Not sure where all you folks hunt, but I just came back from Potter county and the deer herd is DRASTICALLY lowered over several years ago. Where I hunt is all public land so that may make a difference.

I have been going to this spot for 7 years now with two friends. When we started, before AR started, it was normal to see deer on every time in the woods, usually several and it was VERY common to have groups of doe come by. The three of us always each took a deer.

This year, was the second "poor" year in a row. However I saw my first ever buck in the woods and shot it a little 8 point, he was with a 3 and a 4 point, 4 pt was actually the biggest). One guy went home empty for the second year in a row, third guy shot a doe.

We routinely go out spotting at night and make about a 30-40 minute loop, when we started doing this, going past several fields and gas lines in the woods, a bad night would turn up only 50-100 deer. this year we did it, and saw a total of 7 deer one night, 9 the next.

At least in this area the herd is WAY down, but buck sightings are up.

--Bob