Originally Posted by
Shawn White
In Missouri the antler restriction goes like this... 4 point minimum on 1 side ,no matter the size of rack (4 point half rack is the bottom end).However this does not apply to youth tags on youth weekend only ,the law is in effect for youths during any other season and applies with all legal methods of hunting.
This has been in effect for about 3-4 years in an attempt to let bucks mature ,thus produce more trophy deer for harvest (and bring in more $$$). There are several area's that are starting to do away with the restriction (Like where Mark and Terry Drury's NE MO farm is ) I dont know exactly why ,but the rumors I have heard range from -deer populations are at a all time high ,- since deer populations are so high we are seeing a lot of blue tongue disease killing the heards off. I've also heard that the severe drought has limited the water supply to stagnant water sources and the blue tongue was spread much quicker due to the fact that animals with blue tongue are contaminating the limited water sources.
I have locally seen a noticable decline in deer in general last season at places that where always good for some does feeding. Several farmer friends have commented that they have seen multiple cascaras on their property.
I dont think the antler restriction has panned out like they had hoped.
It also eliminates buck management since you cant take out the little basket racks that are mature and that will never amount to a hill of beans ,but still end up reproducing, so we have generations of them to follow.