Can Mississippi be saved?

[Problem Child]

This is our PRIMITIVE WEAPONS...

"Primitive firearms" for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double barreled muzzle-loading rifles of at least .38 caliber; single shot, breech loading, cartridge rifles (.38 caliber or larger) of a kind and type manufactured prior to 1900, and replicas, reproductions or reintroductions of those type rifles; and single or double-barreled muzzle-loading, shotguns with single ball or slug. All muzzle-loading Primitive Firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with either percussion caps or #209 shotgun primers or flintlock ignition. Breech loading single shot rifles must have exposed hammers and use metallic cartridges. Cartridges may be loaded either with black powder or modern smokeless powder. Scopes of any magnification are allowed on primitive weapons. Sidearms are not allowed during primitive weapon season."

Also,for the last two years,a youth could use any weapon during ML season.I'm hearing from people that bump elbows with legislators that there WILL NOT be a ML season in the 2010 hunting season.The reason is of course "we need more deer killed".
Why they won't use their little brains and up the bag limit is beyond me.The only thing that might save our season is the revenue that is generated from the primitive weapon's special permit.Is there anything we could do to save our season?

 

[bigbore442001]

May I ask a blunt question?

Why do more deer need to be killed? If I am not mistaken, many deer are taken in the Magnolia State. Compare the harvest statistics with a state like Massachusetts with that of Mississippi.

 

[Bill/Ms.]

Because, quite frankly, more deer are being born in this state every year than are being removed. If you want to experience a real exercise in frustration, try to talk to the board that runs the MDWFP about anything to do with hunting seasons and regulations. I have done this several times in the past- the last time was about ten years ago when a small game hunting regulation was written that basically outlawed any rifle larger than .22 rimfire for hunting small game. Getting that rewritten to not exclude small caliber muzzleloaders took two board meetings, three "discussion group" meetings, and me re-writing the regulation to include small caliber muzzleloaders.
My personal opinion is that in the next few years we will have a sixty day deer season in which you will be allowed to use whatever firearm you choose to use. This is basically what I do now. I use the muzzleloader when any firearms season is open. The "primative weapons" season was compromised long ago when the door was opened for the scope mounted zip guns and saboted pistol bullets.
Go ahead and use your muzzleloader during any open firearms season.

Be Well,
Bill Ridout
President
Mississippi Dixie Muzzleloaders

 

[ke4usl]

Run some of 'em a little to the east. I hunt Pickens county, Alabama, just east of Columbus, MS, and there ain't squat to shoot so far this year . . . :shake:

Thanksgiving weekend was silent as a tomb.

 

[Problem Child]

Because, quite frankly, more deer are being born in this state every year than are being removed. If you want to experience a real exercise in frustration, try to talk to the board that runs the MDWFP about anything to do with hunting seasons and regulations. I have done this several times in the past- the last time was about ten years ago when a small game hunting regulation was written that basically outlawed any rifle larger than .22 rimfire for hunting small game. Getting that rewritten to not exclude small caliber muzzleloaders took two board meetings, three "discussion group" meetings, and me re-writing the regulation to include small caliber muzzleloaders.
My personal opinion is that in the next few years we will have a sixty day deer season in which you will be allowed to use whatever firearm you choose to use. This is basically what I do now. I use the muzzleloader when any firearms season is open. The "primative weapons" season was compromised long ago when the door was opened for the scope mounted zip guns and saboted pistol bullets.
Go ahead and use your muzzleloader during any open firearms season.

