Long 59 days...
Antler restrictions and herd management were two terms I certainly did not enjoy hearing about several years ago (what year did the AR start?) here in Pennsylvania. I was certainly a skeptic, but tried to stay open-minded about the whole thing.
Now, several years later, the herd may be smaller, but IMO, the restrictions and management put into effect by the PGC has certainly improved the overal quality of the deer (in most areas), bigger bucks and healthier does and the population has not diminished as significantly as some may think.
I believe the biggest reason there were so many complaints of hunters not seeing deer last year, was in great part due to all of the feed in the woods (acorns) and the fact that the deer did not have to move very far from their bedding areas to feed. I saw lots of deer, almost everyday I was out in archery and rifle season, but I hunt way back in the timber, right next to their beds. Sometimes you have to make adjustments and go to where the deer are, or at least where they'll be during legal shooting hours. They can be outsmarted ya know.:wink:
