Let me get your take on this, Matt....

In the 2006 season.....I saw probably 14 or more 1.5 yr olds. I only took a precious few does, that year (2). Last year.....through a change of ideology.....I can attest to over THIRTY killed (by hunters and by sighted road/other kills).

In 2007....I saw NONE of the 1.5's as 2.5's. None. Of the 2-3 2.5's I saw in 2006.....I saw NONE of them as 3.5's in 2007 (which doesn't really surprise me. They are elsuive). I can only guess that the sheer number of does pushes them out of this habitat to take up home ranges, elsewhere. I also realize that buggering up my spots shooting does....AND by shooting the first doe that offers a shot....."probably" aided in my reduced buck sightings. But what's puzzling is.....no one was "managing" this land prior to 2006.....and they were there.

But I "have" to (for sanity's sake) hope I'll begin to keep more of the youngsters around to grow older, as I take more and more does. It'll hurt my buck hunting, while we're doing this.....but that's the "discipline" (one part of it)I think you're eluding to.