I think we are starting to see the results of what happens when all you kill are the big, nice bucks, and let the scrub bucks continue to live and breed. After so many years there are far more inferior bucks with weak gene traits than there are super bucks.
Things have really changed big time, from back in the 50's. In those days there were lots of nice bucks, but many of the people who hunted them, hunted for meat, thus didn't want to shoot some big, heavy horned buck, as in those days most of us just threw the antlers away anyway.
And back in those days most deer were taken with an open sighted 06, 270, 30/30 or such weapon at reasonably close range. A few big bucks were taken, but with the numbers in those days, many nice bucks remained.
Step forward to today. We have far less deer, far fewer big bucks, way more hunters, and the fire power and range in which they can kill bucks, compared to those days, is no comparison. Add to that the very few areas we have today, where there is limited hunting.
When one keeps taking out of the gene pool, the best of the best, and leave the worst of the worst, what more can one expect!
Don't get me wrong, the Henry's are a great place, and its fun to go there and see the deer, but I notice every year it gets harder and harder to find the really nice bucks. Hunting has changed so much in the past 60 years and with today's management and push to sell the high price tags, or draw the sportsman tags, that in many areas and with some species, and especially mule deer, what else can one really expect but more of the same. Soon the Henry's will be gone as we have known it in the past. Its just a matter of time with the way it is being hunted and managed.
Have a good one. BB