I always sigh a big sigh - when I hear people say The states in the East should be able to match the potential of states Like Kansas, Wyoming, etc.

The fact remains that in NY, (and PA, WV, CT, Etc). we have too many hunters that enjoy a long season. To keep our hunters happy - we manage for quantity. Like it or not - as hunter numbers dwindle - ARs and other alternante managment methods WILL be discussed and implemented in NY.

When states with large hunter participation try to reduce the herd - LOOK HOW UNHAPPY the average hunter is. Fact is you cannot have 1,000,000 hunters chasing 2,000,000 deer and keep everyone happy.

ARs can work at the local level. In Practice - states like KS, IL, etc are already practicing ARs - because they do not harvest 75% of their bucks every year!!!!

Lastly - as far as immature bucks doing the breeding - Studies show - that even in a very unbalanced herd - most does are still bred by the Dominant, local buck(s) as determined by the social structuring in August/Sept. Do some of the immature deer do the breeding? YES - but it is not Nature's way. The only way immature will ever do most of the breeding - is if there are no dominant, older bucks around.

FH