Great point. The question was asked regarding the penalties for late reporting. The DEC said there aren't any being enforced at this time. Which begs the question, why the heck fire do you have mandatory reporting within 48 hrs of harvest in the first place? If you don't mean it through lack of enforcement, does it not send the completely wrong message to Hunters? FUBAR.

In reality, most hunters who do not report, at least from the complaints that I have heard (and I have heard many), is that the process takes too long. Busy signals, phone mail jail, push this button then that button, and it is not all that difficult to erroneously press the wrong button, and you're forced to start all over again, without clear understanding of whether the report was partially saved or not. The first year I used that 888-game -rpt system, it took me well over an hour to make the report. It was a comedy of electronic errors. First part of the effort I was greeted with busy signals. Then I finally got through, and half way through hearing the schpiel from the State, my cell phone quit. After recharging the phone I called in again, met busy signals again, on the third call of the second try I got through, and went through the 15 minutes of press this button, say your last name, enter your tag# and lic number, etc., etc, I finally completed successfully the report. Sure was more difficult than filling out a form in black ink and dropping it in the mail box.

We have some good ideas coming out on the reporting issue. This is where we need to focus our energies first, IMHO. Heck, NY Outdoor News had an article concerning reporting rates in their most recent issue, and the Q concerning reporting in different regions being all over the lot. I just used the State average of @ 78% compliancy. Could be far worse in other areas. Could be a bit better in some regions too. But improvement is critical because this information is a prerequisite for hope of success in any wildlife management planning.