Antler Restrictions

[Trey Lawler]

What do is your oppinion of antler restrictions such as a 4 point on one side minimum?

[antlerhunter]

If it is enforced, it's a pretty good thing for the most part. I have found 2 illegal deer this season on post, both had slug holes in them. I contacted the ORC on one of them, and they said they couldn't do anything about it. Also, I had to pass on 2 really good mature bucks this year, a huge 6pt, and a huge crabclaw 4pt with about a 20" spread. By not harvesting these deer, the genetics will tend to shift the points toward <4 on a side, due to these deer breeding the does in a given area. It doesn't always happen that way, but most mature deer with <4 on one side will tend to have offspring of the same character. These are by no means inferior deer, they were both very good mature deer. I know we have to have regulations, but IMO, any MATURE deer with a bow is an accomplishment, whether it has spikes or 12 pts.
If hunters would just use common sense (if they have any), then the point restriction would not be needed in the first place; however, there are many hunters who have never see a mature buck while hunting, so by adding the point restriction, alot of these new hunters, or just hunters who don't have the time to hunt often go home unhappy. I feel maybe the answer would be to allow 1 buck of choice, then enforce the point restriction after the one. I know many hunters, like myself, who would not shoot immature deer, even if the above was implemented.

[Trey Lawler]

I understand what you are saying but even under the antler restrictions we are not removing near all the 4+ on one side deer that would be a prerquisite to what you are illuding too. We have caught many 4+ on camera sence hunting season ended. The truth of it is most deer that make it past 2.5 will not get killed by hunters and are left to breed. Also if you look at RSAs kill records before the antler restrictions you would be very hard pressed to find a deer over 3.5 that did not have 4+ on one side. I agree that the best management plan would be to only harvest bucks in the 3.5+ age class but it is impossible to get the general hunting public on RSA to field judge the age of deer. RSA also keeps records of antler size and would adjust regulations if a negative trend were to ever develop, which I do not foresee as many of the bucks that do not meet the requirement are either too young i.e. less than 2.5 years old or older than 6.5. The fact of the matter is that once a buck makes it to 2.5 years plus chances are he will not be taken by a hunter but left to breed. The four on one side helps protect deer until they reach 2.5 so many bucks will make it to 3.5 and older. This seasons harvest data can be found in the RSA section of this forum, I believe you will like the results.