Several research projects has shown that antler point restriction can decrease the average size of future mature deer. These are preliminary research projects and more research needs to be done in this area. Mature deer are deer in the 4 to 7 year age bracket. Deer adn Deer hunting had an article about it recently, and I seen it in some other magazines as well.

One of the research projects was in Miss. If I remember correctly, the average mature deer lost 19 B&C inches in a 5 to 10 year span in an area where antler restriction has been enforced for a number of years. Some other research projects involved pen raised deer in which antler deer were removed from the population to resemble an antler point restriction harvest. Again, the result was a net loss of B&C antler points on mature deer compared to the controlled pens.

The point restriction is not the best way to select for superior antler growth. Privately owned trophy hunting land uses B&C scores as criteria for buck harvest. They also use it as criteria to rid the population of individual mature bucks that will never make it to the potential that they wish to see.

Antler point restrictions are just an easy way to create some sort of buck harvest criteria for the general public. It is ment to protect a certain percentage of the 1.5 year old bucks. It succeeds in that. However, some biologist believe that it opens the door to eliminating young bucks with the most antler potential as well as protecting a small percentage of inferior bucks.

Antler point restrictions will increase the number of 2.5 year old bucks. This age category represents a class of bucks that many see as nice deer. Most 2.5 year old deer are a long way off from their potential. In certain areas adn certain individual bucks, these 2.5 year old bucks may still be under the set antler point restricton. This won't stop them from breeding does and passing on their genes.

I think it would be better to move firearm seasons away from the rut and to restrict the use of firearms to shotguns and/or muzzle loaders over point restrictions.