Some of you guys that want to argue the accuracy of the numbers are somewhat missing part of the point, I believe.
One of the main points, perhaps THE main point of "GameCheck" and "harvest records," that has been promoted by the DCNR is that DATA accumulated from the numbers reported, where the "harvest" is high-low-etc., and other trends according to the DATA will help them provide better management ideas.
It's never been about enforcement or catching the bad guys. That is a secondary result of the check system. From Day 1 the mantra has been DATA DATA DATA and being progressive like 'Merica with more DATA.
They said that at the onset of the voluntary "harvest" record check stuff years ago and have maintained it.
So, yeah, in a state with such a long, storied and ballyhooed history of turkey hunting, strong populations and such, seeing just 9,150 or so reported is a joke. And if you triple that based on the "whhoooeee, 31% for deer is great!" mindset it's still a joke.
I don't believe they'll change season length or bag limit after one year.
What I'd like to see, though, and believe will happen with deer and turkey is more enforcement on violators and zero tolerance. We've had four, five years of voluntary and now mandatory. Anyone who doesn't know this by now is either stupid or doesn't care, or both. If I hunt in Kansas or Iowa or another state that has been doing this kind of check-in system for years, I know damned well they don't give two chits about me claiming ignorance and I'll get cited if I do something wrong.
As long as the data for deer and turkey info is used for biologically-positive benefits to the resource and hunters then I'm good with it. If it becomes political -- which it will be, and always does because some people and politicians suck -- then it'll be time to raise hell.
