Hey Dough. I recently made reference to seeing 30 plus deer the other day. But that was only as a reference comparing the older days to the present. Although I admit it was fun seeing all those deer, it was obviously a problem for the reasons you mentioned. But I also do feel todays herd is underpopulated in many areas of NYS. For me our populations of deer back say late 90's was more to my liking where I still saw a group of 3-4 doe together. Occasionally maybe even 5-6. The last 2 yrs its seems I'm lucky to see 2 deer together.
I do put in as much time as possible, and usually harvest 1 deer a season to help put food on the table. I also hunt from 9/27 right to the final shot in Dec. while still working a 40hr wk job, tending to 2 teenage boys, and a grumpy wife that time of year, hahaha! But even though common sense would seem the more time you hunt the more deer you see, and the better chance of harvesting a critter. It doesn't always work out that way. How often have we heard the stories of a hunting buddy whose hardly scouted, hardly been out. Finally gets a day in the woods, see's several deer, and arrows a decent buck!!!
It just seems to me when several hunters, butchers, taxidermists are all saying the population must be down. Plus we have no excuse for a foul weathered opening day of Southern reg season in 2004. Its time the DEC listened to the ones buying the licenses, members of hunting clubs, and businesses related to hunting.
As far as opinions in the meetings, anyone purchasing a hunting license in this state as a say. Regardless of others opinions on how well their commented foundations are, or knowledge of a overall solution to the problem. The the DEC is asking for everyones opinions.