I think they already are saying "screw this."

We are losing non-residents this year like crazy. They are not willing to pony up the $$$for three reasons:

1) CWD and the export rules.
2) No DMP for NR
3) A much smaller deer herd - and tougher hunting.

I have already seen resident hunters doing the same. I heard a couple of guys buying licenses this year complaining that they are paying $10 to "play the lottery" for a losy 30% shot at a DMP. They didn't draw...and were pretty pissed. They said they can find better things to do with their time than chase the last antlered deer around Steuben County.

I don't think its quite that bad...but its bad.

Steuben County always leads the state in Total Deer Harvest and Buck Harvest. We won't do it this year, for either statistic. They have absolutely hammered down the herd here.

Do not expect it to get better quickly, either (although it will get better if they keep the DMP down).

Whitetails are remarkably prolific creatures, but as Atlasman points out there are still plenty of tags. The DECALS 3/2 system and the fact you can fill all your empty tags in MZ means a few hunters can continue to pound hell out of a very specific locality.