Interesting point, but I too have seen the glory days come and pass. The whitetail deer is a smart and very prolific animal and you may well be right, predation is a very large factor, Now, Heres some food for thought. The couger population is spreading as far east as Michigan and i think Ohio. That has been varified by road kills. I guess my point is at what point do you say this is not "really" archery hunting or /Muzzle loading. Two hundred yard shots with a muzzle buster topped with a 3x9 scope is hardly what was intended. Samewith 70 yard shots out of a 300 FPS bow. Where does it end?? Are Most of the hunters just trying to max out on filled tags?? I bow hunt because I like a challange, If its just about meat then why not do away with archery&muzzle loaderseasons and just make it any wepon and here are the max number of tag's???? Because thats about what it's comming to. IMO