yoderjac
5 year old buck +
Just to add a different perspective, we often can get too focused on antler size. As I said in an early post, from a hunting perspective, fooling the senses of a mature deer, especially with archery equipment, is really quite the accomplishment, regardless of his antler size. To that end, I've added a jawbone display to any mounts I've done in recent years.
Also, from a QDM perspective, antler size is not my goal, it is a measure of progress. My objective from this perspective is to improve, to the extent possible, and maintain, a high quality deer herd. That means keeping the herd balanced in age class, sex ratio, and with the habitat. Antler size and body weights are simply metrics to measure progress toward that objective.
From a recreational perspective, it is important to give hunters an opportunity to harvest bucks. When hunters are required to pass nice quality bucks that are mature but not "mature enough", hunter interest and participation, in general, declines. This can make it more difficult to manage the herd and can also play into hunter attrition. To that end, I like the idea of setting buck harvest goals based on the current herd composition. Targeting the top 10% age class make be targeting a different age class in one area than another. While Dr. Harper's work suggests that poorer quality soils can produce large antlered bucks, it does not support them in the same density as highly fertile ground.
Also, consider that the scale of land controlled requires sufficient scale for trigger restraint to have the desired impact. Again, hunters passing decent bucks contributes to dissatisfaction without favorably impacting age structure when that buck class is being harvested on adjoining ground. Another reason the top 10% approach works well.
Finally, and perhaps the most important, is introducing new hunters to the sport. All of us have gone through those "stages" of hunting from shooting the gun, to harvesting something, to harvesting many, to harvesting biggest, to just enjoying the experience with or without harvest, to giving back to the next generation, or are somewhere on that journey. Consider what impact antler restrictions have on newer hunters in the earlier stages of development.
Antlers are really cool things and great eye candy, but we should not get too wrapped up in them.
Thanks,
Jack
Also, from a QDM perspective, antler size is not my goal, it is a measure of progress. My objective from this perspective is to improve, to the extent possible, and maintain, a high quality deer herd. That means keeping the herd balanced in age class, sex ratio, and with the habitat. Antler size and body weights are simply metrics to measure progress toward that objective.
From a recreational perspective, it is important to give hunters an opportunity to harvest bucks. When hunters are required to pass nice quality bucks that are mature but not "mature enough", hunter interest and participation, in general, declines. This can make it more difficult to manage the herd and can also play into hunter attrition. To that end, I like the idea of setting buck harvest goals based on the current herd composition. Targeting the top 10% age class make be targeting a different age class in one area than another. While Dr. Harper's work suggests that poorer quality soils can produce large antlered bucks, it does not support them in the same density as highly fertile ground.
Also, consider that the scale of land controlled requires sufficient scale for trigger restraint to have the desired impact. Again, hunters passing decent bucks contributes to dissatisfaction without favorably impacting age structure when that buck class is being harvested on adjoining ground. Another reason the top 10% approach works well.
Finally, and perhaps the most important, is introducing new hunters to the sport. All of us have gone through those "stages" of hunting from shooting the gun, to harvesting something, to harvesting many, to harvesting biggest, to just enjoying the experience with or without harvest, to giving back to the next generation, or are somewhere on that journey. Consider what impact antler restrictions have on newer hunters in the earlier stages of development.
Antlers are really cool things and great eye candy, but we should not get too wrapped up in them.
Thanks,
Jack