We all watch those hunting shows on TV.

We all see those guys hunting down south on those well managed ranches in Texas. They see lots of bucks per day.

Many times the hunts we watch are to cull deer.

The funny thing is, we do the opposite of the ranchers in Texas. In Texas, they manage their deer herd for the best genetics. They cull the bucks with inferior genetics.

What do we consider a cull deer here in PA? That's right, we allow the bucks with inferior genetics to live and shoot the bucks that have the proper points per side.

We do it backwards here in PA.

If you have two bucks that are born at the same time here in PA, and one developes a four point rack his first year and the other developes an 8 point rack his first year, guess who gets shot?

If we repeat this scenerio over many years, what happens?

I do realize that there is more to antler developement than just genetics. But I also realize that if a buck developes an 8 point rack his first year and another buck only developes a 4 point rack and they live the same place, eat the same food, and are the same age, that the 8 point probably has better genes.


Just imagine if the PGC reversed the Antler Restrictions. Every buck with 3 or more points on a side were protected and only bucks with fewer points were fair game.

What would things be like here in PA then?

Wouldn't the health of the herd be better and genetics be better if the above scenerio were implemented?