Probably a lot would agree on an exception for obvious mature but narrow bucks, but im not sure it would be practical to pull off.

I actually wish they would set an age on bucks and go with that. Put out several videos on how to on their website.

That would be perfect in practice, but lets get real it will never ever work.

I have posted pictures of deer that we have 4+ years of photos of and people call them 3 lol

And I bet you can post photos of 3 year olds and people will say they are 5.

IMO, it's not so much hunters being able to judge the specific age of a buck but that it's "at least" three or four. Antler restrictions were never meant to make sure every buck lived to be old but only to increase the age structure. Before antler restrictions, hunters were taken 2-1/2 year olds with small, 10 and 12-point basket racks. If someone shoots a big-bodied 8-point with a 12-inch rack, I say more power to them, should that ever become legal.

Ya'll can search for the long laborious posts of the past, but using the terms "data" or "science" in an Antler Restrictions thread is completely comical to say the least.

TPWD does not have up to date data, NOR are they collecting data based on AR's. The only data they get are from MLD logs, or game warden law enforcement contacts. It's an orphan program, no data or science to back it up at this point, and none to allow it to be discredited.

Shoot more hoes ,, oops. Does.

That's what has been happening in our area since our narrow gene bucks dominate, now we are seeing less does and bucks. But I will say, the narrow bucks are some nice tall 10 and 11 point beauties.

when the people who complain the most about AR's are the ones shooting mature deer on the regular, then maybe that opinion will matter.

Mississippi might be ahead of Texas on the antler restrictions for those narrow bucks, they added in a main beam length as a qualification of taking a deer so that allows a narrow racked mature buck to be harvested without someone estimating age.

It's absolutely transformed East Texas hunting......hope it's fine tuned but remains forever

Psst! Keep that to yourself. Most folks don't believe there are many big deer in East Texas.

I am sure it has; especially where the population can sustain and thrive from the increased harvest. In counties with smaller populations, that got blanketed with the same rules, it has hurt overall.

Why are these counties so limited in population? Is it over harvest? Limited food? Limited cover?

Ive never hunted in an area where the slaughter of does wasnt needed. We shoot close to 10 does a year off our 320 acres have for a decade and we arent making a dent.

The pic from below is from the Misfsissippi regs. Main beam lenght or antler spread to qualify as legal allows for those mature narrow bucks to be legal. I would like to see it implemented in Texas as well.

Would be nice.

I could get on board for something like this.

Perfect example of why we dont have stuff like that. That buck if broadside wont meet the requirements.

but this baby would but he needs 4 more years.

Where would the end of his beams fall if he wasnt looking down. Still doesnt look like a legal buck by the images Kmon posted.

Not saying that is the best method but it would allow for a lot of those narrow 3+ year old bucks (that you see on many threads discussing antler restrictions posted) with narrow spreads to be harvested legally. One of your 3 bucks a year where those regs are at can be below the minimum in that section.

Hook_n_line there is a provision to take the buck you posted in the regs. One of your 3 bucks may be smaller than the minimum antler restrictions, so under these you could still remove him from the heard if you want legally.

Antler restrictions have helped a lot in Leon and burleson co where we own property.
I like antler restrictions and hope it stays.
We see some really good bucks compared to years before restrictions.
If it were lifted in these areas it would go back to b lucky to get a 12”8pt
IMO.

Fannin, Lamar, Red River have a few pockets of deer that have huntable numbers. The regs apply to the whole county, which means virtually every spike gets shot, anything close to 13 gets shot, and the middle bucks are left as the breeders. Guess what you get over time, more middle sized bucks. The Fannin County data set was less than 10 deer before they implemented AR's. Even TWPD own external review, said they had way too little data to make these changes, or support keeping them.

I also hunt a ton in Foard/Hardeman Counties. One buck. When often we see 10-12 bucks at a time, with some really ugly ones... so I wouldn't mind a Spike or clean up tag out there as discussed above... because the herd can handle the pressure.