Increased opportunity = increased numbers
Not necessarily.
Of the
successful hunters in Ohio, the overwhelming majority only shoot 1 deer. An earlier gun hunting opportunity might only mean they shoot their 1 deer earlier in the season. What this could potentially do is just shift the timing of the harvest... which, in theory, could also slow the spread of CWD... ie less bucks available to travel/mingle/contact/breed other deer during the rut.
I'm not in favor of an earlier gun season. Not because of any effects on the satisfaction of a bowhunter, though. I think an early gun season could potentially remove a LOT of trophy class bucks from the gene pool prior to the rut. The longer a big deer with trophy genetics is on the landscape, the more likely he is to pass on those same genetics to future generations.
That being said... I'll believe it when I see it. I'm certainly not going to worry about it based on some random guy's perception of a comment made by one wildlife council member.