WOW, what a heated and passionate topic. I'm a new landowner in Southern Tier for about three years now and just started hunting this year. I have no data or past experience on how hunting was 5 years ago, but I do have experience in seeing how local hunters in my area hunt. They strongly believe in the "Brown its Down Mentality". The local farmer/butcher I was introduced to keeps a few tags in the barn just in case DEC shows up, but locals bring him deer to butcher, no tag and just pick up the meat the next day. I think this happens more so then alot of you might want to admit. I don't know how DEC knows how many tags to give out, but I think it has to do with the fact how many honest hunters call there harvest in. If theres hunters out there killing deer and not reporting it, I assume the data DEC gets will be skrewed, no? I'm new to this, so forgive me, but the same local hunters that tell me to my face that they only harvest big bucks turn around and shoot small does and button bucks. What gives? Lets not even talk about the spot light hunting that takes place and the off the side of the road hunting that takes place out of season. Its amazing, and this is why I think deer population is down more so than too many tags or harsh winters. JIMO.