Limits on fish and game harvest

[MoCarp]

Many States have VERY liberal and antiquated harvest rules, how much it too much?

[MoCarp]

[MoCarp]

[MoCarp]

[Haris122]

Just my own opinion on this, but I feel like for fish where a mid teen size in inches is considered an average or slightly better size fish such as trout, bass, or your average sized channel catfish, the limit shouldn't really exceed 6. For typically smaller fish like Crappie and Bluegill I would say 10-12 fish would be a good daily cutoff. And for anything like 2-3 foot size flatheads or blue catfish it would be 2 fish. Big species or specimens like a 5 foot muskie, catfish, salmon, etc. etc, I would say would almost have to be a 1 fish ordeal. And of course in each of these instances, if said species grows slower, or is harder to get to that size I would go with an even lower limit. Any more than that, and I just don't see people really eating the majority of what they catch in a timely fashion, instead they're mainly just doing it for some photo shoot where they think they look cool. Granted, limits probably should get broadened for species that become too prolific at the expense of others due to being invasive or such.What I really don't get is the limits they have for non-game fish. They seem too big considering not every non-game species is as fast to replenish itself through natural reproduction as some others are. I feel like that too should become species dependent, but that's just my take on it. Half the time really I don't even bother keeping a full limit of trout at the trout parks, and that's about the species I eat most often.

And there is some leeway depending on growth within a certain body of water.

[ozark trout fisher]

Let's break down the tape:

Pic#1

So you've got your typical haul of frog-legs here. It might look a lot, but the whole family is coming over You've got your wife, ma and pa, then the cousins. Well, scratch out one of those cousins, because she's also your wife. Then there's your brother Jed, and his wife Edna, who is also your sister, so at least that's nice and convenient. Now you're the one in the left in the picture, you sure do love baseball, but can't quite pick, out a team, so you just go with the generic Nike "Baseball" shirt. Nothing wrong with keeping it simple. Your buddy (whose name, coincidentally, is also "Buddy") is standing there next to you. He's a good stand-up guy, and his meth problem hasn't even been all that bad this week. You're not sure who the right is. He just walked up on ya' right in the middle of the giggin', said, "Hey' Ahm Cletus, kin Ah help you stick some frogs." You're not sure why you said yes. You can't get rid of him, now he wants a ride home, and just asked you if you have any moonshine tucked away in your jacket. Which, well, of course you do, you're not some kind of city kid. 

Pic #2

Man, what a day out on the bayou! Virgil 'n you couldn't stop catching those bass. That dynamite stuff sure does work, guy in the tent who sold it to you sure wasn't lying! It was kinda loud, sure, but the DNR doesn't come down here too much, and if that poor guy saw your knee length white beard, dynamite, and machete hooked on your belt he'd be skippin' to the next county anywho. Also you caught some other things, the mouth wasn't quite as big, but you weren't too sure what they were. Now it's time to clean them, and that's really the best part to be honest.  Nothing like spending an evening with sharp, electrically powered knives and a copious supply of good ol' American brewskies. 
 

Pic #4

You were attacked by a duck as a child. You hate ducks. You kill lots of ducks. 

Pic #5

Man, it sure does seem like there are less deer around here every year. That conservation department must not be stockin' em  as much lately. Dang gubment. It tooks us two days and 5 dogs just to get our yearly alotment of all the deer in the tri-county area. But that's okay. Brutus and I just like being in the woods on a cool, crisp Autumn morning, while killing vast quantities of terrified ungulates chased by radio collared dogs. It really isn't about the end result anyway. 

 

[MOPanfisher]

Some states certainly have more liberal bag limits.  In MO I don't have a problem with what is established.

[Trout Man]

I'll bite.  I really can't believe stream small mouth aren't catch and release.  Come on Missouri!

[Quillback]

So much depends on context.  One of the lakes here in Bella Vista has too many 12" bass according to the lakes biologist.  They encourage harvest.  Swepco lake had a bad over population of large mouth a few years ago, AGFC encouraged (and still does) harvest.  And the bass fishing has improved as far as better quality fish. 

Maybe 10 duck hunters put together that bunch of ducks from a days hunt.

No one should be a game hog of course, but it helps to have context behind a picture of harvested game.

[BilletHead]

28 minutes ago, MOPanfisher said:

Some states certainly have more liberal bag limits.  In MO I don't have a problem with what is established.

         I am in MoPan's camp here. Depends on what state you are in. These places may have more game and fish thus can support a more liberal harvest. You sometimes MoCarp take pictures out of context for your benefit. Take the ducks here. Some duck hunters pile each of their limits into a single picture. There is not State that allows more than seven ducks per person, Missouri six.  If it is legal and you want to do it, do it just do not waste it,

 BilletHead