What is everyone's take on the 13 inch antler restriction rule? I feel this rule has hurt the deer population and management practices more than helped it. What I've noticed on my lease in Hamilton county is that because of this rule, we have become overpopulated with small rack bucks and they are doing majority of the breeding. I wish the state would impliment some much needed changes to this rule. First, make this rule only apply every other year(i.e. say 2009, 2011, etc.), second, make this rule apply to hunters 18 years of age and older so our much needed younger hunters can take these small rack bucks out for us and help stabilize the Buck-Doe ratios and keep them in check. I'm thinking on writing to TPWD to get their take on my proposal but before I do I'd like to get some feedback from other deer hunters out there so please let me know your thoughts! My personal email is dpotts6@sbcglobal,net. Thanks!!!

I like the rule. Having a lot of small rack bucks says to me that the rule is working. A buck here and there means not many deer. Hamilton county for the most part has the terrain to support a lot of animals. So why not have many deer and let them get some age on them and then go to two mature bucks.

As soon as the aggregate of hunters learns to properly age deer on the hoof, the deer population will be much better off. The 13 inch rule creates an inverse to the desired effect of increased deer size (antlers) over time.

Short example: In the event a 2 1/2 year old deer grows a desired larger rack (14"+), he is eligible to be killed, instead of giving him the opportunity to breed a d create more just like him. On the other hand, the inferior 12" buck of the same age, gets to breed and live another season,... creating the opposite effect of making the deer population better.

If all hunters could age deer, however, then you impose a "must be 4 1/2+ years old" law. Then, you could selectively give the better bucks a chance to breed and make the whole herd better.

An over-simplified deer management rule is: Shoot the inferior deer while they are young and let the superior deer die of old age.