I am against the antler point restrictions because they are essentially 'high-grading' the younger deer. Let's say that the point restrictions will not let us harvest any deer with less than 3 points on either side. How does that protect all younger deer? It doesn't, it just takes out the best of the young deer. Granted, studies have shown that a spike can turn into a trophy when mature as well, but what about that 1.5 year old 12 point? Isthe spikegoing to get bigger than him? He will if the 12 point gets shot when he is a yearling.

On the other hand, what happens when there is an old buck that doesn't meet the antler point restriction requirements? The answer is...he is out there breeding does and passing his genes on! ...couple this with shooting the better bucks when they are younger and you are not improving the quality of the deer in OK, but, in effect, you are reducing the quality of the deer you see...and take.

What I would suggest is raising the price on a 'regular' buck tag to around $35-$40 and coming up with a 'mature' buck tag that sells for much less...say $7-$10. Those having a 'regular' buck tag can still shoot a trophy if the opportunity presents itself, but the hunters holding a 'mature' buck tag must have the deer they harvest meet certain requirements to be legal. These requirements would be that the deer must be (examples only)at least 4.5 years old, have antler base measurements >4 inches (there is a positive correlation between age and this meaurement) and have a certain dressed body weight that varies with the location from which the deer was harvested (SE Oklahoma deer are sometimes HALF the size of deer in other parts of the state). Having all or a combination of any 2 of these standards for being legal as requirements would probably suffice.

I just feel that the long-term effects of a antler-point restriction as a way to protect yearling deer would have adverse results in the long run. If you really want people to change the way they harvest, give them an incentive via their pocketbook and they will respond. If not, they are paying for that little buck and the Wildlife Department is getting some much-needed, additionalrevenue.