by. A number of folks were laughing at that point and one fellow said “someone needs to get that boy a tree branch”.

These days they would just have “flamed” on the Internet....was funny though.

I guess it was my lack of knowledge and no internet back before it became just a “wall hanger” for me but I didn’t realize they were take down until a few years ago.

 

[Flintknapper]

I'm a landowner in Texas. The critters belong to the state, not to me.

TEXAS:

^^^^^ With one notable exception. Curiously...the 'State' does not claim ownership of Feral Hogs (even though they regulate certain aspects of transporting or keeping them).

You will not find the State accepting any responsibility for Feral Hogs.

Feral Hogs have been reclassified as 'Exotic Livestock' and as such... belong to the Land Owner on whose property they reside (certain requisites apply). Ownership is secured (whether you like it or not) when express 'control' of the animal is at play.

Texas Agriculture Code Section 161.002.

Sec. 161.002
Caretaker of Animal
(a)
A person is subject to this chapter as the caretaker of an animal and is presumed to control the animal if the person:
(1)
is the owner or lessee of the pen, pasture, or other place in which the animal is located and has control of that place; or
(2)
exercises care or control over the animal.
(b)
This section does not limit the care and control of an animal to any person.

^^^^^^ As written....IF you are the Land Owner and have 'control' of your place....then by default you own the Hogs. (Whether you want them or not).

Until...of course, they cross the fence-line and then your neighbor owns the hogs. Until...they come back...and become YOUR hogs again.

But in no wise do they belong to the State (unless on State Property).

 

[.308 Norma]

As an example, some states allow many deer to be killed; others limit the kill to two bucks.

Or one buck...that's the way it's been here in Idaho for a long time now. Unless the hunter is 16 or younger. Then they can shoot a doe, but again, only one.
I'm not saying one deer per hunter here in Idaho is a bad, or "dumb" regulation either. There used to be a lot more deer in Idaho than there are now. Human encroachment, and a few bad winters resulting in high winterkills have taken their tolls on our deer herds. Some folks claim the introduction of wolves into Idaho has also taken it's toll, along with the increased mountain lion population. But I'm not going to get into either of those theories.
All I know for sure is there's not as many deer here as there used to be, so I approve of the one deer per hunter regulation nowadays. If and when the deer population increases, I might change my mind.
Oh, and about that regulation that allows 16 and younger hunters to shoot does, I approve of that too. It gives young hunters a little better chance of getting something, thus keeping them enthused. Besides, we still got some of the meat from our daughter's and grandson's first deer anyway.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Most Game departments have too many politicians pulling the strings.
Florida's G&F Commission has more non-hunters on it than hunters. I'm sure they don't know much about adequate calibers for hunting.

If it makes you feel any better, Larry, Moe, and Curly are managing Alaska's resources. smh

One winter, they held an emergency registration hunt for cow moose only. Seems they were wiping out too much of the alfafa (or whatever) farmers' bails of hay (or whatever). Later that winter, we got a LOT more snow than normal (the town of Valdez had to call out the National Guard), and the moose population got hit hard. So fish and game started buying alfafa and hay from farmers to put out to feed the moose.

Two years ago, they had an "any caribou" hunt. So many cows were harvested that the following year (last year) they mde an emergency change to the regs one week prior to season opener that changed it back to bulls only AND limited the quota to something like 1500 caribou. But they had already issued something like 5-6000 tags. That season opened and closed pretty quickly.

Don't even get me started about the salmon.

 

[WestKentucky]

all the the crossbow rules that you can't have more them 200 pound pull the axle length is limited to. no dove hunting

We all know where this would go if the rule didn’t exist. Some jackwagon would build a ballista, strap a scope to it, and start skewering deer with it from 300 yards using broomsticks. (Kinda sounds like fun now that I’m thinking of it) a ballista could easily be made portable enough to take it to/from the field, and if supported by a central pivot point it could be made to be quite easily aimed as well.

So... Ky Laws as mentioned in the original post... the reg books go out of their way to discuss the use of poison tipped equipment, and establishes a maximum broadhead size. I agree with a minimum size for humane kills, but maximum??? Are we launching winnebagos through our archery equipment and I somehow missed it? No buckshot for deer... sooo.... somebody at some point made great big shot that was pretty effective on bucks... and that’s how buckshot got its name.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

However, there are no privately owned stores that sell Hard Liquor in the entire state of Idaho.

Yes but that's a "State" law...the point I was trying to make is that the only county, by the county's decision, that controls all liquor sales is my county, and actually they control ALL alcohol sales...the beer and wine stores must buy FROM the county warehouse although those stores are privately owned. Restaurants too must buy their beer and wine from the county. Brewpub? The brewpubs must "sell" the beer to the county, which then sells it back to the brewpub. I'd bet that the beer and wine stores in Idaho buy directly from the beer and wine distribution companies, not from the state?

LD