First of all how many mature bucks are shot in PA each year. Well I will say not that many. Reason is 1) You shot a spike or a fork that walked by first. 2) You didn't see a big deer because they are hiding somewhere out there, they just don't walk right up and say hi to ya. Mature bucks become mature bucks because they are where people are not or where they don't go to. So I just really don't think that there will be that many mature bucks that you say taken out. There probable be more mature bucks taken but not much. When the shooting starts the big ones take off to parts not known by many this is why they stay around.

Now that we passed on these spikes and forkers next year they will be 6 pointers and 8 pointers. I would be proud to take an eight pointer myself. Now this is IMPORTANT they have an extra year of experience behind them as that to ME makes a big difference. SO the following year there will be even more bigger bucks around as there were last year. I feel that experience will teach them to head for the hills when things start happening. Now I am not going to say that a lot will not be taken, as a lot will, but a lot will not and make it for another year. Now think there will be a lot more mature bucks that might push 10 points with a healthy size to them, do to more feeding oppertunities for them and less competition over food with all the does that will be taken out. SO If we give it a couple more years we should be in real good shape.

Brian