ORIGINAL: BuckAlley
But, the DEC's response is logical to that. They will say....."Why do you think we put an early doe only MZ season in?"..............Answer: Because bowhunters are not controlling the herd as well as a week long doe only MZ season would. And I have to agree on that one, unfortunately.
Phade I guess I musta misundertood this previous quote of yours earlier on one the DEC's possible answers to the 7 day ML season!
To make better use of the DMP's you say. But don't we get a antlerless only tag with our special license purchases???? So heck w/ that tag, and just allow DMP's to harvest doe to control the population. I'm mean isn't DOE ONLY enough during this 7 day period to help control the population, regulate it, mgmt it. Why restrict it to DMP's only? If cutting back the DMP's why even bother having this 7 day doe only season to begin with?? The only thing I can gather by the DMP's only is the DEC has concerns of a over harvest during this 7 day ML season. If the population is that low that its of that much of a concern. Then why do it to begin with!!!! It makes very little sense to me. VERY LITTLE!
You are preaching to the choir on this one! I agree the system is screwy, I think everyone here on this site from NY does. Who knows who it will turn out....
The reason why the DEC is using DMP/DMAP only is beacuse they are micromanaging the herd. Everyone in the state gets an antlerless only tag. However, the DMP/DMAP's get issues specific to the area. They make us use the DMP/DMAP tags so they can manage the specific areas, since it allows harvesting based upon the needs of the area itself.
If the statewide tags were used, the DEC could not guarantee the harvest needs to be met in each area. One area might have 50% more doe kill than needed, and another might be 40% below what was needed.
Use the DMP/DMAP, and the DEC can make sure that no one specific area sees more harvests than needed, causing trouble in the following years.
They do the season because it forces the use of the DMP/DMAP which is their only way to manage take in smaller areas. Even with a low herd number like this year, it can spike next year with no problem if the harvest goals are not met. The season prevents the UP and DOWN herd numbers that causes several problems from a management perspective. They want to maintain a stable healthy population.
It could easily go from 800,000 deer to 1,400,000 in a year if the harvests were lower than needed. They'd rather prefer a 800,00-1,000,000 number each year, which is easier to control.
I understand and follow that logic, but disagree with the way the state is using the tags season wise. There has to be a better way.