Funny you should mention this. Not only did we institute antler restictions starting in 2002, we also started a herd reduction plan several years before this. We had this very same fight back then. Meat hunters were p1ssed. Guys used to seeing a lot of deer were disappointed. But, a lot of guys were happy because our bucks got a lot bigger. Where spikes and forks were most of the harvest, now P&Y bucks are common. And we're producing more and more B&C bucks now too. The habitat is improving as a result of less deer. Rattling works like a charm now because bucks are actually fighting over doe. And the coolest thing, we are now seeing tons of 200+ pound bucks and a couple that are 300+ pounds. 20 years ago, bucks were 120-150 pounds.

I saw that article mentioned increasing herd sizes based on the amount of hunters. But, the habitat has to be able to carry them. I realize you have a lot of farms, but that's seasonal food. From October until late spring, this habitat is cut down for humans to use. Deer will be browsing in the woods in the winter months. And, if your land is more farms than forest, that's even less winter food.

I don't know anything about your deer managers but, based on our experience, reducing overall deer numbers is not necessarily a bad thing.