Same down here. Best damn weather we have had on opening day in at least 6-7 years down here. There is no other reason we shot so fewer deer than the simple fact that we have WAY LESS deer than we had just 4-5 years ago. IMO, I heard more shooting on opening day than I have in several years. Proof is in the pudding.
More shooting but a smaller harvest? that doesn't make sense. unless they just aren't being checked in. I think that has a lot to do with it.
Shoot a small buck, put an either sex tag on it, cut it up, put it in the freezer. Toss the little rack along with the hide and bones, call it in as a doe.
Or shoot one, Put a temp tag on it, get it in the freezer and don't call it in at all. throw the temp tag in the trash and take out a copy of the original tag.
i'm sure there are more people doing this kind of thing than ever before. The telecheck system just makes it to easy.