Not scientific but it's a fact.This is the worst year our group has experienced.The shots fiired in our area on the two first days can be counted on my two hands.I've heard the same from a boatload of other people.Looks like we finally hit rock bottom on public land.Some places might be damned close to wiped out.
You take a deer herd down to a certain level with yotes and bears those predators are going to keep those low numbers down.
On our drive home from Clearfield we counted one doe on a vehicle.And that's a 3 hour drive on highway.Talked to a guy from Tioga who also saw only one deer in/on a vehicle driving home.
Thing that bothers me the most?I have grandchildren coming up in age to hunt.
If the economy improves I'll be looking into a lease in Maryland.It would suck not going to camp but it's just a waste.
We were holding on for a few years not shooting does but as I expected that two week snow cover took it's toll on our few doe remaining last year.They stuck out like sore thumbs.