I would like to see for the next 4 or 5 years that you can only take 1 deer in the regular season (buck) and 1 for either early archery or late muzzle loader. I would also like to see the number of doe tags drastically cut for a few years. If I remember correctly, about 20 years ago I took a buck during the archery season and had to use my regular season tag for the buck. Had I not had a Doe tag, I would have "Tagged Out" and not been able to legally take anything else. I would be willing to do this again if it would help the population to increase. But on the other side of the coin, we didnt have the presence or the possibility of CWD back then. The populations in the area I hunt (6R) are down from what I have observed. I feel the decisions that DEC makes regarding DMP's in the next 1-2 years will be critical. We could be in real trouble if we have a severe winter this year.
MIKE

I have no problem with the current buck and doe tag situation - I do think one doe permit is plenty though. I hunt during archery and very seldom do not fill my tags and I normally fill all my tags during rifle - i do not hunt muzzle loader or I would have an additional tag to fill as well - so with just one doe tag I take on the norm 4 deer per season.

For the people saying that the deer population is down - I am just curious as to what areas you are hunting. I hunt in 9M and there are so many deer you can pick and choose almost all season. I have a guy down the raod from me that says there are a ton of doe out behind my house - (This is the first year I have hunted the property and I had just purchased the house) - But there are not any bucks back there he knows because he has hunted there his whole life. Well he has still not got a deer yet this season. I filled my archery tags with a 6 pointer and a doe and I took a 7 ptr 2nd day of rifle and a doe opening day. My season was over early and these bucks that i got were nice mature bucks real heavy boddied and the doe were even big - they each dressed out in the 150 - 160 lbs range.

I hunt to put meat in the freezer and this year it was more important than most so if I end up with one less tag I guess I'll just start hunting with Muzzle loader next year.

I'm happy with the current system, Other than the DMP's; personally I'd like to see them stop issueing any DMP's in my area 4F; for at least 2 years.(Or make the WMU's smaller to better manage the herds.)
Keep the current tag system without DMP's, and make the 1regular season gun tag an either sex tag for those that don't Bow & Muzzleloader hunt.
I hunt all over this county, and By MY Choice, have not filled a doe tag again this year due to the pathetic Numbers of deer (or I should say LACK there of). When I can't find even Half the number of tracks in fresh snow that I used to find 5 & 10yrs ago; there is a population problem. I sure don't have any trouble finding coyote tracks though.

I remember that!

I think it depends where you are. The "Hills" region of 7M was devesated 2 years ago by -30degree weather and 2-3 ft of snow for several months in a row. The deer here are THIN - compared to past years as a result.

I commend the DEC for managing the WMU as separate areas. It cannot be easy - and folks are less forgiving if not enough deer are taken asopposed totoo many.

Things will level out in a couple years, but in the meantime - its a good time for hunters to consider what type of deer they most would like to harvest. Nothing like ONE TAG to make one think.

FH