While letting the little bucks walk may not "Make" them bigger, it will allow them to get a little closer to their genetic potential!
I believe some places in Maine NEED Quality Buck Managment meaning a few less does and allowing bucks to reach 'fork' or 'six-point' levels before harvesting.
This is how I plan to manage my acreage next year when I have more time to devote to food plots, not so much to hunt over but to help the herd become and stay healthy.
12 inch spread? That would make Maine a trophy state for sure and we would lose a bunch of non resident hunters! There would be as much whining as if you made trout anglers release every trout caught for two years.
Something that helps the resource usually creats crybabies!