Interesting thoughts and opinions in your posts.I pretty much agree with everything written here.
Turkeyhunter,I have a good bit of experience under my belt but not quite 50 years like yourself.I also remember the days of seeing 20-50 deer a day and sometimes more in Potter and Perry county.The buck to doe ratio back then seemed to be alot better up north.These were the times when I got my kids started and I have to say it was a thrill for them to scope deer throughout the day.They could hunt from sun up until sun down and see deer throughout the day.They loved it and are avid hunters to this day.Now it's hard pressed to see a few deer in a days hunt in most places in the NC.I spend my fair share of days lately with seeing no deer at all.Oh there's a few there and like this year a big buck I was after.But man I just couldn't imagine trying to keep a young kid's interest in that type of hunting.Back in the day bringing my kids up as deer were seen I could explain why they were doing such behavior and it was a good way for them to learn.
Now I do understand the habitat vs deer populations and will say there needed to be some reductions but that's a whole other issue
When we have somewhere around a 10% drop in license sales compared to a increase nationwide something is wrong.Well actually there's alot wrong.The PGC wants a license increase yet most game numbers are down.The audabon and some of these other groups need to start paying the tab also because the PGC is involved in all wildlife not just game animals.As I drank my coffee I noticed there weren't any birds outside then I saw the hawk and knew why.Predators while being protected are another reason for the lack of animals we have including birds.
OK I've started to shoot off here and get away from the subject.
I feel we have lost our voice here in PA as hunters.There's obviously a problem with deer management and I'm still hoping we can find middle ground between the game/habitat.I also worry that the hunter is being put aside for the extreme environmentalist agenda.And that's ashame knowing how much money we put into habitat improvements,conservation,and the economy in general.