Just read that the CAB is considering changing the statewide deer season to February 10 but eliminating the 10 days closed in December. If this passes it will turn out that gun hunters ended up with 10 extra days from a few years ago whereas bowhunters have the same days and lost the 15th through the 24th of October which arguably are better for bowhunting than the first 10 days of February. Plus gun hunters can take advantage of 100 yard feeding out of site rules which are of little use to bowhunters.

How are they going to try and limit deer, and then extend season? Pretty dumb to me.

I haven't heard any info on what the start of bow season would be yet. Hopefully since it would be statewide, they would make the bow opener Oct. 15 for everyone. Only problem with that is the dog hunter's association will raise immortal hell because we would get 10 extra days. If they have to keep the same amount of days I would rather give up the days in February. Hell, I wish they would bring bow season in October 1 or the first Saturday in October.

Me, too, Shaw. First or second Saturday in October and done with it. Done with it.

I would love to see the 2nd Sat in Oct be the bow opener each year.

If nothing else it would be set and everyone would know it. Instead of Tuesday one year and Sunday the next and Wednesday the next, it would be X-day -- second Saturday in October, just like Tennessee's is the last Saturday of September -- and be done with it. I think Florida's south zone opener is the last Saturday in July or first Saturday in August each year, however the dates work out.

It's easier for everyone and SO WHAT if we lose 1-2 days this year but gain them next. That's how it rolls.

The season opens either October 15th or October 25th. Yep, very complicated.

The 15th or 25th may not be on a Saturday. THAT's the entire point. Put it on the day, not the date, and be done with it.

Same with turkey season. Not everyone gets to take off work or school when the season opens in the middle of the week.

FIRST Saturday in October.

So, does that mean the season dates should only be open on weekends and school holidays and closed during the week?

Quit being a jackweed. It's not difficult to set the season opening date on a Saturday and be done with it.

Call it what you want, it's your logic.

I'm not the only one who believes that or wants a set DAY to open, not a roving date.

Needs to open sooner not later in hillbilly land. I think it's still the 3rd Saturday in September just across the state line in Franklin Co. TN.

Gun season always opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Why not have the bow opener on a set Saturday, Brad?

From my understanding from the ol' timers, it was because folks were laying out of school. May or may not be any truth to that. Lol. Having bow season on a set date just doesn't bother me. However, if it doesn't have any negative effects on the resource and a majority of bowhunters want, then so be it. It's just not that big of a deal for me to jump up and down about.

[quote=N2TRKYS} it was because folks were laying out of school. May or may not be any truth to that. Lol. [/quote]

I can almost guarantee you that's the truth! Plenty of folks on here would probably do the same if that's how it fell.

I've always heard that as well, Brad. But since the youth gun season starts on a Friday and ends on a Monday now, looks like they don't view it as an issue now. I really wouldn't care if they brought it in October 1 every year. I'm just trying to get some more days on the front end.

Maybe that'll happen. If they could make it cooler that time of year, I'd be for that.

I would go hunting Oct 1 if they let us! But I might wear shorts!

I'm not an old timer, however it did in fact used to open the Friday before Thanksgiving. It was changed in the mid 80's by request of some school teachers at a CAB meeting in Gulf Shores. I was at that meeting. I also laid out of school to go on opening day a time or two. Who'd a thunk it!

This^^^ We used to skip school on the gun opener every year.

Daddy use to let me lay out the last day of the season when I was younger. So, I guess the last day should have been on a Saturday, too.

I'd like it if was September 27th. So I could hunt TN's opening day and then hunt AL's opener the next day. It's a dream world but I'd love it. The earlier the better imho.

A teacher friend of mine in Michigan told me once that on the opening day of deer season up there, you could expect the majority of kids who hunted to skip school. Their season runs mid Sept thru Jan 1. Not a lot different than ours in duration.

Yes it kind of sucked waiting till the 25th for us this year. The first of season was about the only time I had to hunt. I figure they will say Oct 25 for everyone or start the 15th and take out 10 days somewhere.

to hell with the dog hunters lol...