ORIGINAL: bluebird2
This was never about trophy hunting, but buck doe ratio. Do you ever wonder why you walk through the woods and see very little scraping and rubbing activity? There is no need for it in many areas of the country as the bucks have too many does to breed now. They don't need to advertise. That is a sure sign of a skewed buck doe ratio.
Our B/D ratio was 1:2.1 or better before Alt was appointed. Now,according to Dr. Rosenberry says our B/D ratio is a little better than 1:2. Alt lied about our B/D ratio being skewed and used it to get hunters to shoot more doe.
Habitat is indeed a limiting factor in deer herd size. If you look at the understory in your wood lot you will see the browse line, where the deer have eaten as high as they can reach, standing on their hind leg
Habitat can in fact be a limiting factor in herd size, but it was not the limiting factor in PS or we wouldn't have had to kill all those doe to reduce the herd. If habitat was the limiting factor breeding rates and recruitment would have increased as the herd was reduced, but breeing rates and productivity decreased.
You are dealing with theories and I am dealing with the facts provided by the deer in PA.
Not so. The damage done by the herd actually limited the herds recoupment due to the devestation of the understory. Look up the kaibob plateau to fully understand what a deer herd can do to decimate a habitat.
As far as dealing with theories, I would beg to differ. I have been studying whitetail ecology and habitat enhancement since long before you knew what it was. I have been studying this stuff for close to thirty years now.