Well, I guess you are correct that New York State has more people than does PA, but aren't most of them in New York City? I'll bet the rest of the state has about the same population density as does most of PA.

We do have some buckshot only areas in PA. These are in the metropolitan areas of southeast PA and in the area close to Pittsburgh. http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/lib/pgc/digestpdfs/2005/shooting_hours.pdf

Muzzleloading long guns .44 caliber or larger, bows and arrows, manual or autoloading shotguns, .410 or
larger using slugs and 20-gauge or larger using buckshot. Buckshot is not permitted in Allegheny County.Only bows and arrows,
including crossbows, are permitted in Philadelphia County. Crossbows may be used during any firearm deer season statewide, and
during any established deer season in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D. In WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, hunters using a crossbow
during the archery seasons must purchase an archery stamp in addition to their general hunting license and appropriate WMU antlerless
deer license. Hunters using crossbows during the muzzleloader seasons must have a muzzleloader stamp in addition to their general
hunting license and appropriate WMU antlerless deer license. Crossbows must have a minimum weight of 125 pounds and a maximum
draw weight not to exceed 200 pounds.

If the area included in your shotgun only area is similar in composition to our special regulations areas, I guess I have to withdraw my objection. If the area is heavily forested, thinly populated, and mountainous, what is the problem? For example, your Tioga County is just across the border from our northern tier counties. Since I have been there, I fail to see what the problem would be with the use of rifles in such country. These areas are hardly more densely populated than are much of southcentral PA. Perhaps you can enlighten me.