I agree that the deer numbers are down and the DEC is in my opinion completely backwards about managing our deer herd. We need antler restrictions, shorter seasons and strict doe management to help bring our population back to record highs. I shake my head when I read other Sound Off submissions about hunters who haven’t harvested a deer in multiple years on the same property. Maybe it’s not the deer herd but the property you hunt or the stand location or the way you hunt. I also hunt public property and have harvested a deer for the last 10 years consecutively including seven bucks. Most of them have been on different public land parcels around St. Lawrence County. Get out of your rut and explore some new areas, hunting techniques and do some pre-season scouting. If you put in the time and get away from other hunter you can be successful.