Background - I recently harvested my first deer (a spike) with a muzzleloader at 40 yds. (CVA hawkin i buiilt from a kit, 0.490 round ball with 0.10 patch, 80g FFg goex). I ask this question here in the hunting forum because I only hunt blackpowder during all legal seasons in virginia.
My question is as follows, in virginia you are allowed 6 deer a year, maximum of three antlered but all 6 may be antlerless. however, during different seasons, different counties, and different days of the season there are restrictions about taking antlerless deer. My question is as follows, if the state DNR feels that it would be ok for the herd for each hunter to harvest 6 deer a year and that all 6 could be antlerless, what do they care about when I harvest them. my predicament this year was that i had been hunting quite often and an ethical shot had not presented itself besides a small 6 point that i missed (first shot at a deer period). I have had several chances to harvest does throughout the season but had to pass because they were not allowed on that particular day. So i waited for a buck and the spike was the first that presented itself. Again, i would prefer to harvest a mature buck or a doe (and several doe had passed my stand during the morning before i shot the spike), but with the restrictions the way they are and the season winding down, what choice do i have. thoughts?? :hmm:
