Even though 2018 season hasn't finished, I thought it would be interesting to go back and review things as so many has stated there has been a huge drop in harvest numbers. A lot of factors play into the harvest numbers. Weather has been a huge impact this year. Between cold, snow, rain and high winds in my part of the state, it's really effected the hunts. I've worn late season deer hunting clothes on most of my hunts this year. Upper E TN has experience a wet spring the past 2 years. I've seen evidence of little to no poults on my cams. Biggest group I got on my 4 TN farms last year was 2 hens w/5 poults in July. Had similar reports through out the area from friends and farmers seeing little to none through summer. I've seen some decline in birds around my house over the past 2 years. Went from 4 gobblers in 2016, 2 in 2017 to 0 in 2018.
Below graph shows the reported upper 10 East TN harvest numbers from 2006 through May 3, 2018. Seems there was big drop in numbers starting in 2006 with a slow rebound in 2008 then a slight drop in 2011. The over all trend line is pretty flat. Based on the data, it's hard to be screaming we have problems with harvest. Do I think we do have issues and need to do something now, YES I do. Based on the actually data, what is everyone's thoughts???
Below graph shows the reported upper 10 East TN harvest numbers from 2006 through May 3, 2018. Seems there was big drop in numbers starting in 2006 with a slow rebound in 2008 then a slight drop in 2011. The over all trend line is pretty flat. Based on the data, it's hard to be screaming we have problems with harvest. Do I think we do have issues and need to do something now, YES I do. Based on the actually data, what is everyone's thoughts???