kevin1

There are many variables in the equasion. For one thing we have way too many antlerless deer, trophy hunters refusing to shoot does is like them shooting themselves in the foot. You're part of the problem or part of the solution, you can't have it both ways. The QDM mindset is another problem, you can't practice QDM unless everyone around you is, which will never happen in Indiana, or anywhere else for that matter. The length of the gun season is set to manage the overall herd numbers according to IDNR, with the majority of the cull occurring during the time the maximum number of hunters are afield(gun seasons), so unless the antlerless population is greatly reduced it will stay the way it is or actually be increased. They have categorically stated that they will never shorten the gun season for trophy management reasons, only if the overall population is sufficiently reduced, or if the number of bucks becomes dangerously low. Habitat/forage must also be factored in, states like Iowa and Illinois have a bit richer forage than Indiana, and more suitable habitat. "Brown is down" is less of a problem than you might believe, all states seem to have that issue judging by the complaints on internet forums. Poaching is a far more serious problem, many of your larger bodied/racked deer get poached every year, far more than a B&Der will ever see, much less shoot. You also have to consider where you personally hunt, the area you hunt in may simply not have larger deer than another area might. Big bucks also tend to be extremely wary and largely nocturnal, they don't get big and stupid at the same time except at "pic n' shoots". If you want to see more large deer than I suggest you hunt in Sasketchewan or other northern areas, they naturally produce larger deer, you won't see them here anytime soon unless you hunt deep in wilderness areas like the Hoosier Natl. Forest.