California Deer Population Decreasing...

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/08/4398312/california-deer-population-declines.html

Anyone have any thoughts about this?? Sure I bet the numbers have decreased, but I dont think it's as bad as they say it is. They say that Mountain Lion numbers have nothing to do with it, and according to CA fish and game theres only like 6k Lions in California, I see them allll the time. I also heard there cutting down the tag limit on blacktail this year to 1 per hunter, instead of 2. Then their saying that one of the reasons the deer population is down is because California is getting too good at putting out wildfires that help the deer's food supply. I guess i'm just ranting because my family has always hunted, I just got my fiance and her little brother into hunting, and when i have kids i'd like to see them hunt too. I think we have some members employed with Fish and Game(i have nothing against the employees) but maybe they can chime in and tell us/me what they think is going on?... also can't forget California finally got a Wolf back into the state not too long ago, if they keep coming in I guess the deer population is screwed

 

Numbers in mariposa county are way down. It is where I hardly even see them anymore. I suspect disease.

 

i see less and less every year. and to be honest, i feel its largely due to cougars. out of the 7 something years ive hunted ive only seen 4, 3 of them were together like a pack, and that was freaky as fuck. and this was all last year. three in covelo one in sonoma. now if your seeing these things, you KNOW there is more. also, have you ever hunted public land, those damn _____, they are some poaching mother fuckers. but i have seen a decrease in accesable hunted areas. i think there is a lot to do with it though. cougars, poaching to be the main ones.

 

Oh there's definately a decrease in population. But I also feel a good reason is lions. Although the state likes to disagree unfortunately

 

I think if they do let us harvest does that probably would help a bit, im not all into hunting just for the antlers, if they let us buy doe tags I think that would be great, im sure nobody would mind shooting a big doe if they gave us tags for one.
not only the deer population is down, I remember me and my dad use to go sturgeon fishinging and we where always guarantee one, now where lucky if a fish even swims by our bait.