Steve863

That is simply not true. I have hunted in eastern Montana 5 different years back in the late 80's to mid 90's. One could kill any buck over 3" spikes there. The same is true in many states that are well known for trophy sized deer. The reason there are big bucks and people wait for bigger bucks is that the genetics are better plus there is very light hunting pressure. There is lots of land and very few hunters. One could pass up the small bucks when you are almost certain a bigger one is coming along around the bend. And come they do in Montana, this I can assure you. That has never been the case in NY from the beginning of regulated sport hunting and never will be, antler restriction or not! NY land is a totally different habitat with WAY more hunters(even with declining hunter numbers) with a decreasing amount of land open to hunting.

Antler restriction or QDM programs are simply the brainchild of biologists who were hired by trophy hunters to try to concoct a program that might get deer to get a bit older so the trophy hunters can have an easier time bagging them. That is all it is. Antler size means nothing in terms of managing a deer herd in general. For example. When a buck breeds a doe in his first year when he is maybe a spike, is he or is he NOT passing on the same genetics that he would be in three years when he might be an 8 point? So what is the difference then if he is shot the first year or the third or fourth other than to trophy hunters who prefer a bigger rack? There really isn't any difference. In fact a claim could be made that the buck will start passing on bad traits in older age, just as humans do when they have children in older age. For studies have been done that both men and women can pass on traits in older age that can cause things like down syndrome, autism and varies other things.