Outlook on Hunting in the U.S.?

[Coyote Commander]

So linked articles from government on populations vs your “probably.” And you truly think you’re right.

This board cracks me up.

You believe everything the government tells you?

This board does in fact rarely disappoint.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Do you believe estimates of populations from 200+ years ago?

I dont!

Read Lewis and Clarks journals, game was plentiful in places but completely void in many others.

2008 in the Dakotas there were more deer than theres probably ever been in history.

Even if the numbers were halved it still is a significant decline.

As for Lewis and Clark, just because they didn't see any, doesn't mean they weren't there. Read anything about the long hunters (Boone, Skaggs, Mansker, etc) and how many deer and elk those guys killed and it may give you a bit more perspective.

As for your comment on deer in the Dakotas, that may be true, but it is easy for them to populate when they don't have to compete for resources with elk and bison. However, I see a lot of recency bias when it comes to deer populations. They are great in a lot of states these days. But ask anyone who hunted in the 60's what it was like compared to today.