Looks like we can add another elected offical to the deer opposition list --

Quote :

HARRISBURG - An avid sportsman and member of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams/Franklin) today announced intentions to introduce a proposal aimed at addressing the negative affects of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's current deer management practices. "The current practices of the Pennsylvania Game Commission in regard to deer herd management have attracted much criticism throughout Pennsylvania," said Moul. "As a life-long hunter, I recognize the need to address these concerns and save our depleting deer herd." Under Moul's proposal, Citizen Advisory Boards (CAB), made up of members of local sportsman's and agricultural organizations, as well as game officials, would be established within each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) for the purpose of determining the maximum number of antlerless deer licenses that should be sold within the management unit. "This proposal seeks to strike a balance between the Game Commission and the local sportsmen and farmers who know their local deer herd and habitat best," stated Moul. "It just makes sense." To ensure adequate local representation, each county governing body within a WMU would have the option of appointing local sportsmen and farmers to serve as their liaisons to the Citizen Advisory Board. "In drafting this proposal, I have worked with members on both sides of the aisle and have received a promising response from House Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Ed Staback," stated Moul. "I look forward to working with Chairman Staback as we move forward in addressing our concerns with the current deer management practices of the Pennsylvania Game Commission."

I just received this from the executive-director...and I agree 100%...

Pa Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs response..

Quote :

Folks, regardless of whether or not you think our deer herd is too low or too high, we can not allow emotion and politics to guide wildlife management and set seasons and bags.  This is why our forefathers set up the PGC as an independent agency, and why we have professional wildlife biologists that make wildlife management recommendations based on scientific data to the PGC Commissioners, who then set allocations based on what they believe is best for the resources...all the resources.  Not on how many deer hunters want to see.    Please call your legislators and remind them that even if we don't always agree with the PGC, they are the agency mandated with the job of wildlife management, not the legislature, and legislators need to stop trying to micro-manage the agency.  Instead they should be making sure the agency has the financial resources they need to carry out their mandate.   Ask your Representative to not support this proposed legislation:

Not sure how many deer we're "supposed" to have, but I've  alreay decided we have far too many legislators. Is there a Legislator Reduction program I can sign up for?

Wowanother committee to watch another organization, great. The deer have enough eyes on them.

He should form a committee or help to resolve all of the shootings in Filthydelphia and help with lowering the youth violence and get a handle on the illeagal guns in that town.

I have contacted several members of the General Assmembly in the past week. Thus far, only my own elected representatives have answered, which was not unexpected, as they usually do get right back to me and always have.

Over the past several years I have spoken briefly with a number of Senators and Reps on the subjects of deer and hunting in general. There are a few simple questions (or statements) that I pose to them, in order to determine their level of competence on such issues.

One well-known Rep. couldn't recall what kind of rifle he hunts with, but consistantly announces that he's an accomplished and experienced deer hunter. Another seemed to be momentarily mesmerized by something that most of us would've recognized as standard operatin' procedures for anyone that's hunted for years.

I can count on the fingers of one hand, how many could carry on an intelligent, well-informed conversation about deer, hunting or firearms.

And these are the people that some demand take a more active role in PA deer management?

     

What Denny stated is true !!!

I too have spoken to several of our game and fisheries committee members in the past few years and I found the same results.. NOT well informed on hunting OR fishing... many had no idea what I was talking about when it came to fishing type questions...

Several of those "leading the charge" about "all the folks upset with the current deer program" lead the pack as far as THEIR own knowledge of deer hunting... VOID of most common knowledge amongst deer hunters.... ???

The GOOD part is... I CAN NOT say the same when it comes to the PGC commissioners... they seem WELL INFORMED and almost 100% of those I have met and talked to do hunt.. or have first hand knowledge of deer and their habits...

And to think.. some folks want the commissioners to be ELECTED by the general pubic... what a mistake that would be !!!!

My responce for my concerns was a pat on the head from 8 members who responded to my letter of concern relating to hunting issues and my support of the PGC.
I agree with the quote above from the Pa Federation of Sportsman,which is unusual for me as I don't always see eye to eye with them.

I agree with the quote above from the Pa Federation of Sportsman,which is unusual for me as I don't always see eye to eye with them.

Gimme four days of water torture application, loud polka music 24/7 and some sleep deprivation thrown in at the end and I bet I can convert you to at least a 50-50 opinion split.

Military training takes care of the water torture.I like polka music and I am a full time student so I will see you at 80-20....maybe...

