Many people say that their DNR's don't know how many deer there are in their respective states. I think most states go off the deer season kills but most people don't send in the reports. I think every report should be sent in whether or not you got one. If you don't send it in, then there will be a fee ($2 or $3) added to your license purchase for the following year. Also, there should be a reward given to someone who turns in a poacher. Many people let it slide, but if there was a reward of say $250, then maybe people would turn them in more. What do you think?

Hi Kotten,

I liked the old send in the card deal we had the new phone thing is a pain in the a$$.DEC goes to all the butchers in the area and collects info on how many deer are taken Then they see how many deer are called in and they factor in the numbers and come up with a total kill number they also come up with a number for all the deer that don`t get tagged.DEc has many more ways of knowing whats going on with the deer population than we give them credit for.With a large winter kill off and two years of extra doe tags we have now in most parts of the state the numbers DEC is looking for. I don`t think I will be getting a doe tag in my zone next year We have seen high deer numbers in most of the state.We have for the most part been spoiled into thinking we all should get 4 doe tags and see lots of deer.The shape of the herd is most importand and hunter satisfaction comes last

Riflemen10x

Interesting. In Texas, since most of the hunting is in private land, the landowners are required to provide this information to the state. Deer aren't checked, unless you are hunting on certain public hunts (primarily the hunts conducted in state parks and Fed. wildlife refuges), and hunters are not required to turn in any information.

I know in some states, every deer has to be checked, and so the game wardens collect information that way.

Guess they select whatever they think will work best for the type of hunting / land use in the state....

In Arizona, all tag permitees get a self-addressed card a couple of weeks after season closes that can be filled out (really simple) and sent back. Don't know what the return rate is, but imagine like any other volunteer survey, maybe 50% would be an outstanding response.

Sure wish everyone would mail them in regardless of killing game - due to drought, the G&F needs all the help they can get on game management.

I am pretty sure that The PA game commision won't be happy till all the deer are gone here!