Deaddeer, Do you think the PGC will even offer an estimate of herd size this season? I think they are going to fake computer troubles and just try to hope nobody asks too many questions.

Because if the herd has not shrunk, but remained stable (sure didn't stay stable in my area) then that means five full years under Dr. Alt and his plan has failed to do what he said it would. Reduce the herd to save the environment. Balance the herd with its habitat was his mantra. And that means he is just practicing a different form of MSY, yet disrupting traditionally good hunting areas at the same time.

If 60+ thousand hunters go without bucks AND we are doing nothing to help the habitat because the herd is bigger than ever, then it would be hard to call our plan a sucess.

If our harvest of bucks does not increase for 2004 then I would say all we have seen up till now was hype and rhetoric, with no substance.