RE: But why are there less deer?
 

Well if I drive 2 miles each way down my road there is 17 homes for sale.NO there not fancy 300,000 grand castles,but do have indoor plumbing,One 3 bedroom double wide with 3 acres just sold for 89,000. I bought this shack for 24,000 ,No you probably would not live in it. My wife sleeps on the floor and I on the floor.the only problem she forgets and steps on me late at night.

And yes junior chews on the dogs toys

RE: But why are there less deer?
 

Wow!!! I'll take it. Around here, houses on .25 acres are selling in the $400K+ range. We bought a 4 BR on .5 acres and need to do a lot of updates and it costs us $315K. The only problem would be the 1.5 hour commute each way from work. With $3 a gallon gas prices and my wife and I both driving non-economy cars, it would cost us about $10K a year in gas. The one consolation is that our kids are in the best school district in the county. That's worth squeezing every penny.

RE: But why are there less deer?
 

The DECgive out doe permits like crazy!This is the 1st year that they cut back on doe permits but they still give out far too many farm tags!
I hunt in Tioga and Chemung counties in NY and 75% of the land is posted!The only land that isn't posted is either state land or owned by the timber companys.Now the timber companies are leasing their land to groups of hunters,who then have the right to post it!
Yes we had 2 hard winters in a row,last year wasn't bad but I live in farm country and deer have it easier in farm country than they do in big timber like the Adirondacs or Catskills.
I hear coyotes howling every night as I'm leaving my hunting area.I'm sure they kill their share of fawns and deer they can catch in deep snow.