Everybody's situation is different.

Just remember this, it takes DOES to make BUCKS.

It takes a good balance. Too many does = stunted herd, like Valley Forge. Not enough does = a vast waste land.

we've never had too many does in our life time contrary to what any state has said. For the deer hunter, we've never had too many does.

Ohio was just getting to the good times, then the state did a 180 after a power change and since then has sold off as many resources as they could to the highest bidder for political money.

States are not hunters, they are money/power gathers and they've used the growing deer herds to get what they want.

In PA, we had too many does in the 1980s and 1990s. Guys will tell you about seeing 60 deer a day...all doe.

Well my post sure has taken a biiiiig twist for just showing a nice buck I let walk last year so he could grow.

This is "somewhat" true. How many of those (60) doe did they actually see 3-4 times? Myself, I would rather see 20 does than nothing at all. Hey, that's just me I guess, I eat the horns.

You chew on horns like a dog?

More people should just say it.......they shoot small deer because its easier.

Nothing wrong with that but it is the truth in most cases.

I don't understand the need to discredit those that take the steps necessary to consistently harvest mature bucks.

They all have meat.....we are all meat hunters

Damn right! .....and I floss with barbed wire.

Yeah, maybe. If easy means that they are the ones that gave us a crack at them instead of that monster who is only on 3:00am trail cam photos. :D

Having read all the posts here on this thread.
The one thing that ALL of you missed, and it doesn't matter what age they are when you shoot them.

IS THAT FOOD.

You might get a decent rack at 3-5 yrs of age, but without a GOOD food base. Meaning many things to choose from. You ARE NOT going to have any consistency. Regardless of how many time you pass them up.

Many areas, usually public lands. Don't have a managed forage base to feed the deer herd.
And only once was it mentioned that you NEED does to make bucks. Genetics plays a VERY SMALL part in the growth of antlers. Its much more important to manage the food sources than the herd itself. That is the missing link with QDM.