[bowjunkie]

Both sides are entitled to opinions, but lets keep it clean


My initial reaction was the same as Losthawgs and I did some digging before my view changed.

I now like the program as in the counties that have implemented it, the 'health' of the herd has improved. What was said above is valid; the biologists made the reccomendations based on the age structure of the herd and really nothing more then that. Sure, by nature of the program the bucks are getting bigger and better, but in nature the strong survive and in turn they pass on those genetics for a win win in future fawn crops benefitting both the buck and doe fawns. With the previous regs (as stated before) the bucks weren't getting mature (shoot anything with horns mentality) and it was leading to an explosion of does, an unhealthy balance and unhealthy herd due to inferior natural genetics and inbreeding.

If something wasn't done, then the decline of healthy mature bucks would/has lead/led to a decline of the overall deer population. As like any critter in nature, I've seen does run off young or inferior bucks while in estrus. There is a reason for a bucks rack; it not only aids them in a fight but it has been shown that given a choice, a doe will breed with the more agressive buck or will allow a buck with a bigger rack to breed her over a spike or basket buck.

I hope that some of the counties I hunt adopt the regs and that they even carry it over to the National Forest properties I hunt as well for a few years at least. And I'm strictly a 'meat hunter' as well.