Thanks Bob for catching that one,

TRYK....I don't think it's a good idea to try to teach a youngster how to cleanly take a buck and have him/her have to worry about AR. Just makes sense to me that during those formative first four years that they should have every opportunity to wet their appetite on buck hunting. The difference in maturity from 12 to 16 is tremendous. Kids basically go from babes to adults in that span of time. After 16, it is not uncalled for to ask them to abide by the same standards as everyone else. They can drive a car, they can now hunt alone. They are expected to be more astute in their approach to life in general. The actual sub AR kill of junior hunters is very statistically insignificant, but the psychological boost in morale to a young hunter, knowing he has the full opportunity at virtually every buck he will see, is off the charts.
Everyone complains about AR but I will tell you one thing: I seldom see a sub AR these days. Lower deer numbers has equated to a more healthy herd and better bucks overall. Almost every 1.5 year old I see is an 8 point anymore. Here is mine from a couple weeks ago from wmu 2F.


I thought he was a 2.5 year old when looking at him, but he is clearly a 1.5. I took him because I needed a good first specimen for learning taxidermy. I would have normally passed him because I know for a fact that with AR in place, I have a better than ever chance of getting THIS!



My brother's buck that he took within a quarter mile from me and about a half an hour later. Let me add that these were taken second day on public ground: heavily hunted, rumored deerless.