It would be impossible for the USP to do a meaningful study ,since the PGC controls all the data and there is no independent source of data on which to based a study.
You could do a study with out someone elses data you just couldn't do it on as large a scale.
Take a WMU and do a study on the overall herd in that area and if it's as low as you say you could then argue you are an "independent" source of data.
How can you argue your right and they are wrong with nothing to back it up.
In Ny I kept fishing diaries as did some of my buddies that were used by the state.
So how mnay biologists and wildlife managers do you have in your ranks?