Here in PA I think some management is needed. For both deer and people. Not to grow monster bucks but to ensure healthy forest, deer, and people issues.
When I started deer hunting bucks were hunted for 2 weeks with a rifle. Does where hunted after the two week season for three days. And before that does where protected. This method caused 80 percent of bucks to be killed every year.
The antler restrictions in PA allow for young bucks to become adults which brings the herd into a proper balance of age structure.
In the early 2000s the 3 day doe season ended. Does and bucks where now hunted during the 2 week rifle season. This helped to reduce the overall deer population as a whole and also balance the buck to doe ratio and help reduce over browsing of the forest.
Now doe season in most of PA is during the second week of the rifle seasons.
Perfect. No, but it is doing more for the deer and forest in PA. And continual study and changes are made to help the herd as needed.
Senior and juniors do not have to abide by the antler restrictions and they also get a doe only 3 day rifle season in October.
There is a week long doe only inline muzzle loader season in October and cross guns are used during archery.
There is also a late season archery and flintlock season after Christmas.
And don’t forget the year long season of car hunting. But it is very expensive and insurance companies hate that method.
I don’t agree with all PA does with the deer herd and hunting seasons but at least they are using biologist and watching other states for what works instead of doing nothing.
Here us one resource on PA antler restrictions. They also posted there management plans.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/715029/handout_-_biology_and_hunting_-_antler_restrictions_-_v13_20090806_pdf
