Northwest Michigan Antler Restrictions Observations

I'm not sure how many regulars to this forum know me, but a few do I'm sure. I rarely come on the site these days, but was a long term moderator of this forum and am very familiar with the various issues that are debated in here and the raucous discussion that can go on. For a few years now the NW portion of the Lower Peninsula has had a 3 pt. on a side antler restriction regulation. My wife and I built this house in 1974 and we've lived here ever since and I have been an avid deer hunter and deer observer for all of those years. I know what's been going on in this area of N. Manistee County.

When antler restrictions were first brought up in the old QDM Forum (yes, I know that ARs are not the same as QDM) I was not in favor of them for reasons that are not worth being brought up. The bottom line was that I didn't like the added restrictions of new regulations. Since NW Michigan went to a 3 pt. per side I have seen a marked improvement in the age structure of the deer in my neighborhood. While I had taken my share of decent bucks over the years, the biggest measuring 111+, and the number of decent 8 pt. racks are too numerous to remember. I am not a neophyte in taking decent bucks. Last year, the evening after I took a 2.5 yr. old 8 pt. buck I had the pleasure of watching three other 8 pt. bucks move in and out of my hunting area off and on for over an hour. I can assure you that I do not own a vast track of perfect deer country, but rather a mere 25.5 acres most of which consist of pine trees of various sizes plus other trees. Yes, I have worked on the property to improve its deer holding capacity, but not to the point of overcrowding. Most of the property I consider to be a sanctuary into which I rarely trod.

It is now the norm to see a variety of age classes among both bucks and does, but of course it is more noticeable with bucks due to those antlers.
Yes, I know that you can't eat antlers and I am not what could be called a trophy hunter so please spare me these and any other names/types that you might think apply. I'm 72 years old and I have much experience. Certainly I am no deer biologist, but rather a lifetime learner of things that interest me and deer ares one of those.

The bottom line is that I've found that antler restrictions do work as advertised and are not a regulation that restricts or hinders hunters.....of any age....from taking deer. By the way my friends who hunt public land to the east say the same thing. Have a find day and a fine deer season. Remember it's not about the kill, but rather about the experience.