dont agree with qdm when you have antler restrictions,we have some good bucks here in oklahoma but we are not Ohio,ILL.,MINN.,or KAN.,these states are known for big bucks roaming free. texas known for fence hunting,Illinios was hard to get non res. tags because ranches or whatever bought them up to make money.i'm afraid big antlers will mean less public area to hunt we all no money talks.
big antler states,is it there crops they grow, nutrition they have or antler restrictions,i dont know their regs.
me ,im a meat hunter i may shoot a small buck it depends on the feeling i get, but i can tell you i pass on a heck of a lot of young bucks and will be just as happy with a doe which i kill many of. this year two does and 0 bucks.
i hunt where the does are always have,and dont worry about if i pass on a buck that some other hunter will kill it anyways,i hunt for me.
qdm suppose to be about the herds health not antler size,the small horned big bodied bucks look just as healthy as the big horned bucks. how many times have you heard a tv hunter say thats a good management buck then not shoot it.its all about antler size.if my gearis not be as big as other mens does that make me not as healthy.