The QDMA mantra has always been to let young bucks walk. The age structure that's best according to them means you have some older bucks that live. Conveniently, this also means that hunters got to shoot bigger bucks, with bigger antlers. This was thought to be biologically responsible, and I'm sure it is, or was.

Now with CWD, the older bucks are the ones that generally carry the disease, and travel further from their home to breed. This, in theory, spreads it further, and quicker. Tennessee now has an "Earn-A-Buck Program". They are encouraging hunters to kill more bucks. A 180 degree reversal from the old way.

Which way is correct? Kill more bucks at a younger age, or kill less bucks and let them get old? I'm sure that bigger antlers complicate our decision making.