I had a random thought regarding the deer hunters surveys. I remember a two or three years ago the division was considering making some changes to their fishing regulations and had a survey on their website and were encouraging anglers to go over and participate in their survey. The survey basically asked what anglers thought about various possible regulation changes, and if the angler would be for or against them. The surveys went well and now we have more sound fishing regulations in many of our lakes (crappie limits and s-eye size limits).
How come if the division was so eager to hear anglers feelings on regulation changes that they would post the survey online available to ANYONE, would they not do this for the deer hunting regulations as well?? Maybe because it is a different person who is in charge of the surveys. Or maybe it is because insurance companies do not have to worry about a fish running out in front of a car, or because fish can not get blamed for destroying any crops. Either way, its just a thought I had. I feel like if I am paying for the paper to print the surveys on, I should at least be invited to take one.
One last thought, and then I am done wasting my time preaching to the choir about deer populations for awhile. I remember last year at the ODNR open house, two of the employees who were trying to convince me that the reason I was not seeing any deer was because of my lack of ability to find deer in years with high mast production also told me that I should put out a trail camera and I would be surprised at all of the deer that were really there. Well, I took their advise and have ran a trail cam almost every day since then.
When I attend the open house this weekend, I am considering bringing in a huge photo album with the 10,000 pictures I have of the same 2 deer that I have gotten pictures of since muzzleloader season.
