J nailed my point here ...... if you read the antler restriction posts, you will see that many agree to it so they could shoot bigger deer ... thus improving the quality of the hunt, or deer to them, ...... is there a difference? Are we willing to give up our right to shoot the deer we want for a bigger rack? ...That's what scares me ....

They installed an antler restriction in Pennsylvania, and quite honestly, it was the best thing that ever happened.

There were a few ill side-effects, however. Since the restrictions were implemented, everybody sorta got rack fever, and became mega greedy, locking down every acre of huntable woods in the Commonwealth. Posters went up like wallpaper. Poaching has become a huge problem - more jacklighting than ever (bigger racks), and more ground checking than ever (guys who shoot a buck, and count the points once they get up to it). I've found no less than 20 ground-checked bucks laying in the woods since the AR's have been implemented. As a result, I've lost all faith in people (not that I had that much to begin with).

In the early 90's, I could go through the farmland and ask for permission to hunt wherever I wanted, and probably met 80-90% success. Now, you're lucky to have 5-10% success, and you're virtually guaranteed no access on the best spots unless you do some serious name-dropping or schmoozing. And I can schmooze with the best of 'em.

Example, I spent the entire day last Sunday trying to track down new hunting spots - most of mine are either overhunted, heavily poached, leased off to the highest bidder, posted for exclusive hunting by the landowner, or posted due to illegal ATV trespasser traffic. Back to the story, I banged on at least 15 doors, and only got permission to hunt 3 places, a grand total of 525 acres (125 ac., 50 ac., and 350 ac.).

Problem for the average Joe is that they don't have enough sense to seek out a hunting spot in March, and lots of people don't know how to be nice. Instead, they're running around like chickens with their heads cut offon the day before rifle season, banging doors unsuccessfully, getting frustratedand smarting off to people (making it worse for everyone).

We're currently going through a phase where a lot of the old guard is hanging it up, disillusioned with the whole process. It'll probably take 10 or so years to stabilize, but it's all for the best. We have far too many hunters packed into far too few huntable acres.

Pennsylvania is very unique in a lot of different ways. A case study in hunting/hunter behavior, if you will. Even in this "worst-case-scenario," the antler restrictions proven their worth.I've got pages and pages of pictures of deer taken before the AR's and after. Proof positive that it works. Like anything else, though, there is a downside.

Some of the comments were of that nature , but remember the reason I stated for AR in NYwas to bring the herd in balance. Not to create a trophy state. That is not their intention.

AR's do not produce trophy deer. They also really don't impact the size of what you can shoot really all that much. Nobody is making anyone hunt for trophy deer with AR. All AR do is say because not enough people can retrain from shooting every 1st year buck they can, it has to be legislated to try and provide a better age structure for a healthy herd.

All you people say the rack size is not important for a "quality" hunt and you don't have to kill a buck to have a "quality" hunt, yet if it doesn't matter so much then why do so many people shoot little bucks, when it supposedly doesn't matter to them?

I am going fishing. I sure hope I catch a little one today!

AR's certainly DO produce trophy deer. If they didn't, why are so many ranch's thriving on trophy fees?? Absolutely AR's produce trophy bucks, I'm not sure how anyone would think it wouldn't. We all know as a buck ages he becomes harder and harder to kill. So, add in an AR, get the deer older, and guess what?? Bigger deer equivalent to trophy deer.

Why do I shoot a little buck if it supposedly doesn't matter to me? Well, that statement was twisted in it's context a little bit. What doesn't matter is if I shoot a big buck, or a small buck.....I could care less, actually. In fact, I'm gonna just come right out with it.....I'm gonna get reemed for this one I'm sure, but I would rather shoot a small buck than no buck at all. People ask all the time, "Why do you hunt?" We see it here quite often as well. The politically correct answer is "To be one w/ nature. To see game, get them close, and enjoy watching them walk by me undetected."

You know what I say to that? If you aren't hunting in hopes of SHOOTING something, you aren't hunting, you're nature watching. And that's fine. Nothing wrong with that at all. Everyone has to decide what they want. Some of ya'll are ok w/ not shooting a deer if it doesn't meet your expectations. I'm not gonna argue that, ridicule you in any fashion. By all means, if that's what YOU want to do, enjoy. All I ask in return is that I not be ridiculed because I WILL shoot a small buck. Why am I wrong for doing that??

(disclaimer; I am not trying to insinuate that someone ridiculed me for my choices, my wording was meant in general terms.)

body size ... opportunity .... hunting .... we all can't spend countless hours in the field like some of you can .....

Dave ... you were doing so well .... don't start mocking now No one said they were hoping to shoot a little one .....

Sorry, Preacher,

Wasnt really mocking, I was simply providing an example.