Thanks for the reply .
Would you say it was a typical (on a sightings/opertunity) year compared to say the last 5-6 seasons ?
Lots goes into averages , but if you have been @ it for awhile , and doing so in the same area one has a pretty good feel for the overall deer herd .
For example I have Hunting the same area for over 20 years now, and the last 5-6 has been drastic reduction in deer numbers . 6-7 years ago hunting the same area and often the same trees and blinds I would have 8-10 opportunities (whether I pursued the opertunity or not) on a given year …The last 3-4 I’m seeing maybe 10% of the deer I used to , and only 2-3 opportunities in a long hard hunting season .
I’ve had many conversations with hunters from all over the US , and this seems to be happening in a lot of the Nation . I mentioned this trend back 5-6 years ago on another forum …Many agreed , and some didn’t . Funny , many that didn’t are now getting a Big wake-up call with the kill numbers to back what I have been seeing for many years . The deer herd simply can’t sustain such numbers of does being harvested with such liberal numbers allowed for that many years .
I have self restricted myself for many years now . Even when the numbers were High I never purchased more than 3 tags . Even though those years I could have went for 6 in my county alone . The last few years I have hunted until I get one (had two year I ate tag soup) or go without . Sadly self imposed restraint beyond the law is not the norm …Hence the devastation .
Deer numbers will and have always fluctuated , but this isn’t normal …Its near irradiation in heavily hunted areas due to the liberal tag sales and numbers permitted per hunter . Coupled with nuisance permits being handed out to farmers , etc. etc.. and the picture begins to get pretty dark.
….Little distracted with process of thought to paper . Should have stopped and continued after .
