Originally Posted by
SteveBNy
Why limit it to 1.5 bucks. Why not make it 5.5 yo old or older - a true mature animal.
A 2.5 is just a young one - if mature deer are the goal, shooting a 2.5 is no different then a 1.5, a bb, a 3.5 or most 4.5.
Or we could let hunters hunt for what their own goals are and quit telling them they are wrong or just bad hunters.
A buck is considered mature at 4.5. Also, QDMA does not suggest waiting til a buck is mature to harvest him. They promote the protection of all yearlings and 2.5 if possible. At that point, some of the bucks will make it to 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 because they have the ability to evade hunters. Thus, at that point we will have accomplished the 2nd primary goal of QDM, a herd containing bucks in all age classes. (first goal being to balance the deer herd with the existing habitat).