A CARD MAILED BACK SHOWS AN INCREASE IN THE HERD AND THEREFORE AN INCREASE IN NEXT YEARS TAGS!!!!!
False! They study reporting rates every year to get a baseline reporting rate for all WMU's. They do it by checking tags at butcher shops/taxidermists/field checksin every WMU and then cross checking with report cards sent in. You will only make the estimates more precise by sending them in...Send the darn things in, people!