Where we lived before, when the state started APRs we started seeing a LOT more 3+ year old deer in just a couple of seasons.APR's serve no purpose other than discouraging certain types of hunters from hunting certain areas. It might reduce a little bit of hunting pressure in an area (which is good), but it does nothing to improve the quality of deer that live there. After 2-3 years, APR's actually have a fairly negative impact on deer populations.
If reduction in pressure was truly a goal, and WGFD really wanted to try something that'd help, they'd do away with statewide Gen tags for residents and make folks pick between archery and rifle seasons. This is coming from a resident who usually puts in for a "once in a lifetime" type of tag because falling back on a Gen tag isn't a bad thing. I can hunt from Sept. 1 to early Nov. across the state on a Gen tag.
Make folks pick an area and a season, see how it works. If nothing else, it'll at least improve the quality of the hunt.
Ultimately, weather and habitat are the biggest factors. And, you've got an explosion of elk, which mule deer lose to in the competition of resources (mule deer lose to every animal in the competition of resources, including whitetail), and probably 15 other factors that play into it.
Considering 70% of all 1.5 year old bucks were killed during rifle season in Missouri, APRs made a significant difference.
There is nothing or anybody that could convince me otherwise. I scouted, hunted and took others hunting as a nearly year round endeavor... and had terrific views to monitor deer all around my property.
APRs did make a huge difference. This of course is for those of is that like to kill big deer and don't care to shoot young/small bucks.
Here is a simple story problem:
70% of yearling bucks killed during firearms season. I see similar here in WY and no doubt a lot of youngsters are killed in Montana too.
If it is illegal to kill baby bucks, then more survive... increasing herd size! Also increases the quality of available bucks.
No brainer...