Just a few points (about hunting - not fishing??)
I am from the southern tier and hunt in chenango county. We had a good season (i guess) - three nice doe, however we probably should have had more, just couldn't see the deer (they were there, as was evident from all the tracks - I mean there were a ton of tracks all season) but the deer all seem to have been running at night and at places where we weren't. I saw several deer (4-6) up close (actually too close to shoot - couldn't get them in the scope as they were trotting by) and many more. Bow season was a different story, didn't get out much, didn't see much (passed up a nice doe and saw a nice buck and that was about it - still fun). Did not see one buck during gun season, however there were a few nice ones running around (I saw a large track and friend saw a huge deer - probably a nine point and we found a dead 7 pt, 17.5" spread on our land (damn!!!). All this said, it was a successful season and most I talked to had good years, however some did not (that's hunting, isn't it???)

about the DMP and number of deer that can be taken - the changes that the DEC made are beneficial to both the deer herd and hunters. Just because you can take 7 deer doesn't mean you will (have you ever heard of anyone doing that?? Me niether. Whatever you may think about the DEC, they do know what they are doing and there is a reason for the number of permits they issue (the deer herd is TOO large). There have been many year's when our groupo has gotten only one or 2 doe permits and other years when we have had 8 or more. Roll with the punches. Even with the percieved increase of deer being taken with the increased opportunities (increase doe permits, bow/muzzle tags, DMAP, etc.), the simple fact is that the deer take has not increased (actually lower). Less and less hunters means the people that do hunt will have to take more deer to keep the herd in check or eventually mother nature will do it for us and then we will have a hard time seeing deer in the woods.

those who complain about the DMAP program, abviously don't know any farmers. I personally know many farmers (i work with them) and many have serious problems with deer damage. And the permits are not generally abused. One farmer I know gets several every year and may or may not use all of them every year. But lo and behold there are more deer the next year, and the next, and the next.... get my point. They may take 10-15 deer and they still have problems. Also, my uncle (Otsego Co.) lost an entire pumpkin crop to deer (several thounsands of dollar lost!!!) and all he could do is watch as they ate the pumpkins (he did get some nusiance permits but not enough and it was too late). DMAP are necessary and are not given out willy nilly. Each case is reviewed and in most cases the farmers could probably use more.

NYBowhunter - I don't know where exactly u hunt, but my buddy hunts just south of the hamlet of Owasco and they had an excellent year. They got 2 wall hanger bucks, another buck, and a 3 or 4 doe 9and saw many more). I hunted with them one weekend and saw the biggest buck I have ever seen (there it was, there it wasn't!!! - boy I was sick that I didn't get a shot). Shows how much difference there can be in a close prroximity.

Sorry for the long post, but I thought these things needed to be said.