Its sickening to think only 25% of our male deer make it to 2.5 yr olds, and only 1% make it to 5.5yr olds.
I agree with this statement whole heartedly. I think that here in NY and throughout the entire NE for that matter, most hunters are just so used to hunting in areas where the buck pop. is decimated every season and the sex ratios are so skewed that they believe that this is just how a "natural" deer herd operates. Those high fenced ranches that you see on TV from Texas have a far more natural deer herd than we do in most of NY! QDM and AR are two of the most overused and misunderstood concepts in deer management today. They no doubt are the two that will cause heated arguments between hunters the quickest. Far too many people hear these two words and instantly think of nothing but trophy bucks. NY will never be a IL, IA, or KS...but if AR could add a year or two to a some of the bucks in the herd...what's so bad about that? I can't see a single negative aspect about having more older age class bucks running around. Honestly, I don't think that implementing AR will work on an equal basis throughout the state, afterall, the Adirondacks are a far different place that it is here in western NY and people will break the game laws with or without restrictions in place. But, in heavily hunted areas of the state like much of WNY and the rest of the southern zone, I don't think that AR can mess the herd composition up anymore than it is already.
It certainly not normal with any species to be made up of mostly younger age classes. Image our own human race if it was mostly made up of children, and teenagers. I know thats a crazy reference, but just think about it for a minute!!!!!!!!!!
This reference isn't so crazy...in fact, I think that it hits the nail right on the head.
These are just my opinions and I know that they won't be shared by everyone on the board....but I think that we sould give AR a honest chance.