An old friend from High School (**sigh...6 years ago**) is a local DNR officer in my section of the state. He told me this past spring that the 1 buck rule has had poor results (compared to what they expected), and will be gone once the 5 year plan is up. Other possibilities include antler restrictions (which in other studies, namely Penn..have shown slight improvement of size at best). The total # of deer killed has gone way up from year to year..in every hunting season (this year is no different thru urban archery and early archery..plus more antlered deer have been taken so far this year than '04..even with a week left of hunting! I believe it's the weather..especially fri/sat/sun..those have been GREAT this year so far).

Another interesting tidbit was that even though we are killing more deer from year to year, the total # of deer are actually growing. I found that interesting due to thefact of less land to hunt b/c of residential/industrial/business practices, on top of the growing # of kills.

1 more bit of info I remember from the conversation: Although the # of deer taken has increase, and new state record bucks are taken every fall, the mean size of deer in Indiana has decreased over a pound from '03-'04 (I'm really not sure how they figured that out...I'm guessing by capturing tagged deer and weighing them periodically?). Look for more restrictions on bucks...and more liberal efforts on does...to get the ratio close. Bottom line he said, is hunting is not for trophy's..but to stablelize #'s of deer.

I also can't stand the guy...just wanted to add that...lol(sorry Jon ) He also used to post in the 'bowhunting' forum last year..but haven't seem him yet this year.