In an Archery Wire article, American deer hunters are killing the highest-ever percentage of buck's age 3 1/2 and older according to data gathered by Quality Deer Management Association in its 2015 Whitetail Report.

During the 2013-14 season from data available from all states, 34 percent of bucks harvested and who collect buck age data, were 3 1/2 or older. That number is up from 32 percent the season before, and is significantly up from a decade before, when only 23 percent of the national buck harvest was mature.

These gains, says the report, have been made while the percentage of yearling bucks (1 1/2 years old) in the harvest has steadily declined, reaching a record low of 36 percent.

"This is a testament as to how far we've come as hunters in the past decade," said Kip Adams, QDMA Director of Education and Outreach, who compiles this annual whitetail report. "More hunters are choosing to protect yearling bucks, and they are being rewarded by seeing and killing more of them as mature animals."

In Pennsylvania's case, it's most likely because of the three or four point to one side rule.

It is QDMA that gathers whitetail harvest data from every state and province then compiles, compares, analyzes and shares information with deer hunters and the hunting industry.

This trade-off can be seen in state-by-state data. The five states with the lowest percentage of yearling bucks in the antlered buck harvest were Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas.

On the other hand, QDMA reports that while the age structure of the buck harvest is improving, the total buck harvest declined four percent from an estimated 2.85 million in 2012 to 2.74 million in 2013.

In their 2015 Whitetail Report, it examines 10-year trends in total buck and doe harvest by state. In this analysis, while the Northeast and Southeast have been relatively stable, the Midwest region saw a significant drop in deer harvests: 18 percent fewer bucks from 2003-2013, and 20 percent fewer does.

While lower harvests in some areas are a result of intentional efforts to reduce deer density, in other areas deer populations have dropped below levels that the habitat can support in healthy conditions, says the report. In their latest findings, other factors were explored that included hemorrhagic disease outbreaks, harsh weather, habitat loss and over harvest.

In their Top 5 States 2013 Antlered Buck Harvest, Pennsylvania placed fifth with 134, 280 compared to number one Texas at 330,535, Michigan followed at 203,057; Wisconsin, 143,738; and Georgia at 137,025.

As for the Top 5 in Buck Harvest/Square Mile, Pennsylvania again ranked fifth with 3.0 compared to number one South Carolina at 3.8; Michigan, 3.6; Maryland, 3.3; and West Virginia at 3.1.

As for the antlerless harvest, Pennsylvania placed third with 218,640 while Georgia came in first at 316,927; Texas in second at 295,042; Wisconsin fourth at 198,891; and fifth, Michigan at 175,737.

To read QDMA's complete 62 page report online go to www.qdma,com/corporate/whitetail-report.