Be Well,
Bill Ridout
President
Mississippi Dixie Muzzleloaders

Wow.....I had no idea we had a Muzzleloading organization.PM sent

 

[JEB/Ms]

Merry Christmas to all. Pawbill, good to see a post from you, I hope this year was good to you and next year even better. I believe that the board that you mentioned is just carrying out the will of the majority. I haven't been able to hunt (or shoot) for sometime now but the last time I took to the woods was on a WMA. I would venture to say that there was not another sidelock on the property. The 45-70 handi rifle was the gun of choice with a few handi rifles chambered for that .50 caliber handgun bullet thrown in to satisfy those that are into that "mine is bigger than yours" thing some folks have. Almost all were scoped. I cannot for the life of me see anything primative there but our state says that it is. No one could understand why I was still shooting "that old thing". Even the modern muzzleloaders have fallen from favor. There are 3 Wal-marts around me and all still have a rack full that didn't sell this year. There has not been one sidelock offered at any of these for the last several years.
If the MDWFP is so concerned about thinning the herd for their own good and for the public safety then why did they stop the controlled bow hunt in Oxford? That town is over run with deer. The bunny huggers got together and put a stop to it. There were those 3 policemen that were trying to help with the overpopulation while on patrol using the spotlights on their cruisers and some small caliber weapons. I don't know what line of work they are in now, but that's another story all together.
Enjoy what we have now, 'cause I think it is only going to get worse.

Rgr 273. . .
2 years ago during deer season I went to Reform, Al. to buy a dog. We saw several deer along the way, 2 were on the tail gates of lucky hunter's trucks. That's some pretty country, don't know if that is the same county as you.

Hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
JEB/Ms

 

[Problem Child]

Merry Christmas to all. Pawbill, good to see a post from you, I hope this year was good to you and next year even better. I believe that the board that you mentioned is just carrying out the will of the majority. I haven't been able to hunt (or shoot) for sometime now but the last time I took to the woods was on a WMA. I would venture to say that there was not another sidelock on the property. The 45-70 handi rifle was the gun of choice with a few handi rifles chambered for that .50 caliber handgun bullet thrown in to satisfy those that are into that "mine is bigger than yours" thing some folks have. Almost all were scoped. I cannot for the life of me see anything primative there but our state says that it is. No one could understand why I was still shooting "that old thing". Even the modern muzzleloaders have fallen from favor. There are 3 Wal-marts around me and all still have a rack full that didn't sell this year. There has not been one sidelock offered at any of these for the last several years.
If the MDWFP is so concerned about thinning the herd for their own good and for the public safety then why did they stop the controlled bow hunt in Oxford? That town is over run with deer. The bunny huggers got together and put a stop to it. There were those 3 policemen that were trying to help with the overpopulation while on patrol using the spotlights on their cruisers and some small caliber weapons. I don't know what line of work they are in now, but that's another story all together.
Enjoy what we have now, 'cause I think it is only going to get worse.

Rgr 273. . .
2 years ago during deer season I went to Reform, Al. to buy a dog. We saw several deer along the way, 2 were on the tail gates of lucky hunter's trucks. That's some pretty country, don't know if that is the same county as you.

Hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
JEB/Ms

Same thing on the WMA I hunt and you can really tell that the 45/70's and all of the "new" hunters are taking it's toll on the deer population.But,I guess that's what the Insurance Companys...er I mean the Legislators want.
I'm afraid this is going to spread to other states like a bad virus.
Well maybe it's a good thing.If this keeps up our deer population will be so low that the MDWFP will have to ban all modern firearms for deer hunting and we'll have archery and primitive weapon seasons only. :grin:

 

[rabjr]

Because, quite frankly, more deer are being born in this state every year than are being removed. If you want to experience a real exercise in frustration, try to talk to the board that runs the MDWFP about anything to do with hunting seasons and regulations. I have done this several times in the past- the last time was about ten years ago when a small game hunting regulation was written that basically outlawed any rifle larger than .22 rimfire for hunting small game. Getting that rewritten to not exclude small caliber muzzleloaders took two board meetings, three "discussion group" meetings, and me re-writing the regulation to include small caliber muzzleloaders.
My personal opinion is that in the next few years we will have a sixty day deer season in which you will be allowed to use whatever firearm you choose to use. This is basically what I do now. I use the muzzleloader when any firearms season is open. The "primative weapons" season was compromised long ago when the door was opened for the scope mounted zip guns and saboted pistol bullets.
Go ahead and use your muzzleloader during any open firearms season.

