ORIGINAL: BuckAlley
the DEC does continually say license sales are down. I see just as many hunters in the woods now as I have in the past, so I don't know about that. But then again thats in the areas I hunt.
Amen.
Years ago we would be the only tire tracks on the road for miles and the deer were all over the place.........now opening day of gun we had to go in the woods an hour before daylight just to get a spot..........and then fight off all the oncoming flashlights [
]
They say deer numbers are up and hunter numbers are down.......I think they have it bass ackwards.
I know I don't see the deer in the woods that I used too. 5-6yrs ago I also saw several deer together. Now 2-3 together is more normal.
Sounds familiar.
What do I feel are the answers? 1, start a QDM program. There's nothing like seeing more big bucks in the woods.
They would have to care about the herd and hunters to want to do that.
2, If the DEC isn't willing to take those steps, then how about easying up on the permits in lower populated areas. Let the deer bounce back.
Bounce back??.......After all the years of hard work to eliminate them??