Originally Posted by
huntingkidPA
I dont think the point restriction is trophy management, i think they are just finding a way to help the herd so you can enjoy many years of seeing deer in the woods. Before antler restrictions, people would shoot anything, and it really hurts the population. Now whats hurting us here is all the doe tags that are being given out in some areas where the population is so low, you could hunt from dawn to dusk and maybe see 2 deer.
Here in PA, while you are a junior license holder you may shoot anything you want, let it be a spike or a nice 6 point. My guess is so the younger hunters can really learn what its about and appreciate harvesting an animal, because on game lands you may not see a buck with 3 on one side if you just go out for opening day. I'm not sure if these rules still stand but they did a couple years ago.
Ok this is food for thought. I can see the point. But I also see the truth in
schickster's point. I can see a lot of others just not reporting harvests... I have passed on young deer out of choice because in some areas I have grown use to seeing a lot of deer turn into dead zones so to speak. I have also seen two of my friends shoot buttons thinking they were doe. I think the actual herd estimates by the DEC are off. Way off in some areas. I know in one area that is almost a shoe-in for two does tags are one of those places that to me have become dead zones in the last two seasons. I passed on a spike there last year. But there are still places in the southern tier that some people find too much work to get in there deep and then have to drag a deer out. I guess the only big problem I see in NY right now is the people who are not reporting thier harvest......