ORIGINAL: alloutdoors
And exactly what would that current mess be? The fact that the buck take was down by 20,000 this year? Do you have any idea how insignificant a number like 20,000 is when talking about the state as a whole??? The harvest was still above average.
GOD.......you are the kind of guy the DEC dreams about. Willing to swallow any line they feed ya. I personally don't care one bit about numbers they pump out. Let me ask you something, how do you know they are telling you the truth......and not just what you WANT to hear?? How do you really know what they do as far as accuracy or reliablility?? You don't. You just take these stupid figures as gospel and run with them.
I personally know over a dozen guys that don't call in their harvests on the DECALS system and I am just one guy!!!.........this is the system you are relying on for accurate reporting of your deer herd.
I prefer to go by what I see with my own eyes year after year for the last 17 years and what my dad and all his friends have seen for the last 40+.........a decrease in overall deer numbers. Sure it has fluctuated but remains in a downward spiral. You ask someone who used to be in the woods when you needed 5 guys just to get a "party" permit and they will tell you about the numbers our "herd" used to have. Groups of 20-30 deer were not uncommon sights........compare that with what you see today.
This has been coming for a long time...........it is only now starting to be noticed by more and more hunters and they are looking for recent scapegoats like winter and coyotes when the real answer is neither.
On top of that, the major reason for the lower buck take was likely the crappy weather that affected most of the state on opening day of gun season in the southern tier, and then again on Thanksgiving weekend.
I hunt the southern parts of WNY and our weather was not bad this year except for a little too much rain for archery. I killed a buck on Thanksgiving day in light pants and the outer shell of my jacket.......beautiful day (in more ways then one
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Those two times are when the majority of guys get out into the woods. Bad luck weather wise on those dates is bound to impact the harvest.
You just said 20,000 is no big deal so I guess it didn't impact the harvest at all right??
Bottom line, it's really easy to be an armchair quarterback.
It sure is.........especially when your armchair has been up a tree for the last 17 years in the woods
Why do you have so much confidence that the DEC is telling you the truth??.........other then they told you they are