T/C management on public lands is really futile. it is more for your personal satisfaction than the herd. meaning the next week when the modern gun season starts that deer you let walk has a strong chance of being deer burger.
I see where you coming from but on public lands it's difficult.
Even in my situation with 2100 acres of private land it's hard. i have a few that just want a deer . honestly thier days are numbered with me. i am implementing a very tough plan next year and have already heard some thoughts.
But as i told them i don't care about their opinions!
Some want to stay with the arkansas rules ,3 pts on one side is legal,and see no reason to make the bar higher.some won't shoot a doe .
they will next year or pay a fine or get booted.
they will shoot only mature bucks meaning he better not be a scrawny 6pt 1 1/2 year old or a 8 pt 1 1/2.
I can't understand how folks can call themselves hunters and not be able to look at a buck and tell if he is mature or not.
well probably cause they haven't seen enough or shoot the first thing with antlers not allowing time to see grandpa.

T/C the crossbow is not going to worsen this it's here.

Hey listen why don't you try one. my friend who is bowtech dealer and many other bows is also a horton crossbow dealer/factory rep.
he has turned many people onto crossbows. he hunts with both.
Now this guy is so far from a slob .

Oh and have you priced a crossbow?? not every poor joe can afford one just as good bows are not for the light walleted.
He showed me the demo horton sent him this year it was like $500 bucks!
High price for a poor man.
oh and to be fair his bowtech patriot i beleive was about $1200 the way it was rigged out.
yeah a price diff i guess but still both high for the average person.