I don't think I am whining or lecturing, and I probably should have not said Texas because I don't hold to that garbage that everything is bigger in Texas. I also have mule deer, elk, and moose in my back yard so I know the difference in size and bulk. Yes, they are bigger. I also lived in Alaska and other states and upon moving here (again, I lived in the mountains and front range for 10 years in the 80's) I was surprised to find the prohibition against .223 for at least white tail. The fact is I joined an AR-15/Colorado forum which typically means .223/5.56 caliber uses in Colorado and thought, hey, I'll ask here under the "HUNTING" forum to see if anybody knows why Colorado has chosen to reject the .223 caliber for hunting deer. I have tried to offer at least half a dozen reasons we should force the issue of permitting at least white tail deer harvesting with .223 but like I said, it is pretty much a lost cause.