I think AR has already had a positive effect as far as hunter attitudes are concerned. Virtually every bowhunter I talked to passed at least one sub legal buck and most seemed to have a positive attitude about having passed deer they would have shot if not for the AR.
The only buck left to rot in my stomping grounds was a 4 pt that was a legal buck to archers (Allegheny Co) but was shot with a smoke pole during the early M/L season.
Speaking of Alleghent County, I talked to a few guys that decided to pass on smaller bucks there voluntarily.
To the extent AR could work as of this early date, it seems, to me, to have us headed in the right direction

Member of NRA, BASS, Buckmasters and Life member of UBP.........Kill a big doe, Let the little bucks grow