I agree. But that does not in any way make an argument in favor of EAB. And it has in many areas, including where I hunt in Unit 61. One of the cornerstones of quality management is the liberal harvesting of does. So if new hunters are brought up to understand that keeping the herd healthy is the best way grow bigger bucks, then there is not a problem. Also, as Brian pointed out, I can't imagine that a youth exception would have any statistical difference on the harvest, or on the DNR's "ability to manage the herd" as they like to put it.

To look at what Brian pointed out on his post, the problem in our unit (61), and I would guess in other units as well, is that the subjective lowering of overwinter goals means that we will be in EAB forever, barring the introduction of a Machine Gun or Napalm Season for deer . With an average of one hunter for every 40 acres, and 1.81 deer per 40 acres, it is silly to use EAB to solve a problem that does not exist. In addition, given the fact that the antlerless harvest in our unit was 62.47% of the total (one of the highest outside the CWD zones), it does not appear that hunters not shooting enough does is the real problem. The problem may be not enough HUNTERS out there to shoot more deer. If that is the case, you can expect EAB to make that problem worse.