As far as the firearms season goes, let's look @ numbers...

In 2009, the firearms and muzzleloader seasons accounted for 77% of the total deer harvest.

In 2014, the firearms, muzzleloader [b]AND the late antlerless season accounted for 69% of the total harvest.

So even including the late season, the firearms harvest accounts for 8% less of the total harvest when compared to 2009.


Now let's look @ crossbow numbers.....

In 2009, crossbows accounted for 1% of the total harvest.

In 2014, crossbows accounted for 10% of the total harvest.

Where did the 9% increase come from? Is it in addition to, or did it replace kills from different equipment?

In 2009, vertical archery accounted for 21% of the total harvest.

In 2014, vertical archery accounted for 19% of the total harvest.

In 2009, muzzleloader hunters accounted for 25% of the total harvest.

In 2014, muzzleloader hunters accounted for 20% of the total harvest.

So 7% of the 9% increase in crossbows kills can be accounted for in the drop of vertical archery and muzzleloader percentages.


Now let's look @ archery totals as a whole.....

In 2009, vertical archery hunters accounted for 21% of the total harvest and crossbow hunters accounted for 1% of the total harvest for a total of 22%.

In 2014, vertical archery hunters accounted for 19% of the total harvest and crossbow hunters accounted for 10% of the total harvest for a total of 29%.


So what does that tell us.....

Archery hunters took a larger share of the total harvest (29%), while firearms hunters (even with the addition of the late antlerless season) took a smaller percentage (69%) of the total harvest when comparing 2009 to 2014. BTW, the other 2% is the youth season percentage.

So what is happening is what many predicted would happen....

Archery is becoming more of a management tool while firearms hunters are taking a lower share of the total harvest. [/b][/QUOTE]

I'm not sure how your explanation of "how" we're killing too many deer helps the situation?

Of course the percentages are going to change. A double digit variable was introduced in the 2014 numbers which was virtually non-existent in 2009.
Still working off 100%...just splitting it more ways.

Just out of curiosity, I removed the 4200 late antlerless deer from the 2014 firearms harvest and all but 1,000 deer from the 2014 crossbow harvest. Adjusted the total harvest accordingly, figured percentages for archery, firearms and ML and compared those to 2009. This is what turns up:

Archery - 2009: 21% 2014: 21%

Firearms - 2009: 53% 2014: 55%

MLoader - 2009: 25% 2014: 23%

Not much of a difference when you remove the changes, huh? Not sure what that proves, if anything? I just found it interesting.