How much do you rely on harvest reports?

[Hoss74]

In two weeks I'm headed on vacation and plan on spending some time in either ocala or osceola. In trying to decide which everything points to osceola except the harvest reports.
I know Osceola, I'm familiar with the land, I've spotted lots of wildlife there, and it's 15 minutes from my home.

However, when you look at nearly 500 buck in ocala vs less then 30 in the harvest report of osceola, it's hard to ignore those numbers.

Then again as far as I know, there are no check stations in osceola, so I'm not sure where they even get their numbers from.

[blackpowderscout]

I know for a fact, 30 out of Osceola isn't very accurate. I'd take Osceola over Ocala any day of the week given the location (I'm closer to it too). I think it has fewer people too. The last couple years were VERY WET in there. Maybe that had something to do with the low number? I don't know. I'd hunt it anyhow. I doubt very many folks are driving to the check stations. The place is so big. I wouldn't. If it is out of my way, I ain't going.

[TerribleTed]

Zero Nada never even look at them

[heritage14]

It depends. Some quota WMA's only have one road in/out with manned check stations. If that's the case, the harvest data is pretty darn accurate in my opinion. Otherwise, like the post above mine mentions, people aren't going to drive out of there way to stop and check in their game.