ORIGINAL: BigJohn H
DoctariAFC To my knowledge there has been no changes, this is the first year I have hunted the property but I have been involved with the property IE scouting putting up stands etc.. for a couple of years, The property is surrounded on 3 sides by farm land which is not hunting in the off seasons and the people that I have spoken to live on the farms and own a camp nearby, the property owner where I hunt doesn't hunt but even she has noticed fewer deer in her maintained area (yard) based on her info as well as the others and my hunting experience this last season I would have to say there are less deer there. I was surprised while scouting the few tracks I saw. The reason for hunting the area at all was it is close to home and it was my wifes first time that was could hunt rifle together. As far as credible I think that the people who have been hunting that area since the 60's would know if the deer population has fallen off not just "here say".
What else does the DEC rely on besides what the people who live in the area tell them? They aren't out tracking the movements of the deer in every area in the state nor can they rely upon the number of deer reported, as not everyone does what is right and reports their kills.
The DEC uses their bowhunter observation diary program and other similar hunter observation diary programsfor info, and then the harvest reports and taxidermist/ processor surveys. I agree, the DEC doesn't use enough information, but, then again, some of the reason is the subjective nature many observations are veiled in.
Have the farmers been using the DMAP program at all? DDP? The DEC was issuing these tags like condoms to school kids during the first part of this decade, in an attempt to satisfy the Farm Bureau and their crop damage study done by Cornell.
The interesting thing is how the "new" strategy of maintaining a balanced herd will play out. Since we do not have habitat studies to examine concerning this area (natural succession - it has been 40+ years since the '60's, invasive plants pushing natural forage out, changes in water table due to development somewhere down the line, etc) we are really in the dark. We cannot kill all the deer, even with the slaughter policy of the early 2000s. Further, deer do move to better food sources.
I have seen the track scenario, quantity, change in Cattaugus County over the past several years, especially recently. But last season I saw more young deer than I ever have in any season, which bodes well for the future, at least in the area where I hunt hard.
All I can recommend is for you to get involved in the Deer Management Advisory Board in your area. This will give you insight into how the harvest goals are established, and give you the chance to speak for the area you hunt. But, bear in mind, observations can be very subjective. What you're experiencing in your particular pacth of ground isn't reflective of another patch of ground.
Ultimately, we must consider that working with nature is a tough business, and we have no control over nature, quite the opposite. Continue to press the DEC to further reduce the DMAP and DDP programs, and monitor the doe harvest goals like a hawk. Many BBs get harvested on DMP, DMAP and DDP. Our recruitment of new bucks is potentially being compromised through increased antlerless harvest.
I would recommend getting involved.