Believe the issue here is that it's hard for those who hunt in areas that still hold a decent amount of deer to imagine what it's like to hunt on public land where the deer herd has been wiped out. DaleK's suggestions for motivating young hunters are valid but, moot when there are very small numbers of deer in the woods. When one can walk for a few hours in a new snow and not cut a single track (ok, maybe one or two) it's not difficult to see how shooting a deer may seem hopeless. Just MHO based on observations over the last 20 years.
Too many want to hunt where they want to hunt and don't want to be flexible. If the Deer are not there, or you can't get on where they are, then you best find a place where you can do both.
There are huge Bucks in some of the GL if you are willing to spend the time and have the determination to find them. A little luck will help also. There are huge Bucks in some of the suburban areas if you are willing to spend the time along with working on permission. Presently in Pa the hunt has been put back in hunting.
