How do you know the archery/muzzy harvest reporting rates have been fluctuating greatly compared to rifle reporting in more recent years?  Do you have the current breakdown of reporting rate for gun vs. archery? 

The archery harvest may or may not be off by 26% for more recent years.  It may be off by 80% or it may be 4%, but you cannot assume things have remained static since the report.  And until the proper data is available you can't draw a conclusion based on speculative information. 

You know as well I do there has been a demographic shift in deer hunters over the last few years.  Less hunters and more rifle hunters exploring the added opportunities of archery(x-gunning) and early muzzy.  X-guns and early muzzy season did not exist at the time of the report.  These are all things that need to be considered.    

I asked a question that is very pertinent to this discussion.  This is a debate in which you made a claim that has not been supported, so now is the time when you provide the data to support your claim.  I am not picking a fight because I asked you to substantiate your assertion

So, is there current data on archery/muzzy specific harvest reporting rates available?  I looked briefly and could not find such information.  If the data exists (which it may) then it should be very easy to form an objective position.

The reporting rate has historically dropped 1% per year over the last decade per PGC data

I definitely need a link for that one ...

The average reporting rate last year was 38% for bucks and 34% for antlerless, I can't remember or find anything that is much higher than that unless you go back to the early 1980s....

Recent average rates rates have varied between 32% to 38% according to the PGC folks I talk to ..,

so if your 1% per year were anything near correct that would mean in 2000 the reporting rate would have been 48% and 44% ... I say BULL....

You just keep on shooting yourself in the foot don't you.

5). Average predicted
reporting rates ranged
from 40 to 46% for
antlerless deer,

I would say that is 43% for a average reporting for doe from 2000/2001
The 2010 reporting rate for doe was 34%
It sure looks like a 1% reduction per year regardless of how you want to spin it

If you want more up to date research on deer I suggest you talk to your friends at the PGC and suggest they spend a bit less time and money on posies and tweety birds and more on the animal that drives the whole agency.

Hell, the formula they currently use for estimating deer numbers was developed in the 1950's. How's that for up to date.

Want more up to date research data from your friends----The Mann part of the Mann-Kendall test they currently use for estimating deer populations was developed in 1945 and the Kendall part in 1975.

It is what it is.