In Texas, we can kill spikes and bucks with an inside spread of 13"... Not a bad rule I think there are more big bucks killed on my lease now that we have to let them grow. But, it sure makes it tough whether to take the shot or not. I have heard of people getting fined $500-2000 for killing illegal deer when sometimes it is only 1/4" small. So a buddy of mine was asking if he thinks this tall 4x4 is legal.. I think yes, but there is a possibility it is too small... He wants to get an opinion from a few people because he is going to bowhunt for him this weekend and he wants to know from yall... What do you guys think?
wow, so you are saying that 12 3/4" is illegal and 13" is legal, that is hard to judge by eye especially from a distance. I would definatly always leave some cushion there.
Yeah but this is East Texas... Out of 10 members the widest deer killed on my lease was 15.5" in the last 4 years... The majority of em are right at 13.. Unless you have a huge foodplot and feed these deer year round, they don't get huge.. This is a giant for around here.. Now South/West Texas, this is average.
You need to use some self tapping screws and screw a yardstick to that feeder. Give you something to go by. lol
I think he looks like he's got 13" of inside spread. As far as the inside spread antler restriction rule, it's just another example of how in the overall realm, TX's hunting regulations leave more than a little bit to be desired. A better system would be the points to a side system, as a hunter can tell whether or not a deer has at least 4 points to a side, but the inside spread is a gamble. Sorta like saying you're not allowed to shoot any pregnant does in January....who the hell knows which ones are pregnant and which aren't???
I like the AK combination of these ideas for moose; they can be 50" OR have 4 brow points to be legal. In this case for deer they could have a 13" spread or 4 points on the main beam to be legal. That way if you weren't sure of one you could use the other, and if you weren't sure of either, you don't shoot. Still gets at the same management objective and gives the hunter a better basis for determination. Also helps with the size variation by zone that the OP was mentioning; just go by point count in East TX.
As to the OP; I wouldn't do it. He's inside the ears. He might touch 13" outside spread but he's not going to make it on INSIDE spread.
I did several calcs and he'd be too close for me to take the shot at a 13" minimum. Depending on the mass, he's somewhere between 11 3/4 and 13 3/4.
i hear ya on that. i hunt around woodville and colmisneil in east texas i have that same problem and have had to let a few walk when i didnt want to. what part of east texas do you hunt?
