Thanks for that link newguy. It's good that someone is finally going to do something official.
The article said:
"Statewide, the harvest of black-tailed deer bucks has declined from 27,846 in 1989 to 14,895 in 2009, a drop of 46 percent. In the counties in the study area zone, harvest numbers have dropped from 3,013 to 1,297, a 57 percent decline."
In this case, the study area zone is Mendocino Co.
To a man, everybody I know, would agree, WITH THE EXCEPTION that in certain areas deer seem to be doing fine. It's almost like little islands of deer in between vast ares of nothing. The trick is to find one of those pockets. The pockets that I've found over the past few years get discovered one way or another, and get hammered. And hammered hard.
There are guys I know who hunt private ranches that have no clue. Their herds are as healthy as ever. I also know guys who hunt private ranches who haven't seen a deer on their ranch for several years now. It's weird.
Every time someone here asks for help with blacktails I want to help, but I just can't offer any advice that I feel would be that helpful. I'm as confused as anyone. I'm not being a jerk. Places I've killed lots of bucks over the years, I don't even bother looking anymore. It's a waste of time. The only thing I can see is that the deer are gone. Everything else looks the same.
I found a good spot a few years back. I saw quite a few bucks but couldn't close the deal. The last time I went in there, there was a mass of "foreigners" who went through the area and killed everything. Even the squirrels were gone.
I can't speak to the Wilderness areas because I haven't been in any of them in a long time but most will tell you they're still "good".
Anyway, sorry for the rant. I hope we can get back on track.
Eel
