Now I'm assuming the option being discussed here is whether to take a doe or a small buck for meat, given a longer term goal of increasing the odds of harvesting a large buck.

My answer would be that it depends. If the overall population is very low, i.e. the habitat will support a much larger population, then shoot the small buck. Allowing the does to pass pretty much ensures a larger overall population of deer and consequently more buck. I'm always surprised when some hunters seem to think that shooting doe has no impact on future buck numbers and it follows future big buck numbers.

Now if the overall populion is high, i.e. near or above capacity, then the primary concern changes to controlling overall numbers in an attempt to avoid starvation and a potentially drastic reduction in overall numbers. Harvesting the doe clearly would be the best choice in this case.


Oh, I should add that I didn't read the whole thread so I appoligize if I'm just posting a duplicate opiniion...