The fact is many states do try for anage restriction by using antler restrictions, which is not always accurate. If you take a good antlergenetics animal with a large rack,at age 1.5 he may be a legalshooter. He does not get to procreate very long, and that is bad.

Most hunters cannot tell the age of an animal so the DNR in various states and counties haveplaced anter restrictions on buck harvest. This is done to promote doe harvest, not just bigger racks. QDMA is a groupI could care less about. It makes $. But their beliefs in general I believe are accurate.

-Mississippi has 4 pt restriction Larry Castle
-Arkansas has a buck antler restriction
-Pennsylvania has a restriction Dr Gary Alt
-Georgia Counties have a buck antlerrestriction
just to name a few.
Many places have elk restrictions etc.

These states run about a 75-80% approval by hunters. The only restriction the states can useare antler restrictions,doe only, and number allowed to harvest, methods, etc.

For the life of me I cannot understand if someone wants to meat hunt, which is fine with me, why they will take a yearling buck.Is it just getting to say, "Yes I killeda buck"? Shoot a doe! The truth is even many meat hunters wantto brag about killing a buck. But they will be the first to combat an antler restriction. Why? You are a meat hunter, shoot does.

Check some states restrictions. Their laws do tell you what you can and cannot shoot. We need to remember that restrictions, laws,and guidelines is what brought the deer population back. Nothing wrong with making something good even better. We have plenty of deer in general.

As long as the land can sustain the herd, make it better with restrictions. Typically when an antler restriction is implemented the number of doe harvests goes up andhelps get the herd back in balance.

Scenerio:
If you are a meat hunter and you usually shoot the first thing that walks by, and you abide by the law, a restriction is implemented,the first thing that walks by is a fork horn yearling, you have to wait.Then a doe comes, you shoot the doe. Good practice.

Most laws are good and we need to see for ourselves why they are in place. And some are trial and error. States will try it and see how it works. It is part of it.

This is my opinion.