Why points to protect yearling bucks?
Hunters traditionally must already look to the head of a deer to determine gender. It is not unreasonable to expect hunters to look at the animal’s antlers and count three points. Also, law enforcement officers find it easy to enforce. While antler spread or beam length may intrinsically have value in yearling buck protection, they are much harder to field judge quickly. Sportsmen in at least 8 other wildlife management units have sought the expansion of the antler restriction program. Larger areas will increase the success of the program. The more hunters that see and experience the benefits, the easier further expansion will be! The DEC “believes that large contiguous areas with consistent regulations minimizes confusion among hunters and may reduce accidental non-compliance”.
