Ok, JLM
Dealing with Whitetails. Well,,,,if it isn't how they're managed,,,why is it there were near no deer in most states back 50 years ago? Why is it as soon as people started "managing" the population came back? Management don't just mean feed stations. It's habitat improvement of all sorts and angles. Private and public lands together.
As fars as your points on weather and predators. That arguement don't hold much water. There are conditions that effect wildlife in many ways. They may not be exactly the same but they effect populations the same. Examples, dogs, Floods, snows and desease etc. StillHunter hit this point pretty good.
Oh,,,by the way,,,not everybody has to have a food plot to hunt over east of you
It's not always like what you see on TV,,,,Just like in the west.
Captchee,
That's a pretty good reply. I agree with some of what you say. Actually most of it. Muleys are different I agree. That is why there are different ways of management. If the Wildlife agency in your state manages them the same as Whitetails then they need run off. I'm not going to set here and try to tell someone how to manage their own wildlife,,,,,, but,,,,,it needs to be managed. Now for the record, I don't go west hunting because I can't hunt in my own state. I go for a vacation. Just like thousands fo people do when they go to Yellowstone or Disney World. There is no difference in my opinion. Yes I would take a trophy if I had the chance,,,but,,,I have turned down chances of "just killing something" I don't have to come back with anything to have had a great trip. I don't take coolers of beer or ATV's. I have stated all this earlier in this post so I will leave it at that.
StillHunter, You said a mouth full when you hit on the point of Drought and winter range! Think about that a little and imagine what a influx of money to those areas of management could do?
I'll study on that a little and maybe get back with you but,,,,I'm not in the business of telling others how to take care of their problems.
I'm just trying to make a point about the future of our sport. There's nothing more that the bunny huggers love to see than for all of us to fight amongst each other. Selfishness and greed will be the down fall of hunting. Not drought or harsh temps.