Will your Deer Unit be Bucks only or Unlimited Anterless for 2016?

[HD]

Will your Deer Unit be Bucks only or Unlimited Anterless for 2016?

http://mnbowhunters.org/2016/06/06/will-your-deer-unit-be-bucks-only-or-unlimited-anterless-for-2016/

[Cody Gruchow]

Some areas where numbers are down need to be bucks only. But going to unlimited does in other areas just because they have more doesn't make sense. They try to experiment way to much.  If it's not broke don't fix it. They all ready tried there intensive harvest in the area where our farm is in northern mn and screwed the numbers up bad. Now they are starting to rebound and they want to thin them down again. Makes no sense

[Dakota Dude]

So if my unit was unlimited does does that mean I could buy a gun any deer tag and a bonus doe tag for archery?

[HD]

So if my unit was unlimited does does that mean I could buy a gun any deer tag and a bonus doe tag for archery?

Im not sure if they have the multi season tag anymore...  I'll have to look. Otherwise, you would have to buy a rifle tag and a bow tag, use one for your buck and one for a doe....if you are in a area that allows the taking of more than one deer.

[Dakota Dude]

Thanks HD, I asked a dealer in my unit and he said you usually can but it changes every year so just wait for the new proclamation.

[HD]

Yup, I looked....and didn't find much.
I didn't see the multi season tag, but I saw a season upgrade tag (not sure what that is yet)
Your contact is right though....they change the rules every year, and it's hard to keep track of.
I usually hunt all three seasons....and it gets confusing.
I have a friend that works at the DNR, and I'll let you know when I hear something.

[Dakota Dude]

Thanks HD so for sure I could buy a bow tag and just shoot a doe if I plan on shooting a buck with my gun tag. Im out of stater so a bow tag is $165 but I see the "bonus doe" tag looks to be $80 so it would be good if I could just buy that.

[HD]

The way I see it right now, you would have to buy both the rifle tag, and the bow tag. You are only allowed one buck in the state. But you could then use the bow tag as a doe tag if the area allows you to do so.

Unless......(here's the part that gets sticky) if you are in a rifle zone that has doe management tags available, you could shoot a doe with your bow during the rifle season time zone.

So, If you want an exact answer, I would need to know where you are hunting, zone, and area.

I know......clear as mud.....Sorry...

[Cody Gruchow]

A bonus tag is only good for a managed(2 deer limit) or intensive harvest area(5 deer) You need to have your bow or gun license in order to buy a bonus tag. If you use your primary lisence on a doe then it's been filled and you can no longer shoot a buck. Bow or gun. That's how I interpret the regs. Once the primary tag has been used(your initial license that comes with a tag) then it's been considered filled for all weapons. If you filled your initial tag with a bow and decide you want to gun hunt as well you get a tag with the license but it's not valid.(had a dnr tell me that a couple years ago) That's why people buy bonus tags if available for those areas, so they can shoot a doe and still have a tag to use on a buck.

[deadeye]

I think Cody has it right.  I simply buy all three, Bow, Rifle and Muzzleloader and apply for a doe permit for the Rifle and Muzzleloader.  Of course, if i use the archery tag on a doe (and don't have a doe permit) i'm SOL if i see a buck later.  This wasn't an issue when the area i hunt was intensive harvest but it's been a lottery area for the past few years.  I do a lot of party hunting (bow and rifle) and being i typically am hunting when others are, we generally use their tags first which allows me to continue hunting (alone) throughout the seasons.  I did not tag a deer last year and was able to bow hunt through the end of the season.