The Good Lord meant for older bucks to fight for dominance and do most of the breeding so that they can pass along their strong genes to the next generation. If we were to deliberately manage to produce fewer older bucks, what would the ultimate impact on the herd be? For one thing, it would be unnatural and unbalanced. It's simply an added bonus that managing for older bucks also produces bigger antlers! Can you think of a stronger, more motivating force that encourages hunters to become active participants in deer management? There isn't one!

THE FUTURE OF DEER MANAGEMENT
The final criticism, and one often waged by some professionals, is this: By protecting yearling bucks with less than 15-inch spreads and/or three or four points to a side, we end up degrading the genetics of the herd. Under this assumption, the theory is that the young bucks with larger antlers will be harvested before their time, leaving the smaller bucks to breed. However, no one to date has been able to satisfactorily prove that this really happens. One study has been done that supports this theory, but its methodologies and mathematics are questionable at best.

I believe we'll see more and more states going to antler restrictions. Historically, though, these efforts have been aimed primarily at protecting young bucks under two scenarios: 1) public hunting and 2) areas with very small landholdings too small to manage. What about the growing number of landowners and hunters managing for quality whitetails?

What can you do to improve age structure?

In my opinion, antler restrictions are a stopgap measure in the quest to achieve a balanced and natural herd. A few years ago we imposed the 15-inch rule in east Texas. Last season I stopped by to visit my taxidermist. He has a good feel for what's going on among our local hunters. While in his shop, I bumped into two other hunters. "What do you fellows think about the new antler restrictions?" I prompted.

"They're okay, but we really don't need them," one of the men volunteered. He went on to explain that the group he hunted with would kick a man out of their club for shooting a yearling buck!

His message was loud and clear! He was really echoing a view shared by hunters everywhere. These hunters have adopted a new mentality about deer hunting, and it's making a significant difference in age structure. This is not dissimilar to what happened with catch-and-release fishing. Although there are some downsides to not keeping a fish (I like to eat them), peer-group pressure spread the concept of catch-and-release in only a few years.

Over the past decade or so, landowners and hunters have done a remarkable job on a grass roots level to protect younger bucks. We've come a long way, but we still have far to go. It has been both gratifying and surprising how quickly hunters and landowners have embraced the concept of aging live deer so that they know what they are shooting at. Lately, while attending hunting shows in various places, it's been pleasing to hear average guys refer to bucks they've seen as "3-year olds!"

So far in this series I've discussed the most important two components to the management trinity -- nutrition and age. In the final installment, I'll deal with the final management issue -- genetics. Stay tuned. You might be surprised by what I have to say.

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