Sorry, but I was not making any assumptions at all here. I do know that it will be harder for hunters to tell whether a deer has at least 3 points to a side compared to determining if it has at least spikes. Surely more will be shot by accident with the 3 point rule.

I find it interesting how some eastern states seem to think these antler restriction rules are a surefire way to manage a deer herd. Many midwestern and western states have NO restrictions and yet produce bucks that any NY hunter would drool over. Why is that? Because of better genetics (better than NY will ever have whether you let bucks live longer or not) in the deer population in general and restrictions on the number of bucks that are allowed to be taken by a hunter. Would NY hunters ( especially bowhunters ) be satisfied if only two deer a year were allowed to be taken be it in the regular, bow or muzzleloader season? Probably not. It think that would help control the deer population a whole lot better in NY and at the same time keep the majority of hunters who purchase licenses satisfied. I think NY should give all hunters purchasing a big game license a buck tag which could be used on any buck with a minimum of 3" horns and doe tag that could be used in any part of the state. Hunters purchasing a bow or muzzleloader license would only extend their seasons but not have the privilage of taking additional deer. This would keep the deer population healthy for the meat hunters and give the trophy hunters a better chance at bigger bucks since fewer bucks will be taken in any given season with a one buck per hunter limit.

It seems hunters will compromise only when they get what THEY want. Of course with any changes in the rules there will be many that won't like it, but in my opinion allowing NY hunters to only shoot one buck and only one doe would be the simplest way to manage the herd, and yet keep the majority of hunters content which IS very important since hunter numbers have been dwindling rapidly in recent years.