That map pretty much shows what the three buck limit will do, just look at IN right in the middle with their 3 buck limit up until just a few years ago.

I find it strange that folks think that TN is a legitimate contender to be in the top 10 B&C states. That is not possible IMO. It is probably possible to crack the top 20, but not the top 10.

If you closed deer season for 10 years, then came in with tranq. guns, just to see if you could break into the top 10 I bet it wouldn't be possible.

As far as that map, I don't doubt it at all. And I don't really care, for me quality bucks are all that I am after and we have plenty here, sure our neighbors may have more, but we have enough to make it interesting.

A couple things. Remember, this is the alltime BC list. If you did a list from just the last 20 years, the last 10 years, the last 5 years, it would be different. Ind, who has never been in the top 10, would probably be in the top 5 in the last 5 years, since going to a 1 buck limit.
And there are states like Ill that have a 2 buck limit, but they dont have any gun season during the rut. There are lots of ways to protect your buck herd besides just the 1 buck limit.

Very interesting again. If IN went to a 1 buck limit, and then moved into the top 5, then there really is no disputing the impacts that reg change can have on the buck age structure. I guess it all comes down to what the desires of the managing agencies goals are and how those correlate with the license holders of that state.

It appears that IN might already have a few other factors in place by looking at its surrounding states (soil and genetics). You can make a Yugo a little faster but it will never out run a Ferrari......JMO

It appears that IN might already have a few other factors in place by looking at its surrounding states (soil and genetics). You can make a Yugo a little faster but it will never out run a Ferrari......JMO

JMO but it seems like some want to only look at the facts they choose to

yes soil and genetics play a role but age and limits and mindset of the hunters which is a directly related to limits and how long they get to hunt with each weapon and firearms during rut

how big of a difference would it make here if you only had a few days of rifle that did not take place during rut or had a one or two buck limit not saying i want them but you have to be rational and realize that there is way more to it than what most argue about on here

the truth is that we can not compare TN to any other state because we are not like any other state and may not ever be in terms of limits and seasons so until we are it is all just opinions and you will never be able to present all the facts, how would you even begin to figure how the mindset of hunters change when the limits change, you can't unless you try it first

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...how would you even begin to figure how the mindset of hunters change when the limits change, you can't unless you try it first

I think soil and genetics play a bigger factor than buck limits. Just because theres a states line doesn't mean that some of those states don't share the same soil. It looks like the S.E. is a whole different ball game and TN just falls below that line.....JMO.

P.S. I'm not buying into that buck limits from three to one will make that big of a difference in TN. Several of those top ten states have a two buck limit and had entries in the record bucks way before these states went to stricter regs,.....JMO

I heard a biologist from Wisc speak onetime some years ago. He made the statement, if you dont think buck limits make a difference, then look at a BC map, and pay special attention to the Wisc-Michigan state line. He went on to say, that Wisc was the #1 BC producer of all-time, but that one quick look of a BC map showed a distinct difference between the Wisc-Mich state line, and it wasnt a coincidence.
Its not the only state line that sure provides a stark difference. I am not sure how people can explain that away.
Also, yes there are some states like Ill with a two buck limit on the BC list. But they have a short shotgun season after the rut. Lots of ways to protect you age structure.

Also, yes there are some states like Ill with a two buck limit on the BC list. But they have a short shotgun season after the rut.

Actually, the 1st Illinois shotgun hunt (3-day) normally starts around November 18, which is usually around the peak of the rut or just slightly after (at least where I hunt in S. Illinois). But their short gun season does help.

Dont quote me on this, but I thought I had seen fecal studys from Ill that backdated the peak to the 12th of Nov. Which would mean their gun season started 6 days after the peak.

How can that be determined from feces?

WEST VIRGINIA

For more than 20 years, a block of four counties along West Virginia's southwestern border--Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming--have been limited to archery-only for whitetail hunting. These counties now yield excellent trophy whitetail hunting. For example, during the 2002 season, of the 65 trophy bucks (scores of at least 126 typical or 155 non-typical B&C) taken in the state's 55 counties, 37 came from the four archery-only counties.

Several large public-hunting areas lie within the four counties, including the 17,000-acre RD Bailey WMA, the 7,810-acre Panther State Forest, the 18,000-acre Tug Fork WMA and the 13,000-acre Laurel Lake WMA. ATVs aren't allowed in these WMAs. These counties also have large timber and mining company land holdings that are open to public hunting.