I can't believe it's suprising the buck take is going up. Look at our structure. We can assume that most hunters can take 2 bucks each. The deer management permits are not available easily and some not available at all in some areas. So it really shouldn't be unbelievable that because this state makes hunters shoot bucks and draw for DMP's that our take is the way it is. This is also why our buck doe ratio is out of whack, and most bucks are 1.5 yrs old.
Also, the numbers quoted here are estimated. Being close to the NYS Federation and conservation council (that's how I know the answer to the next statement), I bet most NY hunters have no idea how the deer take numbers are acquired.
Maybe you should do some detail on how the state goes to the butcher shops and takes down all of the tag #s. Does a check on the call in reporting and figures that if the deer at the shops are at 50% call in ratios that the nuber of call ins + 50% is the deer take of bucks does and fawns. Intersting? Also, nothing happens to the hunters that don't call in there deer.

Can you tell me how many bucks and does were taken on opening day in 2006?