Here is a problem with earn a buck. Hunter goes to the woods and sees nothing but bucks. This happens for the majority of the season and fustration sets in and then opporunity knocks. (Road Kill Doe). Now said hunter has his buck tag to go kill one of those bucks he has been seeing the whole season.
When they stated the program, they gave you warning the year before to Earn your buck. That year I went out and shot a buck and then a doe, could have did it the other way around too. Then the EAB season roles around and I can shoot my buck or doe in any order, earned my stick last season.
If you didn't heed the warning and earn you buck the first year, then yes, you are stuck hoping to see a doe first. Also if you loose your sticker, too bad, they won't replace it, got to go earn another one. That got me last year, then after I re earned it, i found the original. lol Shot my buck in a regular unit, didn't even need a sticker.