04/20/2026
Hot topic here in Michigan: OBR coupled with an APR
First, we want to go on record of opposing an OBR/APR. Our deer population is NOT broken in Michigan. Before we start discussing this let’s set a few misnomers.
Antlers are a good indicator of age: this is FALSE! During our testing of our mineral in free range deer, we have seen 2.5 & 3.5 year old deer that are 8pt, 9pts and 10pts.
APR’s put extra pressure on these young bucks. And this puts a stop to their superior genetics and the scrub spikes, 4pts and 6pts are free to spread their genetics instead.
A whitetail deer has to reach the age of 4.5 yrs old to be considered a “mature” buck. This is because a deers skeleton system stops growing at this time. A whitetail prime breeding years are from 4.5-7.5 yrs of age.
There is a lot to discuss on growing big bucks. Most want to talk about nutrition which is one of the factors. Others want to talk about genetics which is another factor. But the number one factor of growing “Big” bucks is age structure. If you want to shoot big deer you have to let them go so they have the time they need to grow.
Whitetails antlers when tested during velvet; is mainly made up of proteins. When the same antlers are tested when they are harden; they are predominantly made of calcium, phosphorus and the remaining balance is minor trace minerals.
The whitetail strip excess calcium and phosphorus from their skeleton structure and send it up to its antlers for growth. Their skeletal structure gets the vast majority of those minerals and the body trumps the antlers. But at 4.5, their bodies are done growing and now that same calcium and phosphorus can be brought into the antlers for growth. That’s why you want to wait until they at least hit 4.5 yrs old before harvesting them. Because now they are starting to reach their potential.
Most hunters can not properly judge a deer age while it’s live on the hoof. Most see big antlers and “Ass-u-me” they are a big old buck. I personally have seen and harvested 3.5 yr olds free roaming bucks here in Michigan that are 140 class animals. Knowing what I know now, I would have let them walk because I am not the same hunter I was 47 years ago. I would like to think I’ve matured a bit in my personal deer management practice.
So back to the OBR. Is areas in Northern Mi and even in the UP where deer numbers are low. We should not be shooting doe and this is probably the proper place for an OBR coupled with an APR. But this should not be forever: we need to learn to manage our deer heard. So this means mandatory deer check in stations even though it’s not necessarily convenient for the hunter: we need to do our part to manage as well.
In the rest of the lower peninsula, we should have an earn a Buck system. Meaning you should have to take a doe in southern Mi before getting your Buck tag. Again, this is not a forever practice. Mandatory deer check in stations and research has to be part of this so we insure we have healthy deer carrying capacity and numbers.
But just to slap a cookie cutter mandate of an OBR coupled with an APR on the entire state is just reckless. If you want to shoot big deer you need to become a better hunter. These type of regulations may help you bump into a nice buck in the short term. In the long term, this practice will only degrade the quality of our heard.
Best Regards,
HBBB
