Anterless Deer Requirements???
So this is my second year hunting and my first year getting doe tags. I couldn't take any time off work so I am going out Saturday to my cousin's farm. I am very excited because last year I saw several doe that strolled by me as if they knew I didn't have a tag for them.
My question though, is if there are any restrictions on size or anything, like how a buck has to have so many points. (I know a deer with antlers both of which less than 3 inches is considered anterless) I read through the PA Hunting digest that came with my license, I looked at the PAGC website and looked over this site and saw nothing. This may seem like a stupid question to some of you who have grown up hunting but I didn't have that luxury so I am trying to learn the right way to do all this. I would hate to mistakenly break the law/make an unethical kill because I didn't know any better.
Thank you
Re: Anterless Deer Requirements???
There is no size requirement, just antlerless. If you are concerned about size, usually the doe leading the rest is the oldest and biggest. Also deer that are alone are usually young, small deer. Plus deer that are alone are hard to judge size without another deer to compare it to. Good luck.
Re: Anterless Deer Requirements???
No size requirement. Anterless starts Sat. Dec. 3
Re: Anterless Deer Requirements???
Re: Anterless Deer Requirements???
Just a heads up, button bucks are usually alone this time of year. You can shoot them, as they count as antler less deer. If you want to let them grow a couple of years then look hard at the loners foreheads to make sure that they are button bucks and decide accordingly.
Re: Anterless Deer Requirements???
No requirements, but I'll make a suggestion. Shoot the little ones, they taste better. Bring a brown marker in case you need to color in some spots.*
*kidding about that last part
Re: Anterless Deer Requirements???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NShortino
No requirements, but I'll make a suggestion. Shoot the little ones, they taste better.
Agreed. Think Veal when they are that small.
I usually go for the mid sized one if there is a few. 2 year old doe is perfect size and quantity of meat with taste.
Re: Anterless Deer Requirements???
Well, unless I read the hunting and trapping digest wrong, there is one callout I can think of. Be careful because if a deer has a spike on one side and no antler on the other, I believe this is not considered antlered or antlerless, thus protected. (page 39)
An antlerless deer will remain defined as a deer without antlers, or a deer with antlers both of which are less than three inches in length.
A protected deer is one not defined as an antlered deer or an antlerless deer.
I know it might sound picky but I did see a deer this year with one spike, that was very tough to see, on one side, and no antler on the other. I almost shot it, thinking it was a doe. It was walking toward me so I was very patient as it walked closer. At it turned it's head I caught a glimpse of the spike. In later discussion, most people said it was antlerless but as I read the book, that does not seem to be the case.
Re: Anterless Deer Requirements???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pector55
Well, unless I read the hunting and trapping digest wrong, there is one callout I can think of. Be careful because if a deer has a spike on one side and no antler on the other, I believe this is not considered antlered or antlerless, thus protected. (page 39)
An antlerless deer will remain defined as a deer without antlers, or a deer with antlers both of which are less than three inches in length.
A protected deer is one not defined as an antlered deer or an antlerless deer.
I think it's safe to assume that a deer with only 1 spike less than 3 inches is still considered antlerless. Unless it is a unicorn, it still has both antlers, but one is not visible (probably broken), and that antler would measures 0 inches. Since 0 is 'less than 3 inches', and the other was also less than 3 inches, the deer would legally be 'antlerless'.
The only time your scenario would be true is if it actually had only 1 central antler (like a unicorn), which was less than 3 inches. If that was the case, I'd probably still shoot it anyway, because no one would believe you without any proof, and it's enough of a gray area that I doubt you'd run into any trouble. Although I heard you're cursed if you kill a unicorn, so I might think twice.
Re: Anterless Deer Requirements???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NShortino
I think it's safe to assume that a deer with only 1 spike less than 3 inches is still considered antlerless. Unless it is a unicorn, it still has both antlers, but one is not visible (probably broken), and that antler would measures 0 inches. Since 0 is 'less than 3 inches', and the other was also less than 3 inches, the deer would legally be 'antlerless'.
The only time your scenario would be true is if it actually had only 1 central antler (like a unicorn), which was less than 3 inches. If that was the case, I'd probably still shoot it anyway, because no one would believe you without any proof, and it's enough of a gray area that I doubt you'd run into any trouble. Although I heard you're cursed if you kill a unicorn, so I might think twice.
I bring it up because I saw one with a spike that was about 6" high on one side and on the other, it came up and appeared to be curled back toward his head. Technically, it's not antlerless by the definition in the digest.
It wasn't a unicorn. I knew that right away because there were zero Obama/Biden stickers on it.
