I ain't no trophy hunter, I hunt to fill my freezer. Browns down thunk 'em and trunk 'em. Littler one's are more tender and easier to drag :-D
(just kidding :-D)
Sure is nice to get a big buck though, can't eat the horns but it sure is nice.
Here in our area of NY and some other counties they've went to minimum antler restrictions, have to have at least three points on one side.
The public is about 50/50 on this, swinging more towards hating it like I am. The DEC wants to bring in more tourism and, so hope to get NY known for trophy racks like some other states are.
I don't hunt for trophy racks, nothing against it but I've missed out on filling my tags I pay good $$ for the last two yrs cause of this new rule.
Way I look at it the bucks will be harvested as 5-6 points instead of spikes and fours, don't see it changing much except the fact more hunters will be missing out on potential venison cause they ain't sure if it has that one more point. That and a potential for a hunter to shoot and leave a deer in the woods cause dang, it doesn't have three on one side...
I've even heard proponents for the restriction say it will better the genetics because bigger bucks will be breeding...silly fool, same deer same genetics wether it's two yrs old or five.
One point with what the DEC mentioned in their hunting regulations magazine you get when you purchase a licence, they compared size and weight between young immature bucks compared to older mature bucks, can't argue with the amount of potential meat for the freezer adding a yr or two to their growth.
Time will tell if this improves hunting here, I doubt it, too many illegal hunters IMHO.