Now that's a stud! We see a LOT of 200+ lb bucks in NY, not so many in PA. Most of your 4.5 y/o Adirondack bucks in the big woods will go 200+, and you hear of them going 220+ every year. 220 is pretty much the top end though, I don't know anyone that has taken anything heavier than that. I can't imagine what a 280lb dressed deer must look like coming towards you in the woods!
It's always interesting to come into a thread and read start to finish. The topic transforms constantly. Germ, my take is antleer restrictions help. From what I read and heard about over the years, there are a lot more bigger bucks. The deer population may not be as high in numbers, the "we don't see nearly as many as deer as back in the day," but the bucks that are seen are considered better by average. Again, this is from talking to the local hunters I know and a few articles I've read. As far as the topic someone made about cull deer. I find this interesting. I've read a few research studies on antlered growth. What I took from the articles was this: A buck's rack will vary from year to year (obvious), however, because a buck is 1.5, 2.5, or even 3.5 and is still a spike, that does not mean it's a cull deer. I'll have to check my records; but, I don't think I still have the article. It basically found that a deer's rack will be most developed at 4.5 years. Yes genetics does play a part to an extent, but the rack growth could be supressed in early years. In the study they more or less said you can't call a cull deer unless it's a mature 4.5. So when people refer to a cull deer at 1.5-3.5 I kind of wonder... IMHO, I think QDMA tells you to shoot off age for a damn good reason. Antler points and length are way too misleading.
A one buck limit in Michigan will make very little difference. I do not see why so many people in Michigan still don't get this. We have about one hunter for every two deer and Michigan hunters put a lot of time in the field. If one guy dose not shoot a second buck (& few do because it has to have 4 points on a side) then the other guy shoots it. The two buck limit has no significant impact on the total buck kill (if any). About the only place it could make much of a difference is in southern Michigan where a fair amount of yearlings have 4 points on a side, but down there access is a problem so I'm not sure it would make a big difference. AR's are what we need here to make a real difference. P.S. You may get to see the one buck limit here as they are talking about it seriously now to off set the legalization of cross bows.
Sure most guys don't use both tags, but I think it will change how they hunt. I think more guys will pass yearling bucks, especially during archery season, as to not end their buck hunting. How many times have you heard "got my buck, now I can go looking for his daddy!"? An OBR helps eliminate the "mulligan buck".
