In 2011 the muzzleloader season accounted for 15% of the harvest, a total of 19,000 deer. In 2012, the muzzleloader and late antlerless season accounted for 16% of the harvest, a total of 22,000 deer. A pretty good argument can be made that most of the 10,000 deer killed in the late antlerless season in 2012 were simply shifted from muzzleloader season.

More than 7,000 fewer deer were killed in the 2012 muzzleloader season as compared with the 2011 season.

There were nearly 10,000 more deer killed with "archery" equipment in 2012. About 7,400 of those can likely be attributed to the increased use of crossbows. The total increase from 2011 to 2012 was 7,000.

Until the harvest stats are out, we are all just guessing as to the effects on the current season. And we are certainly guessing as to what might have happened with the other options for season structure.

Personally, I saw about the same number of deer in Parke and Morgan counties and more in Jackson county. However, my family killed 4 deer this year v. 5 last year. So I guess the population is down 20%