prior to AR's we were taking almost ALL bucks with 3" spikes or better. Research showed that number to be as high as 85% on a consisitent basis. BTW the old 3" spike rule is AR as well. It simply was a much lower threshold.

Another reason for supporting AR's that won't fit into your CPA methodolgy is that a 1.5 buck has very limited survival skills when it comes to avoiding predators (man) He's equivalent to a young teenagerAllowing them a pass during the first year allows them the opportunity to learn the skills to possibly survive more than that one year it takes to grow a legal rack. The results are still sketchy at this point but the premise that a buck allowed to live beyond opening day and his first deer season is better educated and equipped to survive to maturity and reach that 4 1/2 age class simply makes common sense. The results were never expected to be huge but even a few percent more making it to that age is an improvement