To many deer in NJ? Son not sure how long you have been hunting here in NJ, but the deer herd is hurting in NJ. There was a time when I would see 50 or more deer per day with quality bucks, now I may see 10 per day and still see the same quality of bucks.The state allows for the unlimited harvest of antlerless deer since 1997 or so. They need to cut back this program, they need to stop any type of deer hunting with a firearm after the new year, and there should be no deer hunting after Jan. 31st They also need 3 points to aside statewide. Long hunting seasons are stressful to the herd, allowing antlerless harvest isn't good, who knows how many button bucks got harvested since 1997, that could of been nice bucks within a few years. They should allow 2 or maybe 3 bucks per year per hunter with 3 points to oneside, and 3 antlerless deer per year per hunter, and if any hunter who harvest a button buck must give up there buck tag.
I have been hunting in NJ for 15+ years. In South Jersey there are too many deer, and I am guessing if you are seeing 10 deer a day in North Jersey there is too many up there too. (Of course some areas arehave too few, and othersway too many, but I am talking overall statewide)As for the rest of your post, I think that most if not all biologists would argue against the "allowing antlerless harvest isn't good" theory. The way to have a healthy deer herd is too have the population near or at the carrying capacity, not way over it, and to have a balanced doe/buck ratio, which is only possible through antlered and antlerless harvests. As for antler restrictions, I agree it would be nice, but I wouldn't say we NEED them, as alot of people don't really care how big a buck they shoot, they are meat hunting. (and as long as deer drives are legal they probably won't go to them..) As for button bucks, I have no trouble with someone shotting one, although I wish NJ would count them as bucks when checked in, not "antlerless deer". Just difference of opinion I guess, based on hunting different areas...