For decades they estimated an annual "harvest" based on the statistically valid post-season survey -- deemed last year as worthless info by the director -- and whatever other method they used for the estimate.

So estimating the amount of deer killed based on a little-used check system should be easy. Just come up with a percentage, multiply it by whatever factor and then say "Hey, success!"

I'd be embarrassed and madder than 10 wet hens if after 2-3 years of a voluntary system, the amount of meetings and such they had last year, the discussion based on this site and elsewhere, and repeated stories about it being mandated, and 70% or so of the people ignored it.

As Skinny said, in the private world some heads would roll at such a failure.