Okay, how's about another puppy as a bribe then?  

Talked to a Rep. today who said he is mostly hearing from those who are unhappy with their deer hunting experiences and not from anyone who is happy. After today, he can't say that anymore.

DEAL!!

Here's a good article about this by Bob Frye ....


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_504968.html

This is getting BIG Folks....

Here's an E-mail from Melody at the PFSC ----

Quote :

Below is another attempt by a politician to micro-manage wildlife management.     I hope you all realize that if just one of these bills pass.....it will never stop.  We will be working full-time reacting to any and all kinds of legislation being introduced by all sorts of "well meaning" politicians, (many of whom listen closely to requests by animal rights folks) that will be geared towards removing the PGC's authority to regulate any and all seasons and bags.  Think the anti's aren't watching all this closely?  Think again.   What's next?  New attempts to eliminate a bobcat season or not start an otter or fisher season because they are just too cute to hunt or someone wants to see more of them?  Or what about eliminating trapping....or archery seasons completely?  Remember what just happened in NJ with their bear season?  Think it can't happen here?  Once we set a precedent of letting the legislature set wildlife management protocols for deer, the other 92% of the population will end up controlling all of it.   One only has to research past literature on the subject of deer management to find the pitfalls of basing wildlife management on only what hunters want to see.  Not only is it not always what's best for the resource, it can also be a black eye on the true role of hunters as conservationists and wildlife management tools.   "We could have maintained a large deer herd in better condition-heavier animals with better racks and an increased rate of reproduction-if closely regulated harvest of antlerless deer had been accepted by sportsmen." (Glen Bowers, 1950s).  "Areas that experienced high winter deer mortality were often those where sportsmen had used county abrogation to close antlerless deer seasons.  The procedure, similar but not identical to abrogation rights granted to citizens in 1913, was approved by the state legislature in 1949.  It allowed hunters to close county antlerless deer seasons if 51 percent of that county's licensed hunters signed a petition opposing the hunt. In 1950, for instance, hunters had stopped antlerless hunting in 14 counties through abrogation.  Fortunately for the Game Commission, the state legislature ended counties' abrogation rights in 1951." This is from the history of the commission written by Joe Kosack.   Perhaps you believe we should follow a system like NY has that uses CAC.  (Keep in mind, the PGC has already started a system of citizen advisory committees.)  Well, just wait....Pete Grannis, an anti-trapper and anti-hunter, friend of Heidi (Fund for Animals) Prescott, has been nominated to run the DEC.  Wonder what the make-up of those councils will reflect if Mr. Grannis is confirmed?   Folks, we are on the edge of that "slippery slope" and about ready to fall off the cliff & lose the independence of our wildlife agency.  Politics & emotion have no place what-so-ever in Wildlife management!    BILL TO INCREASE DEER HERD TO BE PROPOSED State Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fayette) recently announced that he will introduce legislation aimed at increasing the deer population on game lands in Pennsylvania by requiring the state Game Commission to institute new policies and procedures for sports enthusiasts. According to press releases the bill has four major features: * Establish citizen task forces for every wildlife management unit across the state. The game warden in each unit would be required to hold biannual town meetings where interested sports enthusiasts would be able to meet and discuss the deer population in their area. The warden would then forward suggestions and recommendations to the Game Commission. * Return the antler requirements to pre-2003 status by requiring that a buck would only have to have two points on an antler or a spike at least 3 inches long to be harvested. Require the Game Commission to adopt policies to increase the deer population on game lands and to submit an annual report on the status of those policies. * Require the Game Commission to collect mandatory harvest report cards from hunters.

http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/anotherview/all-right_col-a.5824047apr30,0,2396241.story?coll=all-newsopinionanotherview-hed

I managed to string enough words together that made sense.. I think???

Also tried called all the local Reps last Friday. My own and several in the nearby districts.



Hunting: more than just buying a license!  

--Last edited by bluetick on 2007-04-30 20:42:00 --

Nice job Stan... now if only more people who agree the PGC is the agency that should handle wildlife matters and not politicians would write or call maybe we could get back on track and allow the legislature to deal with the real problems facing Pennsylvania....

I just wonder how many of the "complainers" the politiicians are always defending (and appear to be worried about their votes) actually even vote ?????  

Good question. Wonder how many people that can't seem to find "enough" deer to whet their appetites, also cannot find where they're supposed to vote, or even bother to register?



I see the PGC appeared before the Senate G&F Committee yesterday, but got a slightly more congenial reception than they did with that other bunch.