Well although i have refrained from this post because i "simply cant back up what i say with facts", here's my .02 on what i DO know.
If anyone on here has ever been up on the Deseret, you'll know what i'm talking about.
Deseret has one of the largest and oldest "controlled" herds in this state.
Deseret manages their huge elk herd not for "quality" per say, but for "quantity" and for the "elk hunt experience of a lifetime".
They manage that herd for a 1to1 bull/cow ratio.
If you kill a bull over 350", you have killed a monster on that ranch. there are a few that go in the 370 range, but 330 is "average" on that herd.
On a five day guided hunt, i'll show my clients well over 100 300-330 class bulls.
Now i'm not saying that's a bad thing necessarily, but for a herd that that tightly controlled and managed, not too mention 10-13 year old bulls....the fact is, those bulls just don't reach what some call "trophy class".
Be it genetics or management practices that keep the "high scores" down, i can't really say. But i can say they also wipe out around 100 cows every year too to keep those ratio's 1-1 and they simply don't grow true "monster" bulls.
A range can only manage so many animals to sustain optimum antler growth and healthy animals so they can reach their genetic potential.
I'm only an "armchair biologist" like many others on here, but i am also open to listening to your ideas and putting some thought into them. I think pro is on the right track, he's not talking about wiping out an entire heard form any LE units by wanting to up some tags, he's not that drastic or that dumb.
There are a lot of big bulls that make it through the hunting season that people didn't kill. You can see that by going onto the winter ranges and taking a peek.
Not to mention looking on the shed forum in the spring and seeing what is picked up.
Just my .02
Skull Krazy
"No Bones About It"