Again, antler point restrictions are a better hunter management tool than a deer management tool.
500 hunters with a 50% success rate kill 250 buck deer, 200 of which have 4 points, in an area that does not use APR
Place a 4 points or better APR on the same area, only 350 hunters show up, the other 150 went someplace they can shoot the first deer they see (and the agency still sold 500 tags).
These 350 hunters have the same 50% success rate, so only 175 deer are killed, all with 4 points. There is less total harvest (175 vs. 250), less 4 point harvest (175 vs. 200) meaning 25 more 4 points got to live this year, fewer hunters in the field (350 vs. 500) equaling a better experience for the hunters.
Next year there may be to large a buck doe ratio, and the managers remove the APR.
A simplified version of how the APR rules may help a herd.
Very simplified.
ETA: I use 4 points counted the western way - per side. 8 pointer east of the river!
500 hunters with a 50% success rate kill 250 buck deer, 200 of which have 4 points, in an area that does not use APR
Place a 4 points or better APR on the same area, only 350 hunters show up, the other 150 went someplace they can shoot the first deer they see (and the agency still sold 500 tags).
These 350 hunters have the same 50% success rate, so only 175 deer are killed, all with 4 points. There is less total harvest (175 vs. 250), less 4 point harvest (175 vs. 200) meaning 25 more 4 points got to live this year, fewer hunters in the field (350 vs. 500) equaling a better experience for the hunters.
Next year there may be to large a buck doe ratio, and the managers remove the APR.
A simplified version of how the APR rules may help a herd.
Very simplified.
ETA: I use 4 points counted the western way - per side. 8 pointer east of the river!