I've seen the argument that they don't want to kill the older "breeder bucks". I've seen studies where they put several different aged bucks in a pen with a bunch of does and after a year they kill every deer in the pen and check the DNA. Several of the younger 2 1/2 year old bucks were the dominant breeders and some of the older bucks had very few offspring. Isn't the DNA of a 2 1/2 old buck the same when the buck gets to be 5 1/2 anyway?
That same "older breeder buck" would pass a long the same genes at 2.5 and 3.5. They don't have to be old and big to pass on good genes. Considering does play a major factor in antler genetics this weakens the argument even more. All that said i seriously doubt the committee is concerned with producing trophy deer.
