I have read a lot of the posts on here and elsewhere regarding the current situation of PA's deer herd.

Having hunted in PA for the past 24 years, I have noted a significant change in the deer population, and through my own personal observations (& the observations of my family members/friends that also spend countless days afield every year), there is definitely a problem with the deer DISTRIBUTION in the state.

I truly belive that Gary Alt dida good thing with regard to antler restrictions, by allowing bucks to get older before being shot. For too long, spikes and 4's were the bread and butter of the antlered deer harvest in the state. There are now more bucks living longer, and consequently, they are getting better and bigger racks.

However, I also believe thathe sold out all PA hunters with the increased allocation of doe tags, and the change to allow does to be harvested during the entire 2-week regular firearms season. There are simply too many does being killed every year, and I don't belive the PGC truly has a handle on just how many are being illegally harvested every year throughout the season.

The counties of Berks, Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia that are predominantly made up of private land and land near residential areas that are off limits to hunting are teeming with deer. However,the "big woods" areas that have lots of ground open to public hunting in areas such as Lycoming, Bradford, Potter, and Sullivan county have become virtually barren of deer.

In years past, we used to see herds of deer numbering in the dozens. During the past 4-5 years, we typically are lucky to see a dozen deer all day. Typically, we will see 5-6 per outing & this includes standing, still hunting, and driving.

For those of you that claim, we aren't hunting hard enough to see more deer, I offer the follwoing photos as my "resume." All of these deer were harvested on state game lands open to public hunting in the Williamsport area (Lycoming County.)

First, is the 8 pointer with a 20" spread my brother shot this year:


Next are two 8 pointers my brother and I harvested in 2003:


Last, is the big 8 pointer that I shot in 2000:


- Gr8ful Deer