I want to know what you guys think....
 

Reguarding the deer harvest numbers and a true harvest number for your home state. Including illegal hunting. Imho...I beleve wv is at least 10,000 or more off....sorta betting that the true number is much higher than that. How much illegal hunting do you think is really going on in your area. For example while in High School it seemed like all kinda punks talked about shooting deer out of season all the time...Very frustrating during that time.. alot older now, but I figure those same type of ideas flow through the local High Schoolsstill. I wonder if there is a number out there for deer that have been hit on local highways. During the prime season It's nothing to see20-30 per day just in my area. we have an active clean upcrue that stays on top of it.One fallday I counted over 100 on a 3 hour trip to morgantown wv several years ago.

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

Just my opinion, but I would say in some ofthe more "renegade" areas, there is probably one illegal deer for every 1.5 legal killed deer.
Statewide though. I'd say add another 50% of the harvest as illegals. then tack on roadkills and we killa LOT of deer in this state.

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

In Pa, I don't think the harvest numbers even closely resemble reality![:@]

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I'm not sure it makes a difference.

As long as the game commission (or governing body for your state's game) takes into account the factors you mention.....I don't think the reported harvest numbers reall mean that much.

Licensed hunters = "X" amount of revenue. Those statistics are important, for accounting/record-keeping reasons.

The "unknowns" should be factored in.....and season limits and dates set should reflect ALL kills. If they aren't doing this (unlikely, IMO) then yes....they'r emissing the boat in a big way.

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I'm not sure if it's still the case, but Pa used to be second only to Texas inhighest deer population in the entire USA!

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I don't think they've got the slightest clue about the true harvest data in Texas. No check stations. Only a few voluntary hunter surveys - and, since this is Texas, I'd bet most of the ones they get of those are lies.;)

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I don't the number are correct here in Illinois. Since we went to a call in reporting system, I know for a fact that there are people shooting multiple deer and calling in only a single deer. Those are mostly does, but still affects the numbers. I also know that people are shooting smaller bucks now and calling them in as does, so again the number are accurate. We also have "renegade" counties where the locals tend to shoot two or three deer opening more of firearm season and those deer are never reported. Hell, two seasons ago I hunting in Calhoun Co and heard more high power rifles going off than I did shot guns. I have talked a CO about this and he told me that there is a % they add to the actual numbers to account for these kind of kills. So the number may not be too far off.

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I'm sure it's pretty warped! Running an Archery Shop and a Check Station (back when they existed)for years. I've over heard and seen a lot.

One I'll never forget was: "Yeah I buy a permit to hunt with, but I'm not using it to check the deer in with":eek:

Dan

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RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

With Pa planning on having internet check in, maybe it will help in getting somewhat more accurate harvest results in the future. Maybe not though. People are basically lazy, and many are dishonest![:@][:'(][>:]

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

IMHO....I also believe internet/phone options for check in's will help in better reporting. I know some on here don't feel that way, but I can't really see where that type of system would hurt.

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I also feel that our numbers are not true because of poaching and folks not checking deer in. Not sure of 10,000, but skewed nontheless.

I have not seen a game wardenduring hunting season in well over 10 years. They are understaffed and just don't have the manpower to make a difference.

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

VA would be off by 50,000-100,000 if the poachers were included.

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I'm open to hear why you think this? IMO it's only making it easier for the law-breakers. I lived in KY and they have the phone in system. I found that the bag limits and buck/doe kills are "whatever" the caller says......I cna't imagin e this system in WV where poaching is already a huge problem, but honestly I'm open to hear your thoughts..........

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I realize that Wv has a problem with poaching, but people who do that type of thing most likely would not use a new system anyway. Another thought is that I can't remember a time a person came out and checked what I shot. But I know many landowners who would welcome it. Why take deer off your farm to bring it right back orwhy dirty up the truck. Think of the savings in waste or money. It could add a few jobs for Wv. I would use it for sure, sometimes I have to drive for 10-20minutes to find a station. I understand tradition, but, imho the good out weighs the bad....anything that helps hunters like me and you I'm for. Will poaching increase....I haveno idea, but I can't image why it would be any different than what is going on already. I do think reporting would increase, do to it being so simple. Would you use a new system if it was an option?

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I see your points WV and understand where you are coming from, but with my experience in the telecheck system is it offers more opportunity for thegroup of people "in the middle" that would do something illegal if they knew they could get away with it.

It makes it easy imo to not have a doe tag, or a buck tag, however kill whatever you want and call it is as the other? I am not talking about the spotlighters or the guys that are just plain old outlaws, I am talking about the guys in the middle that will push it to the limit and try it..... if they think it's easy to get away with. I think our numbers will not only be even more invalid, we will not be seeing the proper number of does and buck killed each year.

You make a valid point re: the farmers/landownersthough.........

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

I just think the easier they make it to report a kill, the "more likely" someone would be to indeed report it. It makes me feel better thinking this way.:)Perhaps it is just wishful thinking.[:@]

RE: I want to know what you guys think....
 

@early in

If you make it easier, maybe you will get a few more people to report kills. In NC, where I live now after growing up in PA, you "have" to call a number to report your deer.

The fact is, though,until states start strengthening the penalties, many a-holes will continue to disregard the laws and poach animals.