How can a three-antler-point minimum reduce the harvest of older bucks?
Although it sounds contradictory, a three-antler-point minimum restriction is one way to limit overall buck harvest. Older bucks with three antler points or more are the most difficult to harvest because usually they are more wary and experienced in avoiding hunters. When hunters are restricted to harvesting only that age class, far fewer are actually removed from the population. It allows those younger bucks with two antler points or less to survive and grow into that older age class. WDFW biologists believe this change will increase the number of bucks surviving to an older age.
