There are plenty of deer out there. Maybe these "grumbly joes" should try moving to another spot, like one does in a boat when the fish aren't biting. On my little ten acre plot, there are plenty of deer, and they're big too.

There are no deer cause DNR insists on slaughters every year with the youth hunt and unlimited doe permits.Also hunters are not getting out cause its getting exspensive and all the roads are being closed off!The hunters should get to vote on these laws they pass every year.With that and the combination of the bad apples poaching theres gonna be low deer count.

The Dnr says down slighty. WOW I guess there are some deer left. Maybe next year we can increase the doe permits so they can fix that problem. The real fact is they probably will! Don't account for winter kill, Don't account for years of doe permits, Don't account for the youth hunt, Don't account for generations of doe elimination. Maybe it has finally caught up to those who believe the Dnr was looking out for the best interest of the deer herd! Sad very Sad.

People complain every year. Blame the DNR. That is what everyone does. Last winter was a tough winter. So, number this year will be down. But I really don't think that they are that far down. We have seen plenty of deer, and a good number of bucks as well. Instead of whining, get out and do something to help your situation. Improve the habitat where you hunt. Scout more. Spend more time learning the land. Spend more time learning the deer. We already have limited doe permits. There were ZERO doe permits issued for public land this year, and limited numbers for private. The youth hunt and cross bows are blamed alot also. Yes, more deer are shot due to both of these additions than with out them. It is more hunters in the woods. But if you look at how quickly the number of hunters is dropping every year, the addition hardly touches our net loss. People will complain no matter what. Too many deer...not enough deer....too many hunters....not enough hunters. Suck it up and do something to help yourself.

The fact of the matter is the Dnr IS Responsible for the decline of the deer herd. When they shine farm lands in southern mason county THAT is what they are baseing their deer count on along with a few phone calls, which most hunters have never received. Three thousand private doe permits are a lot of permits year after year. You do the math and figure out how many generations of deer are elimanated from the woods. Why should the deer camps return if they do not see any deer anymore? They aren't is the answer to that question. So suck it up and look at those pictures from the past because that is all you will have soon if things don't change.

I suspect the real reason that less deer are being seen is the baiting ban. A lot of younger hunters do not know how to hunt deer - just watch bait!