Just got my latest copy of New York Outdoor News today and was surprised to see the lead article....."N.Y. DMP numbers to jump 40 percent".
Has anyone seen a lot more Deer this year as compared to last? In the Southern Tier, where I live and hunt, it's been rather thin as far as my early scouting has been concerned. I've seen a few nice bucks, a few does and maybe a handful of fawns. The overall sightings have actually been less than last year though! I know folks who never even saw a single Deer last gun season. Bow season was kind of weak for me. I ended up harvesting a six-point. The buck I was following got hit by a car mid-season. The does I saw were a family group of 4, all through Bow and Gun season, but I left them alone. I know other hunters didn't.
I guess it just doesn't make sense to me, but if it makes sense to the DEC then it must be all right!

Any Thoughts?
J-Bow

Well, I don;t have an anwer. But we have had several mild winters in a row now, I wouldthink they want to contain the growth before we get a bad one.

I saw more deer last year than normal for me, but more than likely that was just because I was hunting better areas. The winters we have been having had to have helped the survival numbers though, thats without a doubt.

I have seen probably twice as many deer (bucks & does) this year than last. Several are decent bucks as well!

Great year for deer. Seeing them everywhere in my area. I'm seeing MORE fawns than I have ever before.

For 2 years after the DEC put the "WhackDown" on the deer herd in my area(when they found CWD)...I saw hardly anything(I got to see 3 the entire 1st season afterwards).
Now it seems they are coming back strong. Last season I passed on 63 deer and took the 64th. This year I'm seeing Alot of deer with a few small bucks out during the day, Tons of Does, and quite a few with Double Fawns!
Hopes are High for a active season!

Sounds like maybe the DEC does have a handle on the herd situation. I haven't seen a whole lot, but then again, it's early and they are harder to see at this time of year. We really don't have any cut fields where they might congregate. A lot of woods and goldenrod, which is perfect for a Deer to hide in.

I saw the new Hunting and Trapping guidethey issue with your license this year and it shows the odds of getting a DMP highfor 8T/8X/8S and the chance of a second DMP as NONE. I have seen a slight increase in the herd over what it was two years ago, but I agree with the state logic in this area we could use another year to build up the herd.

i have only seen but a few bucks and out of those only a slight handfull would be considered if you were looking for mass. what i have seen a lot of though has been doe and yearling's...counted 15+ in the open field lot the other night. all told at leastwhere i hunt it will be a great year to fill the freezer... but for those looking to have a mantle piece??? i guess only time will tell.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/30409.html