ORIGINAL: Dubbya

I have a question and would like to vent for just a second... please bare with me and offer any suggestions you might have.

A couple of times a year (at least for the last two years) the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife puts out information about what they're doing to, "increase the quality/number of mature [bucks] deer." Everyone would like to do that, it's a no brainer... Last year they changed the legal number of bucks from 3 to 2. That's great, I'm a 100% supporter of that decision, but I think there are other ways that would be more beneficial. What I don't understand is why they refuse to move the rifle and muzzle loader seasons out of the rut.

The muzzle loader season is a 9 day season that runs basically the last week of October into the first couple days of November. Then, a week and a half later, the two week rifle season starts as the rut is in full swing. Tell me if I'm wrong here, but the way I see it... they state that they want to "increase the number of mature bucks," while at the same time they allow any buck to be taken at their most vulnerable time with a firearm! Am I way off base here or does that seem a little contradictory?

For instance, lets take Kansas and Iowa... two of the states that produce LOTS of monster deer year in and year out. Neither of them have a gun season during the middle of the rut. I understand that genetics/habitat have a lot to do with the quality of deer, but the last time I checked Kansas was Oklahoma's northern border state. I guess I just don't understand their methodology...

Anyone have any opinions, am I way off base here?