I have no why to know if what you’re saying is correct or not. Let’s say it is. It must be an area that management believes it’s worth the loss to the program. It would not make sense to me, for wise management to let a large number of mature males or females to die of old age, if hunting was their management strategy…… would it? Asking that in all sincerity. Maybe there is something you know that I don’t.
We all seem to argue the extreme ends of the reality…… myself included. There is middle ground, where most of hunter kills can be mature animals……where we have minimal loss to old age death. In a well managed environment most antlered animals live three to five years after they reach maturity. Again, if well managed, I’m betting not a very high percentage die of old age. It is more work for management however, I will admit that. It depends what’s important to the system, in each case. I prefer watching, hunting and killing mature animals, you prefer something different. I believe my preference is a healthier environment, apparently you think something different is healthier…… at least I would hope you do.