Is it realistic for the individual to practice some sort of QDM on public land without antler restrictions? I can't seem to imagine letting a 100 inch deer walkat the places I usually hunt because I know the guy over the hill is gonna whack it ifhe can.
Most of the guys on the forum seem to be selective but the average guy in the woods is lucky to have any buck walk into his lane.

My contest bucklast season was just a small eight and it sure would be nice to know he was still walking.

You just have to pick and choose what you want to shoot,if it makes you squeal like a little girl then your shooting the right stuff.
You don't know if any thing you pass will even make it till next year. Cars, coyotes and one of the thousands of natures other forms of death have a far larger stake in his demise than your decision to pass him on a particular day.

It’s not necessarily about QDM on public land. It’s all about what is available. IF you think there are buck that exist better than 100”, then you have to decide IF you are willing to take the chance (even if its small) of seeing one. Worrying about whether or not the next person is going to kill something is stupid, and a HUGE peeve of mine. It’s about hunting what is THERE, not what might be there next year, or whether or not the next goof would shoot it.
You CAN’T have the mentality to pass in hopes of seeing it next year. You have to figure out what exists NOW and make your decision from there. Some get thru, they can’t kill them all. Granted in many places that “some” is a really low number and you have to be realistic about it.