If the CO felt the guy knew he was shooting an illegal deer, or felt he didn't bother to check it, just shot willing to pay $25 for all the meat, he gave the guy a $500 fine vs $25.

The first states to use AR's were out West for mule deer and elk in I believe Oregon, or maybe Washington years and years ago.
They said they had upwards of 10% of the young animals killed that first year, but the number dropped dramatically each year after, and soon the number was so low they don't even include those kills in the management plan, statistically insignificant.
Most other states who implemented ARs found about the same percentages over the years.
I'd say PA hunters have done an excellent job. I would suspect even as soon as next year the illegal kills will become so small as to not factor into the management plan. I definitely know you'll have a ton of decent 2.5yr old 8 and 10 points running around next year, and even more the year after.
The figures on doe harvest support the idea that they won't all get "shot out", as the old timers like to put it.


"In heaven, even the fish have antlers"