They installed an antler restriction in Pennsylvania, and quite honestly, it was the best thing that ever happened.

There were a few ill side-effects, however. Since the restrictions were implemented, everybody sorta got rack fever, and became mega greedy, locking down every acre of huntable woods in the Commonwealth. Posters went up like wallpaper. Poaching has become a huge problem - more jacklighting than ever (bigger racks), and more ground checking than ever (guys who shoot a buck, and count the points once they get up to it). I've found no less than 20 ground-checked bucks laying in the woods since the AR's have been implemented. As a result, I've lost all faith in people (not that I had that much to begin with).

In the early 90's, I could go through the farmland and ask for permission to hunt wherever I wanted, and probably met 80-90% success. Now, you're lucky to have 5-10% success, and you're virtually guaranteed no access on the best spots unless you do some serious name-dropping or schmoozing. And I can schmooze with the best of 'em.

Example, I spent the entire day last Sunday trying to track down new hunting spots - most of mine are either overhunted, heavily poached, leased off to the highest bidder, posted for exclusive hunting by the landowner, or posted due to illegal ATV trespasser traffic. Back to the story, I banged on at least 15 doors, and only got permission to hunt 3 places, a grand total of 525 acres (125 ac., 50 ac., and 350 ac.).

Problem for the average Joe is that they don't have enough sense to seek out a hunting spot in March, and lots of people don't know how to be nice. Instead, they're running around like chickens with their heads cut offon the day before rifle season, banging doors unsuccessfully, getting frustratedand smarting off to people (making it worse for everyone).

We're currently going through a phase where a lot of the old guard is hanging it up, disillusioned with the whole process. It'll probably take 10 or so years to stabilize, but it's all for the best. We have far too many hunters packed into far too few huntable acres.

Pennsylvania is very unique in a lot of different ways. A case study in hunting/hunter behavior, if you will. Even in this "worst-case-scenario," the antler restrictions proven their worth.I've got pages and pages of pictures of deer taken before the AR's and after. Proof positive that it works. Like anything else, though, there is a downside.