Age will never be a requirement by the state because they cannot educate everybody that hunts in all areas of the state enough to feel confident even half the hunters can properly age a deer correctly.

My experience is solely based on hunting my 308ac lease in an AR restricted county. We have property(129ac) hunted to the NW of our place, all the remaining 2800ac surrounding us is not hunted and farmed. Over the last 3 years, the bucks haven't gotten noticeably wider but have gained substantial mass and number of tines. Out of our 7, 4-5yo bucks that did't meet antler restriction at 2yo, only 1 has meet it and is pushing the envelope. yet all 7 have gained 50-90inches in mass, 4-9" in height and on avg 4-6 more tines, some went from 8s-12s with drop tines and some grew stickers off their g2 and g3s. I haven't done any research of the reasoning behind the AR, but for our place it has only increased the age of the bucks, with very few moving past 13" if not there by age 2. We do however make it a point to never cull a doe that drops twins unless she is age 6 and above. there are a few does with distinguishing marks that we have on intention to kill, unless they are injured or stop dropping twins.

The reason antler restrictions are a thing is because people in texas have become more trophy minded than they use to be. Horns not meat are the most important thing for hunters in this generation. It used to be opposite.

The genetics of the overall herd will still be there. What you see in the older narrow bucks is a result of what has been allowed to reach maturity and is not a pure example of the genetics of the area.

For example, out West there are ranches that are corporate leases and are more or less “day leased” to clients. These ranches get topped out, so all the mature deer are very weak. Basically, the better deer are shot at 3-4yo. The genetics to produce a higher top end is still there, but it would take a few years to allow that trait to become prevalent again.

IMO, it is virtually impossible to “change the genetics” of a LF herd. Shooting simply allows you to decide which deer reach their max potential by reaching full maturity.

Never is a very long time, however your point is well taken.

A program that grants hunters greater harvest guidelines after completing additional training might be a possible solution.

. . . .Plainly, have you ever seen a rancher slaughter/eat his best herd bulls each year, leave the weaker, smaller bulls, and expect the herd to get better or healthier?