We know the DEC cannot count every single animal harvested, nor do they have the resources to take accurate aerial or field surveys on a very regular basis (every 5 to 10 years). They rely on harvest reports and they also then have a "fudge factor" which is derived from visits to processors, and scanning tags on carcasses. They do this during the week because on w/e's the database is not accessible for them. They will swipe the tags and see if the tag has been reported as filled. They take the % of true values (reported harvests) and compare with total tags counted, and average this across the processor visits. The % of tags not called in is the "fudge factor". Yes, they also do count deer harvested on DMAP and DDP, plus they estimate winter mortality, deaths due to predation and sickness, and also deer-car collisions as well to come up with an estimated annual "death toll" and an estimated population count (I am over simplifying the process and mathematical formulas used, but I hope you get the gist).
Why not??? They do in Ohio, and their seasons run from Oct to Jan. You kill a deer, you MUST take it to a checking station.
They have never never never never had antler restrictions in Ohio and its one of the best trophy states.
Plain and simple. Kill one buck in this state. PERIOD.
Its all about personal choice and self control.The DECcan't "manage" that.
Screw mandated antler restrictions, if people want to wait to kill a trophy deer so be it. If a guy/gal wants to fill the freezer, they paid for the opportunity to do that.
I see antler restrictions as a way for lazy hunters to have a "trophy" buck behind every tree. Just like many peoplewant as many deer as possible so they don't have to "hunt" as hard. Hey its HUNTING.
Like I said, the DEC isn't the biggest problem when it comes to trying to manage for bigger bucks, its the NYS hunters, and their inability let small bucks alone. The DEC could help that problem, by taking the pressure off of people "to fill their buck tags".
Just 1...please.