I'm going to answer every one of these questions, but I then expect an answer to mine: how is targeting ANY buck better?

First, lets focus on the word "prove". I cannot and won't attempt to prove anything. I, as everyone on this board except apparently you, am just attempting to offer my opinion, which is all I can do since I am not a wildlife biologist or a DEC manager. If you are, then so be it, but I don't see how you are "proving" anything either.

Secondly, I do have a desire to shoot something bigger, not trying to hide that at all. I'd say most hunters have that same desire, and those who say they don't are lying or really need the meat as part of their survival (thankfully, I don't and God willling never will). I also do not feel that there is anything wrong with wanting to shoot a trophy if you are hunting it in the true sense and not paying to visit high-fenced ranches. I abhor and would never do anything like that, since I have the utmost respect for the life I take when hunting.

I'd also venture to say that anyone who takes the time to frequently post on a hunting website (or run one like me), is a step ahead of the average hunter, so most of us here are not in it for the survival and are either dedicated hunters or young ones who may become such in the future.

Your most direct question, regarding the deer you have shot, is misleading. No one has ever said that AR would make individual deer more healthy, as your question implies we have, but that it would make the herd more healthy as a whole by bringing about a more balanced age structure. Being familiar with restrictions in other states, and their results, I do believe this statement to be true. Be thankful we do not have a lottery based system for all hunts, like most western states. I have a friend in Colorado who has been trying to hunt Elk for 3 years without drawing one tag! And even then, in some zones he would have to follow antler restrictions.

There is also the argument that AR would protect genetically inferior bucks which remain forks and spikes as they grow older. TRUE... but with the options, what else could be done? There is no chance you are going to get the average hunter to recognize a bucks age in the field, which would be the ultimate way to practice QDM for those who would like to.

So that leads to my question to you: if a thriving herd is all of ours goal, not in regards to antler size, but in proper age structure and maintaining a healthy breeding, stable population...

...then how is targeting EVERY BUCK at ANY TIME (which the 3in rule basically does), better than setting antler restrictions?

(PS.. the bold quotes of mine came directly from you or other people, they were already bold when I copied them from previous posts)