You've brought up alot of stuff. I don't know where to start. Being a farmer (600 acres soybeans, corn, rye, alfalfa) and a butcher (300 deer per year) I get to talk with alot of people on the subject. I'll just ramble here a bit.
1. Where the deer are hunted the population has dropped. Hunters have started to complain. In areas where there is housing developments or no hunting the deer are everywhere. You can see this even at a township level. That makes the deer tough to manage.
2. I've talked to people that have political ties about limiting "buck week" to one buck. They said it would never happen because they would loose to much $ in liscence sales.
3. I hope the state would just allow 1 buck for each weapon and that would be it.
4. These big gangs need to stop shooting everything that moves, they kill way too many button bucks. Eventually the big gangs and big deer drives will come to an end because there won't be enough ground for it.
5. Drives should be outlawed on state land because the hunter who scouts, gets set up, then has gang after gang go through and shoot everything gets screwed.
6. I don't think the seasons are too long. Hunters need to look at themselves and ask "am I seeing enough deer to go out and take another one or should I lay off a bit. Just because the season goes through January doesn't mean you need to be out there taking deer. But I guess some people don't know when enoughs enough.
Just some thoughts from my side of the fence.

I feel if population goals have been reached why not try managing for quality. There has to be a constant adjustment of management practices from year to year. Not just one blanket practice year in year out. I'm not talking about the whole state either. But I really believe some areas of the state have the potential to produce some real dandy bucks. I know it's probably just a pipe dream in this state. I remember reading something Leonard Lee Rue wrote about over harvesting an area. He claimed that if you were to kill every single deer in a 5 square mile area. The surplus deer from neighboring areas would migrate to void created.
Am I making any sense???
Jim B.

BigWay, you need help to manage the deer herd on your farm, and keep those tresspassers off? If so I'm your man LOL !!!!!

I'm in too

I agree with bowhuntercop deer season should end in december but i also think that you should be allowed only one buck for the season this way most people would let the little ones go but like bowhuntercop said this state is all about the money.[:@]
I will help you also big way if you need help with the herd.(lol)

Some areas are managed to reduce the population and some to maintain the population. It's why we have different regulation sets.

Wait until they ban hunting in NJ and see how many deer we will have.

What it boils down too is "$$$$$$$" selling of licenses, equipment, and of course the mighty powerful insurance companies. The state of NJ worries more about money then they do the people of the state. But changes need to be taken, I've been writing for the last few years to the NJF&W Dept., and the Council. They dont want to hear one guy complaining, only they will listen if we all ban together and help fight for the future of this great sport we call hunting.

BHC,

You need to start attending Federation meetings and talk to F&G council members directly. They attend monthly county Federation meetings.

[Deleted by Admins]