I hunt a family farm (no longer active), I've taken all my deer in 20+ years on this property - and I've seen things change back and forth with populations and hunter participation.

By Perception - I wondered are most people happy with the deer numbers they see? Is there too many hunters/acre? Etc.

I cannot speak much for Public land hunting - though I drive by some good looking state lands all the time in the southern teir, and I have freinds that regularly take deer there - Most of their experiences are good.

I excluded the Adirondacks in the post - because they are so expansive - and the weather/mast is really what dictates the deer densities there (not hunting pressure like most of the rest of the state). Also, traditionally - the low deer densities do not tend to give hunters a high percentage rate for deer take. And because - I love the Adirondak stories, and traditions - Some day I'd like to hunt there seriously.

FH