I don't know how your deer population is where you hunt; but here our numbers are way down; so I'd rather put a fat spike or 4pt in the freezer before a Doe. As for the premium price to hunt in NY; I own my house and Land; and the amount of taxes I pay is a premium price; some of the highest taxes and highest paid senators in the nation. I guess your gonna say - sell my land and hunt public land right? Well New York State in its infinite wisdom has just "re-forested" over 600 acres of state land that was leveled by a tornado a few years ago; they planted thousands of Pine trees; This land was originally 80% hardwoods - oak, beech... and apple orchards; are you telling me they have their priorities right about provideing adequate environment for deer? what are they spending all of the conservation money on?I don't trust the state to make quality decisions about a sport i love when they screw things up constantly.
We both have the same number of tags and hunting seasons; you shoot what you want; and I'll shoot what I want. If you ask me, antler restrictions are just one more way to divide hunters, drive some huntersout of the sport and make it easier for the anti's. Big bucks don't get kids in the woods, Quality experiences do. If you love hunting because of big racks, you love hunting for the wrong reasons in my opinion; theres a lot more to it.