I'm going deer hunting for the first time this weekend near Lampasas and Lampasas County is an antler restriction county. Can someone explain to me how this works? Here's what I get from the TPWD website:

quote:

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For counties with Special Antler Restrictions, a legal buck deer has:

1. at least one unbranched antler, or
2. an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. The inside spread requirement does not apply to any buck that has an unbranched antler.

Not more than one buck with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater may be taken.

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My questions:

1) What is an "unbranched antler"? Is that what most refer to as a spike?
2) What is "inside spread" and how can you determine that it's at least 13" from a long distance?
3) The qualifier at the end confuses me. I'm allowed two bucks but can't have more than one with an inside spread greater than 13" but can't shoot one with an inside spread less than 13". Does that mean I can shoot one greater than 13" and one "unbranched" (or two unbranched but not two > 13"?

Sorry for the rookie questions, but I'd like to make sure I'm legal.

1) What is an "unbranched antler"? Is that what most refer to as a spike? yes
2) What is "inside spread" and how can you determine that it's at least 13" from a long distance? widest portion inside the main beams. It can be estimated by seeing the inside of the main beam clears the ear tips when the deer is alert
3) The qualifier at the end confuses me. I'm allowed two bucks but can't have more than one with an inside spread greater than 13" but can't shoot one with an inside spread less than 13". Does that mean I can shoot one greater than 13" and one "unbranched" (or two unbranched but not two > 13" ? one buck >13”, ‘one spike’; or two ‘spikes’.


http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/game_management/deer/antler_restrictions/

[This message has been edited by Max06 (edited 10/31/2011 12:56p).]

Thanks for the info. I just found a blog that explains it pretty well (and confirms what you said).

blog.venadooutdoors.com/tag/facebook/



[This message has been edited by Hoss (edited 10/31/2011 12:58p).]

1) Yes. Unbranched = only 1 point on the entire side. The other side can have many points, but one side can only have 1.
2) This is where the ears come in. The rule of thumb is that if the spread is wider than the deer's ears are at the alert position then it is greater than 13". But if it is in question, do not shoot.
3) Exactly: Does that mean I can shoot one greater than 13" and one "unbranched" (or two unbranched but not two > 13"

Also a "point" is defined as 1" or longer. I killed a curved antler "spike" last year, which upon ground inspection had what appeared to be defined points on each antler, but neither were near 1" in length. As a youth I would have been happy to call this guy a "4-pointer", but under the regs he had unbranched antler(s).

dont shoot *****you wouldn't hang on the wall

^ BS. There's a lot more to hunting than trophies.

Culling is essential to a healthy population. I won't hang a doe on the wall, nor a spike, but I sure as heck will kill'em and eat'em. They taste better than a big ole wall-hanger anyway.

quote:

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dont shoot *****you wouldn't hang on the wall

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I couldn't care less about antler hunting. I want venison; not antlers to hang on the wall.

Same here. If I come home with nothing more than a doe (or preferably three) then I'll be plenty happy. It's the meat I want. However, if nice set of antlers comes walking out I can't say I won't shoot him.

If you are after does, make sure to take along some good binoculars. Button bucks, this years buck fawns, can easily be mistaken for does as they are larger than doe fawns. You can see the little nubs of antlers starting to form on them.

Good luck and post some pictures.

You've gotta be really quick with a tape measure.

As long as a button buck still has velvet covering the bud, he's considered an antlerless deer. The rules specifically state that an antlered deer must have a hardened antler protruding thru the skin. A nubbin buck will have velvet covering the bottons, which means he's still technically 'antlerless'.

I am well aware of ALL game laws, but most people frown on shooting button bucks. You are taking out future bucks before they have a chance to show any potential. A doe is a doe, but shooting a button buck is bad management practice.

I agree its bad form to shoot a button, but its not exactly the end of the world. The mortality on 1, 2, and even 3 year old bucks is really high so chances are his dumb ass would get killed some other way before maturity. ...and even if he does live a lot of yearling bucks wander and relocate new core areas.

In short, don't shoot button bucks, but don't lose sleep if you accidentally do.


[This message has been edited by Sean98 (edited 10/31/2011 9:41p).]

Good to know on button bucks. I would have just considered it a spike.

I don't know anyone that intentionally takes button bucks, but I have come accross several people who have 'lost' them once they discovered that the doe they shot was actually a buck because they were scared of the consequences.

If you accidentally take one, don't worry about it. Still uses an antlerless tag, etc. IMHO taking a yearling doe or a yearling buck out of the gene pool is going to have little long-term effect. THe buck was obviously a late fawn as he hasn't put up solid antlers yet, thus he's going to be behing the 8 ball from the get-go.

If you find a good recipe for antlers, let us know.

I will shoot a good one if it presents itself, but the best venison to eat, is not the big old bucks. Stay with yearlings or doe.