I do a lot of bowhunting in one of the Ulster county units in the pilot program.The unit I hunt just concluded year three I believe.Last year I saw the most 2.5 year old bucks I have ever seen before and killed either a 2.5 year old or 3.5 year old eight pointer in the archery season..This year in my spots sightings were way down in the archery season,I attribute that to the archery season being very warm so movement was suppressed and the fact that I left earlier than usual to go out to Idaho to hunt because of Thanksgiving falling early this year.
I really believe that the pilot program has been beneficial.Unfortunately our buck take per square mile is very poor,I believe in the one pilot unit it is less than one buck taken per square mile.