RE: Gary Alt (PA Hunters)
I don't think enough time has lapsed to really make a judgement. When his plans came out, the group I hunt with made this prediction:
- 5 years of tough hunting while the does are reduced, then a slow improvement of overall deer numbers. 10 years will see it back with seeing more deer.
- more 8+ pt buck would be taken, starting really around year 3.
This has pretty much happened, the last two years were VERY tough hunting where we go in Potter Co, deer sign and sightings and kills are WAY down. Buck sightings are up, everyone is seeing 4 pts, I shot a nice 8 pt this year, last year one of the others shot an even nicer 8 pt.
Buck sightings where we hunt is improving, would be curious to fast forward 5 more years to see if they back off the HR portion and let the herd grow back up balanced.
Then again, its going to be interesting to see what happens now over the next 5 years.
Next year is already cast in stone, it will be at least as light on deer sightings as this year.
--Bob