Thanks AJ. I'm just trying to stay involved in the process.

I agree that we as DE Hunters need to take more does. When I hunt deer, I hunt DEER, not BUCKS. I wont shoot fawns, or later season small deer (dog size), but horns dont concern me. Its always nice to bag a trophy, but as hunters, we are part of the conservation process. We need to do our part and if taking does is the answer, we must do so.

I am by no means attacking hunters who chose only to shoot bucks. Thats their choice. But it might, in the long run, hurt our options as hunters.

I was born, raised and began my hunting in NJ. What has happened the past few years in my home state sits in my mind as I hear what it is being proposed in DE. It began with unlimited doe harvests in certain 'overpopulated' zones. Then came "Earn a Buck" zones which required hunters to take a doe before they could harvest a buck. All this was implimented to reduce the doe population, bring the population under control and the QDM factor would introduce more big bucks to the herd. Alot of hunters, including myself, thought it was a great idea at 1st. Then, after a few years, hunters began to see a drop off in deer sightings and little increase in Big Buck sightings this QDM idea had in mind. Reading the NJ posts on this sight back up this statement.

In DE, we need to proceed with caution, not full bore hell bent on culling a herd that might not need to be culled. If during my hunting trips or spring scouting, I saw emaciated deer, starving, tearing apart locals tree lines and lawns, I'd be the 1st one in line to blast away in October. But, I just havent seen it. If someone, anyone, can give a reasonable case to agressively trim the herd, I'll be right in line for the permit. Deer meat is deer meat to me. Buck or Doe.

I'll post the workshop dates when I have them. DE Hunters, please get involved!