Be Well,
Bill Ridout
President
Mississippi Dixie Muzzleloaders

Boy does a lot of this sound familar. We have roughly 5000 to 6000 resident hunters in the State with a herd that shows no sign of slowing down. For far to long we had a woman Biologist who didn't hunt, knew nothing about hunting, just crunched numbers. She just retired last year. Most resident hunters bought one tag and after filling it didn't hunt after that, according to her. Most waited for bucks when Does need killing. Her answer was to cut our season in half and the first week was State land anterless only. She figured with less time, hunters would shoot the first thing they saw.

These are supposed to be smart people in charge but when you try to talk to them at the yearly meetings, you really find most are dumber than a rock.

My State alone should have the entire month of November as a Muzzleloader season. If you check in 2 Anterless you should be given a free either sex tag. The entire month of December should be our shotgun season and the same thing, check 2 antlerless, you get a either sex tag free.

It's simple, you want guys in the woods to take care of the deer herd, you need to give them incentive.

Also,for the last two years,a youth could use any weapon during ML season

This I do not agree with at all. You want a special two day or week long youth hunt before the regular season, by all means but if its a ML hunt they use ML's. If it's a gun hunt then let them use any gun including an ML.

 

[guncrank]

sounds like your primitive season went the way of N.Y. Anything goes. There are those who are trying to get an early primitive only season.I wish them luck.

 

[Swampman]

I don't believe in special sesons or hunts. I'd rather just have a deer season and let folks use whatever they like. In FL the hunting/fishing regs are so complicated you feel like staying home.

 

[Maestro]

I don't believe in special sesons or hunts. I'd rather just have a deer season and let folks use whatever they like. In FL the hunting/fishing regs are so complicated you feel like staying home.

Here in PA it would be a joke to be out on public land in general firearms season with a bow or a flintlock!
I won't even go on public land with a modern rifle during the general season... you'll see orange in every direction you look! :shocked2:

 

[Swampman]

I've been to PA and I saw orange everywhere even on private land.

I've hunted many times with flintlocks & stick bows during rifle season. Hunting is mostly about herd reduction. Figure out the numbers and let folks choose their weapons.

Freedom with the least infringement being the goal.

 

[Problem Child]

I don't believe in special sesons or hunts. I'd rather just have a deer season and let folks use whatever they like. In FL the hunting/fishing regs are so complicated you feel like staying home.

I really miss the "real" muzzleloading season.It was a quiet time and the deer could relax for a couple of weeks.They(deer) would actually come out during daylight hours.If the state needs more deer taken,they can up the bag limit.I believe special seasons are needed,if not,you loose tradition,whether it's a bow or muzzleloader.

 

[Problem Child]

Update....
Two new bills have passed the Wildlife Committee.

HB1282- This bill would shorten the bow and arrow season to October 31. A new PW season would be created on November 1. This new November season would allow crossbow, bow & arrow, and PRIMITIVE WEAPON as defined by current regulations. The net effect would be a loss of up to 19 archery only days (by anyone's definition of archery) in November. As a side note the bill would also allow a gun season without dogs to take the place of the December PW season.
Remember this still allows the Breech loaders and although on the surface it sounds sorta good I think not because here's the other bill.......


HB1140- Will give the MDWFP the lattitude to have a gun season and PW season to run concurrently.

I think they're smoking something. :grin:

 

[MDK_WV]

I agree with you. I think like a Libertarian when it comes to game laws. In my opinion the DNR should crunch the numbers, establish the season and bag limits and then let us decide what weapon we want to use. With baiting allowed here in WV, the weapon is really immaterial to what you hunt with.

Opinions are like elbows, most people have one or two.