Since this thread is supposed to be about whether or not ARs are working, did you stop at Ackley's this yearor last year? 75 bucks enteredon the first two days this season:

Avg. weight: over 140lbs.
Avg. points: slightly over 8 points
29 bucks with spreads 17" (inside) or greater
About half the entries weighed more than 130lbs (quite a few over 150lbs)

My son hadn't hunted up there in the past 10 years but came up and hunted the first 3 days this year. Upon looking at the entry board and then going inside to look at the pictures, he observed that they sure didn't look like this around here 10 years ago.It wasn't allthat many years ago that a 140lb buck with a 17" spread was a potential contest winner there, since they were primarily 120 pounders with 10"-12" spreads.Now, the winners weigh upwards of 170lbs and sport 22"-25" 10 or 12pt racks.

Having hunted in that area for over 40 years and recalling what weights and rack dimensions the avg. buck amounted to over that time period, there were some mighty spectacular bucks brought in there this year and last few years, come to think of it. Granted, it's just one small picture of the overall situtation, but things are looking up in the bigger bucks department in the area I hunt in.